RODRIGO BALLON — VA Loan Originator
NMLS #272011 · CA · UT · NV · AZ · HI · VA · FL · TX · ID · CO · MT · OH
Personalized VA home loans from a licensed specialist who treats every Veteran like family. No gimmicks, no runaround — just a straight path from application to keys in hand.
The VA home loan is one of the most powerful mortgage programs ever created — built specifically for the people who served. Whether you're buying your first home, your fifth, or looking to lower your rate on the one you already own, I'll help you use every piece of your benefit.
VA loans aren't just a discount on a regular mortgage — they're a fundamentally different product. No down payment. No private mortgage insurance. Competitive rates backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. And unlike most loan programs, your VA benefit is reusable: you can tap it again and again as your life and your home needs change.
The catch? Most loan officers don't actually specialize in VA. They'll treat it like a conventional loan with a different stamp on it, which is how Veterans end up paying more than they should — or getting declined for loans they absolutely qualify for. I've built my career around this one benefit, and I'll walk you through it end to end.
The core VA benefit — buy a primary residence with zero down payment and competitive fixed or adjustable rates.
The Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan — a simplified refi built only for existing VA loan holders.
Tap your home's equity at VA loan rates — no PMI — and use the cash however you need.
For higher-priced markets where you need loan amounts above the standard conforming limits.
Your VA entitlement is the dollar amount the VA guarantees to your lender — and it's the key that unlocks $0 down financing. Most Veterans have no idea how powerful their entitlement actually is. Here's the breakdown.
You have full entitlement if you've never used your VA loan benefit — or if you've used it before and paid the loan off in full, sold the property, and had your entitlement restored.
You have partial (or "remaining") entitlement if you currently have an active VA loan or you've had a prior VA loan that wasn't restored. You can still buy with $0 down — there's just a formula involved.
If you have partial entitlement, here's the 4-step math the VA uses to determine your $0-down ceiling:
Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) lists the amount you've already used under "Prior Loans charged to entitlement."
VA uses the FHFA conforming one-unit limit for your county. Check the current limit where you're buying.
VA guarantees 25% of the county limit. Take that limit and multiply by 0.25 to get your base guaranty.
Subtract your previously-used entitlement from step 3. Multiply the result by 4 — that's your $0-down max.
Say you used $50,000 of your entitlement on a prior VA loan that's still active. You're looking to buy a second home in a county where the conforming loan limit is $900,000. Here's what you can borrow with $0 down:
Source: VA.gov Home Loan Entitlement guidance.
If you have full entitlement, there is no VA loan limit. You can borrow whatever your lender approves based on your income and the property's appraised value — even in the millions.
The only "limits" that exist apply to Veterans with partial entitlement — and even those are based on your county's conforming limit, not a hard VA cap.
A lot of Veterans assume the VA benefit is one-and-done. It absolutely is not — this benefit can be restored and reused throughout your lifetime.
When you pay off or sell a home financed with a VA loan, your entitlement is typically restored in full. Many Veterans use the benefit 2, 3, or more times over their lives.
Your COE confirms you have access to the benefit — but the lender still underwrites credit, income, debt, and residual income before issuing a loan.
I handle the full picture: pull your COE, review your finances, and get you a real pre-approval letter so you can make offers with confidence.
I'll pull your Certificate of Eligibility directly, review your situation, and tell you exactly what you can buy with $0 down — usually within a single conversation.
Jump straight to what you need — whether you're just exploring eligibility or ready to apply today.
See in minutes whether your service makes you eligible for the VA home loan benefit.
Check Eligibility →Qualified Veterans can buy a home with zero down payment — keep your savings where they belong.
How it works →Estimate a realistic monthly payment including taxes, insurance, and the VA funding fee.
Run the numbers →Lock in a competitive interest rate on a loan backed by the VA — no private mortgage insurance, ever.
Get my rate →Never bought a home before? The VA loan was practically built for you. I'll walk you through every step.
Start here →Ready to move forward? Apply directly with me — real person, real responses, usually within the hour.
Begin application →Great communication, amazing lender, great service. Helped get us our investment condo in record time! We could not be happier with Cross Country Mortgage. We highly recommend them to all of our family and friends!
Rodrigo is extremely knowledgeable and does what he says he's going to do. He has had multiple deals ready to close earlier than expected. And to top it all off you can't find a nicer guy to work with. Not at all surprised that he's one of the top lenders in multiple states!! Thank you Rodrigo!!
Rodrigo is by far the best. He knows what he is doing and truly cares about people and delivers on promises he makes!
I appreciate being kept informed of all of the details along the way — Rodrigo and the entire team at CrossCountry was awesome. Thanks for your help.
Can't complain at all, for a first time home buyer everything went smooth as can be.
Excellent communication, on schedule with closing. Great team, organized, using the portal was straightforward. Very nice and polite, friendly. Thank you!
The VA home loan is an earned benefit for Veterans, active duty service members, National Guard, Reservists, and certain surviving spouses. Here are the main ways you qualify — plus a direct line to me if you'd rather skip the reading and just talk it through.
Currently serving on active duty in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
90+ Continuous DaysSeparated or retired under conditions other than dishonorable.
90–181 Days · 24 MonthsMembers of the National Guard or Selected Reserve, any branch.
6 Years of ServiceUnremarried spouses of Veterans who died in service or from a service-connected cause.
Case-by-CaseThis is the document that proves your service entitlement to the VA. Most clients don't need to lift a finger — I pull it for you in minutes.
The VA sets no official minimum credit score, but most lenders look for roughly 620+. I review your full picture — BAH, disability income, bonuses, self-employment — to find what actually works for your situation.
VA loans are for homes you'll live in as your primary residence — not investment properties or vacation homes. (You can use the benefit again on future primary homes.)
Most Veterans have full entitlement available. Even if you've used your VA loan before, you may still qualify — I'll run the numbers with you at no cost and no obligation.
Fill this out and I'll personally reach out — usually the same day — to confirm your eligibility and walk through next steps. No commitment, no pressure.
Plan your purchase, refinance, or cash-out with confidence. All calculators are free, use current market assumptions, and are built specifically around the VA loan benefit. Click any tool to get started.
With over 20 years of experience, Rodrigo Ballon is a certified mortgage lender dedicated to helping all residents, second-home buyers, and investors achieve their homeownership goals.
I learned early in my career to listen to my clients. Before I recommend a home loan, I want to know about you. I need to understand your goals and use my knowledge and experience to offer you the mortgage that's right for you and your family.
I've earned a spot on Scotsman Guide's Top Originators list every year since 2012, consistently ranked in the Top 1% nationally. But awards matter to me for one reason — they're proof I'm doing right by my clients.
Ranked out of more than 200,000 licensed mortgage originators nationwide, per Scotsman Guide.
If you want 24-hour dedication, attention to detail, a smooth loan process, and a commitment to closing your loan on time, you can find me at America's #1 Retail Mortgage Lender.
Wherever your orders took you — or wherever you're headed next — there's a good chance I can help you get home.