Alexis Muegge

In my last blog, I briefly discussed the history of the VA loan and how it applies to the servicemen and women that may use it. In this segment, I wanted to discuss the applications that a VA loan has and the eligibility requirements needed for a service member to get approved.

A VA loan guaranty has many possible uses, among which are:

• To buy or build a home.
• To buy a residential condominium.
• To buy a residential cooperative housing unit (co-op).
• To repair, alter, or improve a home.
• To Refinance an existing home loan.
• To buy a manufactured home with or without a lot.
• To buy and improve a manufactured home lot.
• To install a solar heating or cooling system or other weatherization improvements.
• To buy a home and install energy-efficient improvements.

To be eligible for a VA loan guaranty, a service member must meet the following five criteria:

• They must meet the conditions of service requirements.
• They must have a good credit rating.
• They must have a sufficient income.
• They must have a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
• They must agree to live in the home.

There are two ways to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. The first is to complete VA Form 26-1880, also known as the "Request for a Certificate of Eligibility for VA Home Loan", and mail it to the VA Loan Eligibility Center in Winston-Salem NC. Your other option is to obtain one from your lender. I recommend the latter, as it is much quicker! Most lenders have access to the VA's "WebLGY" system, which is an internet based application that can establish eligibility and issue a COE in seconds.

Well, that's it for now! Tune in for my next blog, which will discuss VA appraisals and closing costs. It will be the last blog in my series about the VA loan guaranty, so don't forget to check it out.

For more information on buying a home in the Jacksonville area, contact me. I am always available to my customers and clients. For more information about VA loans, other loan options, or to get pre-approved, click here.

Source: Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents 2008 Edition Pamphlet

As some of you may know, I make a concerted effort throughout the year to donate items and time to various charitable organizations. Some of my friends and clients have been calling me this month wanting to know if I had any suggestions about donation and volunteer opportunities in the Jacksonville area, so I decided to compile some information and share it with anyone who's interested in spreading a little extra Christmas Cheer.

Here are a few organizations that could use your help:

• Onslow Christmas Cheer- Christmas Cheer is a program ran by Onslow Community Ministries. One way to help Christmas Cheer is to sponsor a needy family or elderly person. A sponsor coordinator can help to match a potential sponsor with an available case. If you wish to consider sponsorship, call the US Cellular Sponsor Line at 910-340-1567. Christmas Cheer is also looking for volunteers to help distribute gifts and food to the families that aren't sponsored this year. For more information about volunteering with Christmas Cheer, call 910-938-HELP. For more information online visit the Onslow Community Ministries Website or view the article in the Jacksonville Daily News.
• Soup Kitchen- This program is also ran by Onslow Community Ministries. They are looking for long term volunteers to assist with preparing 500 lunches and then going out on the soup truck to deliver the lunches. They are taking volunteers Monday thru Friday from 8am-Noon. For more information, contact Remy Stitt at 910-347-3227, or visit the Onslow Community Ministries Website.
• Thrift Store Volunteer - The Thrift Store, Finders Keepers, is looking for volunteers to clean/organize the store, sort donations, put merchandise out etc. Proceeds from the Thrift Store go to benefit the Onslow County Women's Center. Volunteer days are Tuesday thru Sunday, in the morning or afternoon. They are also looking for donations. Donated used items will go to the Thrift Store to be sold, and new items may go to the Women's Shelter. They are actively seeking donations of robes, socks, slippers, personal care products, and more. For more information call 910-347-4000 or visit the Onslow Women's Center Website.

These are just a few of your volunteering options! If you like animals, you can volunteer at Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary, or if you like construction and housing, you can volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. For more information about volunteering in Jacksonville, I recommend visiting www.1-800-Volunteer.org. They connect eager volunteers with various nonprofit organizations that are looking for help.

If you want to make a quick donation, don't forget about Toys for Tots and The Salvation Army Angel Tree, and the Homeless Shelter is always accepting donations of food and personal hygiene items.

I hope that you found this helpful and I hope that you can find a way to give this year! Maybe I'll see you there!

You heard me right! For $100 you can purchase a ticket that will enter you into a raffle to win a home that has recently been appraised for $835,000!

As some of you may know, I enjoy participating in various fundraisers and contributing to different non-profit organizations. One that I am especially fond of is AnyMarine.com, a part of AnySoldier, Inc. AnySoldier, Inc. is a fantastic company that tries to connect our service members overseas with people that would like to send care packages, but don't know where or who to send them to. It is a non-profit organization with great beginnings. The creators of this amazing group conceived the idea when their son was sent to Iraq. They created AnySoldier.com, then added AnyAirman.com, AnyMarine.com, AnySailor.com, and AnyCoastGuardsman.com. Each site specifically pertains to their designated branch of the Armed Forces.

Now about the raffle...

A nice couple from Prince Frederick, MD has decided to raffle off their beautiful 5 bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom home on over 7 acres, and donate the net proceeds from the sale of their home to AnySoldier, Inc. Whether you are from Jacksonville NC, Onslow County, or any other state...

...Who wouldn't want this home?

So, click here for more information and your chance to win!

Or for other ways to help, go to www.AnyMarine.com!

We all know how very important it is to vote, with the Presidential Election being this year. However, for Onslow County residents, there is another very important issue on the ballot this year... the Onslow County Sales & Use Tax.

What is the Onslow County Sales & Use Tax?

The Onslow County Sales & Use Tax is a 1/4 cent sales tax that will be used as a tool for generating revenue to meet the growing financial needs of Onslow County.

Some important things to note about the property tax:

• If the sales tax is not increased, there will almost definitely be an increase in property taxes.
• The sales tax increase is 1/4 cent and cannot be used on groceries, gasoline, or the purchase of automobiles.
• If the sales tax increase is defeated, property taxes may go up 4 cents per hundred dollars. Property tax increases only affect homeowners. Let's get a broad based tax that will affect everyone.
• When the 1/4 cent sales tax increase passes, you will never have to worry about the Transfer Tax ever appearing on the ballot. The rule is one or the other.

For more information, view the rest of my blog here.