Chris Birk

This originally appeared on Veterans United Network.

Chris Birk is director of communications for the VA Mortgage Center, which specializes in VA loans for veterans and active duty service members.

Military homeowners who were illegally foreclosed upon during the last five years will receive a minimum payment of nearly $117,000 plus lost equity and interest, according to a settlement reached this week between the Justice Department and the nation's largest mortgage servicers.

The agreement comes after months of...

Military borrowers continue to flock to the safety, security and unmatched buying power of VA loans in the wake of the subprime mortgage meltdown and ensuing credit crunch.

VA loan guarantees have soared 168 percent since 2007, according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The agency...

Thousands of surviving spouses currently ineligible for VA home loan benefits would gain access to the program if a U.S. House bill passed Wednesday becomes law.

The VA Loan Guaranty program has helped more than 18 million service members become homeowners since 1944. The program provides...

Nearly 30 cities across the country will host awareness initiatives this fall aimed at highlighting local services available to veterans mired in or on the brink of homelessness.

The "Make the Call" campaign is part of the Veterans Administration's push to eliminate veteran homelessness by 2015. These local programs...

Mortgage and real estate trade groups are pressing Senate leaders to take action on a bill that would extend the maximum mortgage loan limits through 2013.

The current conforming loan limit for government-backed mortgages is set to expire on Sept. 30. A bipartisan bill introduced in early August would allow...

The federal government continues to take steps to curb the problem of veteran homelessness.

Public housing authorities in 18 states will receive $5.4 million to provide permanent housing for nearly 700 homeless veterans, according to a joint announcement Monday from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department...

Military homeowners have taken a beating the last few months at the hands of some of the country's largest mortgage lenders.

They're just now finally starting to catch a break.

Citigroup announced this week that it would cut interest rates and waive late fees and other past due amounts for...

Veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can now find help in the palm of their hands.

Tech experts at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense have built a unique smartphone app that allows users to track PTSD symptoms and provides resources, support and education. The...

Active duty military members and their spouses will soon be able to see their FICO score for free, part of a unique partnership aimed at boosting financial literacy among those who serve our country.

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation is teaming with the Department of Defense to distribute the FICO...

Lending giant JP Morgan Chase is working to increase protections for military borrowers after the company overcharged thousands of service members and improperly foreclosed on more than a dozen.

The company is already in the process of refunding 4,000 military members about $2 million for violating provisions of the

The $8,000 tax credit program for first-time home buyers helped prop up the sagging real estate market in 2010.

While the landmark initiative finally expired last fall, there's still one group of Americans who can still capitalize on the opportunity: Active duty military members who were serving our nation...

Consumers who struggle to build a solid credit profile may soon get a boost by simply paying their monthly rent on time.

One of the country's three major credit reporting agencies is now incorporating positive rental payment data into its scoring methodology. Experian will track the information through its RentBureau...

Veterans who lose their homes to a short sale or a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure can now receive up to $1,500 in relocation assistance.

The VA has for years incentivized mortgage servicers to work with veterans on the edge of default. Now, the agency has directed its approved servicers to provide...

The fight against the financial exploitation of America's service members got a huge boost last week with the unveiling of a new consumer protection arm for military families.

The Office of Servicemember Affairs aims to increase financial education for military members and better monitor and respond to problems and complaints....

Foreclosures are coming to a temporary halt for thousands of American service members.

Freddie Mac instructed its mortgage servicers Friday to delay initiating foreclosure for at least nine months for service members who are released from active duty status through 2011. The move aims to give lenders more time to...

VA loans have thrived in the face of foreclosure. But they haven't been immune to the overall tightening that has recently reshaped the lending industry.

The result is that these flexible loans aren't quite as forgiving as they once were.

More restrictive credit and underwriting standards have no...