Spring is the busiest time of the year for the real estate market, and we certainly saw an uptick in mortgage originations as the season kicked off in March. Overall, 791 different lenders issued a total of 58,181 VA-backed loans during the month.
Here's a breakdown of March's largest VA lenders by loans completed for purchase loans, cash-out refinances, and IRRRLs, as per the latest data published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Top VA Purchase Lenders by Loans Completed March 2026
Among the three types of mortgages tracked on our lists, purchase loans led the pack with an impressive 26,493 completed throughout March.
While home sales typically pick up during the month as we escape the winter slowdown, these loan numbers were likely boosted by the fact that sellers are outnumbering home shoppers in markets across the country, providing greater leverage for prospective buyers.
| Rank | Lender | Loans Issued | Average Loan Size | Total Loan Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Veterans United Home Loans | 5,604 | $349,116 | $1,956,447,299 |
| 2 | United Wholesale Mortgage | 2,187 | $483,196 | $1,056,750,373 |
| 3 | Navy Federal Credit Union | 1,092 | $389,694 | $425,546,233 |
| 4 | CrossCountry Mortgage | 802 | $438,401 | $351,597,668 |
| 5 | DHI Mortgage | 760 | $366,323 | $278,405,433 |
| 6 | Guild Mortgage | 616 | $393,772 | $242,563,748 |
| 7 | USAA | 612 | $392,905 | $240,457,604 |
| 8 | Lennar Mortgage | 513 | $385,702 | $197,865,043 |
| 9 | Rocket Mortgage | 470 | $453,114 | $212,963,647 |
| 10 | CMG Financial | 463 | $477,777 | $221,210,668 |
10 Top VA Home Loan Purchase Lenders
Who, exactly, are the largest VA purchase loan lenders? Let’s take a closer look at the companies at the top of the list for March.
1. Veterans United Home Loans
Headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, Veterans United Home Loans has been specializing in VA mortgages for nearly 25 years. Veterans United, with its A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, led the pack for purchase originations in March with a total of 5,604 of these mortgages – more than a fifth of all VA purchase loans – completed.
Veterans United Home Loans is a registered DBA of Mortgage Research Center, LLC, an affiliate of Three Creeks Media.
2. United Wholesale Mortgage
United Wholesale Mortgage is one of the nation’s largest lenders, connecting with borrowers through a vast network of brokers and correspondents. UWM does not work directly with consumers, but still managed to issue 2,187 VA purchase loans in March to take the number two spot on the list.
3. Navy Federal Credit Union
Navy Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial services provider with more than 15 million members worldwide. Navy Federal isn’t open to the public, though: to join, you must be a current or former service member, DoD employee, or a family or household member of someone who is eligible. In March, the company completed 1,092 VA purchase loans.
4. CrossCountry Mortgage
CrossCountry Mortgage, based out of Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the country’s largest retail lenders, operating a widespread network of more than 700 branch locations. With its direct-to-consumer business model, CrossCountry issued a total of 802 VA purchase loans throughout the month of March.
5. DHI Mortgage
In the #5 spot for March is DHI Mortgage, the affiliated in-house lender for new-home builder D.R. Horton. For more than 20 years, D.R. Horton has maintained the title of largest home builder in the United States, which enabled DHI Mortgage to issue 760 VA purchase mortgages during the month.
6. Guild Mortgage
Founded in San Diego in 1960, California-based Guild Mortgage operates through hundreds of branch locations across the country, with an emphasis on serving the western United States. During the month of March, Guild Mortgage originated a total of 616 VA purchase loans.
7. USAA
In business since 1922, member-owned USAA moved up to the #7 spot on the list this month. Known for its insurance, banking, and investment solutions, military-focused USAA is also a leading mortgage provider with 612 VA purchase loans funded in March.
8. Lennar Mortgage
Similar to DHI, Lennar Mortgage is the in-house lender for the nation’s second-largest new construction builder, Lennar Homes. As a prominent builder-associated lender, Lennar Mortgage, headquartered in Miami, Florida, funded a total of 513 VA purchase loans throughout the month.
9. Rocket Mortgage
In business since 1985, online lender Rocket Mortgage has grown into a household name for home loans. The company, which has no retail locations, has built its business on its digital-first, AI-powered approach to mortgage lending. Rocket Mortgage originated 470 VA purchase loans in March.
10. CMG Financial
Rounding out the list of the top 10 VA purchase loan lenders for March is California-based CMG Financial. Since its founding with just seven employees in 1993, CMG has grown into a well-known nationwide mortgage lender. The company issued 463 VA purchase loans for the month.
Top VA Cash-Out Refinance Lenders March 2026
It’s not just buyers utilizing their VA home loan benefit: more existing homeowners used a VA cash-out refinance to tap into their built-up equity or refinance their current loan into the VA program in March.
During the month, VA-insured cash-out refinances rose by 11.4% over February’s numbers, with a total of 8,022 loans issued.
| Rank | Lender | Loans Issued | Average Loan Size | Total Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Wholesale Mortgage | 1,374 | $392,197 | $538,878,912 |
| 2 | Rocket Mortgage | 816 | $354,086 | $288,934,105 |
| 3 | Freedom Mortgage | 556 | $372,768 | $207,259,142 |
| 4 | New Day Financial | 403 | $292,476 | $117,867,696 |
| 5 | Veterans United Home Loans | 397 | $364,615 | $144,752,274 |
| 6 | Village Capital & Investment | 334 | $339,626 | $113,434,960 |
| 7 | Navy Federal Credit Union | 301 | $391,032 | $117,700,717 |
| 8 | Pennymac | 276 | $370,800 | $102,340,911 |
| 9 | LoanDepot | 246 | $373,891 | $91,977,128 |
| 10 | The Federal Savings Bank | 244 | $399,174 | $97,398,336 |
Top VA IRRRL Lenders by Loan Count March 2026
Despite market volatility and rising interest rates compared to previous months, 23,666 homeowners with existing VA mortgages used the VA interest rate reduction refinance loan (IRRRL) to lower their interest costs or transition into a fixed-rate loan in March.
| Rank | Lender | Loans Issued | Average Loan Size | Total Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Wholesale Mortgage | 5,984 | $426,822 | $2,554,100,447 |
| 2 | Freedom Mortgage | 3,496 | $364,926 | $1,275,782,397 |
| 3 | Pennymac | 1,820 | $419,735 | $763,916,957 |
| 4 | Rocket Mortgage | 1,665 | $435,510 | $725,123,570 |
| 5 | Veterans United Home Loans | 1,159 | $364,262 | $422,179,909 |
| 6 | Newrez | 982 | $433,254 | $425,455,332 |
| 7 | Village Capital & Investment | 781 | $403,876 | $315,427,188 |
| 8 | CrossCountry Mortgage | 632 | $476,088 | $300,887,753 |
| 9 | Planet Home Lending | 611 | $381,020 | $232,803,436 |
| 10 | Lakeview | 586 | $422,928 | $247,835,839 |
VA Loan Qualification Requirements
What does it take to qualify for a VA mortgage? While many aspects of loan qualification are left up to individual lenders, here are some common and VA-set requirements.
Certificate of Eligibility
Borrowers must qualify for a VA Certificate of Eligibility to obtain a VA loan. This typically requires 90 to 181 days of active-duty service or 6 years of service in the National Guard or Reserve. Some surviving spouses of eligible servicemembers may also qualify.
Credit Score
While the VA sets no specific credit score requirement for its home loan program, most lenders prefer borrowers to have a credit score of at least 620. However, this can vary by company, as some may have their own higher or lower minimums.
Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio
DTI requirements – the percentage of your monthly income allocated to existing debts, including your mortgage – will also vary depending on the lender you choose. For the greatest chances of approval, though, you should aim for a debt-to-income ratio no higher than 43%.
Property Type
The VA loan program is designed to help you purchase or refinance your primary residence. However, there are some scenarios, such as if you’ve met the minimum occupancy requirement or received a PCS, where you may be able to obtain an IRRRL on a second home or investment property.
Funding Fee
VA Loans come with an upfront funding fee, which helps ensure the long-term viability of the home loan program. This funding fee varies from 0.5% to 3.3% based on the type of loan you're obtaining, your down payment (for purchase loans), and whether you’ve previously had a VA mortgage. Borrowers with a qualifying service-related disability may be eligible for a funding fee waiver.
Is a VA Loan Right for You?
If you’re able to obtain a VA loan, there’s a good chance it may be your best mortgage option due to low interest rates and the lack of ongoing mortgage insurance. However, everyone’s borrowing needs and financial situation differ, and some companies may offer other types of loans that could be a better fit.
Make sure to speak with a qualified and experienced lender to discuss your mortgage options – whether you’re ready to purchase a home or refinance a loan you already have – to find the best path forward for you.
