I've been a Veteran's Assistance Specialist for almost 18 years.  As a veteran myself from the US Air Force, I understand the unique challenges with active duty, ex and retired military families.  VA loans have had a bad report from the realtors in your local area for some good reasons.  Understanding these reasons will empower you to over power them.   A VA loan has some very unique and challenging paperwork problems.  Certain documents must be sent to the department of Veteran Affairs a long time before the expected close of escrow in order to close on time.  Most loan agents do very few if any VA loans therefore causing delays in closing escrow and headaches for the realtors and everyone involved.  Most loan agents aren't even authorized to provide VA loans so they downplay the VA loan as "not the best" product for the client.  I think this is a crime and should be punishable by whipping.  THERE IS VERY RARELY ANY BETTER PRODUCTS FOR A VETERAN TO PURCHASE A HOME WITH THAN A VA LOAN FOR MANY REASON: 100% Financing No Private Mortgage Insurance Department of Veteran's Affairs will help you deal with problems if some should occure VA loans are paid on time if paid between the first of the month and the 15th where conventional loans are delinquent after the 1st.  VA loans are assumable! THIS IS HUGE! Late fees are less on VA loans DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU DIFFERENTLY!  Any veteran considering buying or refinancing should always work with a true Veteran's Assistance Specialist.   Not only am I a Veteran's Assistance Specialist with 15 years expereince but I'm also a Certified Mortgage Planner.  Click here for more information on why you want to work with a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist vs. a traditional loan agent or a bank Check out Vintage Travel Club which donates all of it's earnings to the Wounded Warrior Project.   Here's a little fun for you if you haven't laughed for awhile.  While you read this just remember that you are appreciated by those of us who served.  And oh yea,  I appologize in advance if this offends anyone.  sg HONOR? This world has gone MAD! Michael Jackson dies and it’s pandemonium 24/7 for 6 straight days of news coverage with more to come………………...  Hundreds of thousands of people in mourning.  Some flying in from around the world, descend upon an old iron gate (meant to keep them away from a building where he only occasionally stayed) to light candles, weep uncontrollably, write testimonials, and lay flowers in Jackson's (accused several times of child molesting) "HONOR"? BUT……A real American hero dies and not a mention of it in the news.   Ed Freeman     You're a 19-year-old kid. You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley , 11-14-1965, LZ X-ray, Vietnam . Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in.     You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns, and you know you're not getting out. Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away and you'll never see them again. As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day you die.     Then, over the machine gun noise, you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter and you look up to see an unarmed Huey, but it doesn't seem real because there are no Medi-Vac markings are on it.     Ed Freeman is coming for you. He's not Medi-Vac, so it's not his job, but he's flying his Huey committing his life and the lives of the other 3 crewmen, down into the middle of the machine gun fire, absolute "HELL ON EARTH", even after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come.     He's coming anyway.     And he drops it in becoming the biggest target the Viet Cong have and MUST, just sit there in the machine gun fire, AS the center of attention as other brave soldiers drag you and 2 or 3 of your buddies on board.     Then he flies you up and out, through the intense gunfire to the doctors and nurses.     ED keeps coming back, 13 more times, and take about 30 of you and your buddies out, who would never have gotten to see another sunrise.     Medal of Honor Recipient Ed Freeman died on Wednesday, June 25th, 2009, at the age of 80, in Boise , ID.   May God rest his soul.      Medal of Honor Winner       Ed Freeman!         There may be some who receive this e-mail that don't believe in GOD, but even the most liberal, intellectual, logical and scientific mind, must admit that the essence (Soul) of every person mysteriously longs for justice or life becomes completely meaningless. Well, when GOD judges character, ED………my bets on you! I shed no tears ED….I say Well Done! Congratulations on your Promotion "You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for the masses, what they could and should do for themselves." William Boetcker   THANKS AGAIN, ED, FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR OUR COUNTRY AND YOUR FRIENDS.    RIP     Rules for Non-Military Dear Civilians, 'We know that the current state of affairs in our great nation has many civilians up in arms and excited to join the military.  For those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand.  Here are a few of the areas where we would like your assistance: 1. The next time you see any adults talking (or wearing a hat) during the playing of the National Anthem - kick their ass. 2. When you witness, firsthand, someone burning the American Flag in protest - kick their ass. 3. Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest amount of respect to all veterans.  If you see anyone doing otherwise, quietly pull them aside and explain how these veterans fought for the very freedom they bask in every second.  Enlighten them on the many sacrifices these veterans made to make this Nation great.  Then hold them down while a disabled veteran kicks their ass. 4. (GUYS) If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were.  Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle Fatigues, telling others that you used to be 'Special Forces,' and collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven years old.  Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your ass kicked. 5. Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not ask them, 'Do you fly a jet?'  Not everyone in the Air Force is a pilot.  Such ignorance deserves an ass-kicking (children are exempt). 6. If you witness someone calling the Coast Guard 'non-military', inform them of their mistake - and kick their ass. 7. Next time Old Glory (the flag) prances by during a parade, get on your damn feet and pay homage to her by placing your hand over your heart.  Quietly thank the military member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying her - of course, failure to do either of those could ea rn you a severe ass-kicking. 8. Don't try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran.  We are Americans, and we all bleed the same, regardless of our party affiliation.  Our Chain of Command is to include our Commander-In-Chief (C in C).  The President (for those who didn't know) is our C in C regardless of political party.  We have no inside track on what happens inside those big important buildings where all those representatives meet.  All we know is that when those civilian representatives screw up the situation, they call upon the military to go straighten it out.  If you keep asking us the same stupid questions repeatedly, you will get your ass kicked! 9. 'Your mama wears combat boots' never made sense to me - stop saying it!  If she did, she would most likely be a vet and therefore could kick your ass! 10. Bin Laden and the Taliban a re not Communists, so stop saying 'Let's go kill those Commies!'  And stop asking us where he is!  Crystal balls are not standard issue in the military.  That reminds me- if you see anyone calling those damn psychic phone numbers, let me know, so I can go kick their ass! 11. 'Flyboy' (Air Force), 'Jarhead' (Marines), 'Grunt' (Army), 'Squid' (Navy), 'Puddle Jumpers' (Coast Guard), etc., are terms of endearment we use describing each other. Unless you are a service member or vet, you have not earned the right to use them.  Using them could get your ass kicked. 12. Last, but not least, whether or not you become a member of the military, support our troops and their families.  Every Thanksgiving and religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends, please remember that there are literally thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen far from home wishing they could be with their families.  Thank God for our military and the sacrifices they make every day.  Without them, our country would get it's ass kicked.'  'It's the Veteran, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press.'  'It's the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.'  'It's the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.'  'It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.'    Military Bio for Steve Gronlund   Raised in Racine Wisconsin, I entered military duty with the United States Air Force out of high school where I spent two (2) four year tours in Great Britain, Mississippi, and California.  I left active duty in 1991 when I was in charge of field training in the area of jet propulsion maintenance and repair.  During my time in the Air Force I worked on several of our government’s top secret aircraft including the B-52, KC-135, T-38, T-37 and the FB-111.  I have received the following decorations:  An Achievement Medal, The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, and the NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon.    I left the service with an honorable discharge and started my career in the Mortgage industry when it was hard to get into and integrity and service were still important.  Later in an attempt to distinguish myself from the competition I became certified as a Mortgage Planner and continue to serve my clients today with the philosophy that a mortgage loan is not just a tool to buy a home but a financial tool that should be used to improve the families whole financial being. .  I have served over 3500 families since beginning my career with more than 90% of them being Veterans.  I had long ago decided to work primarily with Veterans for several reasons; I find them to have more integrity than the general population, more discipline than the general population and a certain amount of esprit-de-corps that I find only with active duty and former military members.  You might say I speak their language, I understand what they are going through, and I share in their love for this country.  I believe my military experience allows me to provide a very different kind of Mortgage and Financial Service to Veterans.     I am very proud to state that I have worked with former military members from every War, police action, or skirmish since WWII.  I’m proud to have known two of the original Flying Tigers from WWII, multiple veterans who stormed the beaches of France together, as well as veterans who served in Vietnam, Somalia, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, and everywhere our troops ever set foot.  It’s truly been my pleasure to make Veterans my choice of client to serve.  I treat them with respect and honor as they deserve to be treated.  I have never met one of our war heroes that believe they are heroes.   I have never seen combat like many of the heroes I’ve served yet they welcome me into their inner circle with honor and respect.   Just recently I met Sergeant Hernandez who has received two Purple Heart Medals from wounds received in battles in Iraq and Afghanistan and who elected to stay and serve in the US Marine Corps and put off his 100% VA disability pay until he retires.    This kid is only 25 years old yet when you look into his eyes it feels like your looking into the eyes of someone much older.   A famous General whom I cannot name said it best.  “There is nothing stronger on earth than an all volunteer army with high morale”.   Steve Gronlund Certified Mortgage Planner Veteran’s Assistance Specialist Government Loan Specialist Former Staff Sergeant USAF    www.armedforceshomemortgage.com 951-695-0901 888-358-9112       Enter your email address to receive a free subscription to YOU Magazine!