Getting in touch with Mr. Mullins was the best decision my husband and I have made by far. Jonathan is very welcoming and working with him feels comfortable and like home. What stands out most about Jonathan is his unwavering commitment to helping veterans. He is adamant about making sure those who've served our country receive the respect, support, and guidance they deserve.
Lender Comparison
Valor Home Mortgage vs Navy Federal Credit Union
A credit union with proprietary military loan products versus a VA-first mortgage company. Different tools for different files.
✓Veteran-Owned
✓Top 1% Nationwide
✓2,500+ Families Served
Quick Answer
The Short Answer
Navy Federal is the largest credit union in the country and offers proprietary military mortgage products alongside conventional lending, but membership eligibility rules apply. Valor Home Mortgage is a veteran-owned mortgage company focused on VA loans in San Antonio, with no membership requirement, no lender fees, credit flexibility down to a 500 FICO, and an average close of about 21 days. If you are already a Navy Federal member and their in-house product happens to fit your file better than a VA loan, that is worth pricing. If you want a VA loan underwritten by people who do VA loans all day in this metro, that is us. Price both.
Navy Federal Credit Union is the largest credit union in the United States, serving military members, veterans, Department of Defense personnel, and their families. We describe structural differences only — verify any current rates, fees, or guidelines directly with them.
Side by Side
Valor Home Mortgage vs Navy Federal
Structural differences only. No rates or competitor pricing appear on this page.
| Criterion | Valor Home Mortgage | Navy Federal |
|---|---|---|
| Type of institution | Veteran-owned independent mortgage company | Credit union with membership eligibility rules |
| Membership requirement | None | Membership eligibility required |
| Product focus | VA-first mortgage lending | Full credit union lineup plus proprietary mortgage products |
| Market focus | San Antonio and the JBSA metro | Nationwide member base |
| Lender fees | $0 lender fees, posted publicly | Verify current fee schedule directly with the lender |
| Minimum credit score | We work with scores down to 500 FICO | Verify current guidelines directly with the lender |
| Who you work with | A named loan officer and a direct cell number | An assigned representative within a national member organization |
The Honest Version
Which One Fits Your File
Choose us when
- You are not eligible for credit union membership, or do not want to join one to get a mortgage.
- Your credit score is below common thresholds — we go down to 500 FICO.
- You want a lender embedded in the San Antonio market rather than a national member base.
- You want zero lender fees committed to in writing.
Choose Navy Federal when
- You are already a member and want your mortgage inside the same institution as your accounts.
- One of their proprietary non-VA products prices better than a VA loan for your specific file.
In San Antonio Specifically
Why Local Matters Here
Around JBSA, the deals that fall apart usually fail on timing or on an appraisal condition nobody anticipated, not on the loan program. A lender who knows this metro can flag a minimum property requirement problem from the listing photos and get ahead of it before your option period runs out.
Client Reviews
What Clients Actually Said
Real reviews from real clients, published in their own words. We do not write these.
My wife and I were feeling pretty defeated by the high closing costs. Jonathan Mullins responded immediately and went to work. He got our loan approved, completely eliminated the closing costs (we actually got a little money back) and had the closing moved to 3 weeks instead of 45 days. Valor Home Mortgages rocks, I would strongly recommend them to any veteran looking to buy a house.
FAQs
Questions About Choosing a VA Lender
Quick Answer
Not automatically. Credit unions often price competitively, but VA loan pricing depends on the specific loan, your credit profile, and the day. The only reliable comparison is two Loan Estimates pulled on the same day, compared line by line, including lender fees.
Not automatically. Credit unions often price competitively, but VA loan pricing depends on the specific loan, your credit profile, and the day. The only reliable comparison is two Loan Estimates pulled on the same day, compared line by line, including lender fees.
Sometimes, but check the details carefully. Proprietary products can offer no-down-payment financing without the VA funding fee, which helps borrowers who are not funding-fee exempt. They may also carry different rate structures. If you receive VA disability compensation your funding fee is waived, which usually makes the VA loan the cheaper path.
Yes, and you should. Credit scoring models treat multiple mortgage inquiries in a short shopping window as a single inquiry, so comparison shopping protects you without meaningfully hurting your score.
No. Valor Home Mortgage is an independent, veteran-owned mortgage company and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any lender named on this page. Company names are used for identification and comparison only. We describe structural differences in business model, not rates or fees, because pricing changes daily and varies by borrower. Verify any competitor's current terms directly with them.
Disclaimer: Valor Home Mortgage is an independent, veteran-owned mortgage company (NMLS #1904516) and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union. Company names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used here for identification and comparison purposes only. Statements about Navy Federal are limited to publicly documented business-model characteristics; we do not publish another lender's rates, fees, or guidelines because those change and vary by borrower. Confirm current terms directly with any lender before deciding.
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Pull ours the same day you pull theirs and compare the bottom line, not the advertised rate.
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