We’re more than mortgages. We’re your battle buddy for life.
From a Veteran family to yours: VA home loan help, benefits, crisis support, official Texas resources and the nonprofits we love, all in one place.
A Veteran family helping military families
We’re a Veteran family helping military families. We’ve lived the PCS moves, the deployments, the long nights apart, the transition out, the disability claims paperwork, caring for a loved one, and starting over in a brand new place. So we get it. This page is everything we wish someone had handed us, all in one spot. Save it, share it, and call us anytime. 💙
~Paul and Joyie
- Paul is a combat veteran, and Joyie served too. We know the military life from the inside.
- We know the moves. The packing and unpacking, new schools, new neighbors, and trying to make a new place feel like home again.
- Paul started his mortgage career in El Paso, helping fellow veterans and families buy homes.
- Then we came home. We moved back to DFW to be near family, and today we’re raising our five kids in Krum.
- We give back. We support local nonprofits, with a special focus on veterans.
5 VA loan myths we hear all the time
You can use it again after you sell, and sometimes keep one home and buy another.
The VA backs part of the loan. That's why the right loan officer matters.
And many veterans with a disability rating don't pay the funding fee.
Lenders set their own minimums and look at your whole picture.
A pre-approval and an agent who knows VA loans make the difference.
Your VA Home Loan Playbook
Our free VA Home Loan Playbook walks you from your COE to closing day, with entitlement, PCS moves, checklists and a Texas page. Want to go deeper? We have a guide for every VA loan type.
- VA Home Loan Playbook: Should you buy at this duty station? An honest walk-through of tour length, BAH math, when to wait, and COE to keys.
- PCS Home Guide: Buy, rent, or wait — tour length, BAH math, remote buying, and what to do with your current home.
- Military Transition Home Guide: Timing a home purchase around ETS or retirement — income that counts, when to wait, and your VA benefit after service.
- VA Renovation Guide: Is a fixer-upper with VA renovation financing right for you — bids, draws, and when to walk away.
- VA One-Time Close Guide: Is one-time-close construction right for you — builder risk, draws, and when to wait.
- VA IRRRL Guide: Is an IRRRL worth it — break-even math, seasoning, and junk-mail red flags.
- VA Home Equity Guide: When tapping equity helps, when to wait, and the Texas rule — without over-leveraging your home.
Already closed? Ask Paul for the free “You Closed on Your VA Home! Now What?” guide.
Your VA loan questions, answered
Do I really need $0 down with a VA loan?
With full entitlement, the VA doesn’t require a down payment as long as the price isn’t above the appraised value. There’s no monthly mortgage insurance. Most borrowers pay a one-time funding fee unless they’re exempt.
How do I get my Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?
Request it on VA.gov, or let Paul pull it for you as part of your pre-approval.
Am I exempt from the VA funding fee?
Veterans who receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability are generally exempt, along with some surviving spouses and active-duty Purple Heart recipients. Your COE shows your status.
Can I use my VA loan more than once?
Yes. Your benefit is reusable, and in some cases you can have two VA loans at once using remaining entitlement.
Is there a VA loan limit?
Not if you have full entitlement. If part of your entitlement is in use, county limits affect how much you can borrow with $0 down.
Can Guard and Reserve members and surviving spouses use it?
Yes, if they meet the VA’s eligibility rules. Your COE confirms it.
Can I buy before I PCS or separate?
Often, yes. Timing and occupancy rules matter, so talk with Paul early.
Can I do a VA cash-out refinance in Texas?
You can use a VA refinance to pay off the existing liens on your Texas home, but you can’t receive cash at closing. Paul can walk you through other ways to use your equity.
Official benefits, health care and support
Straight from the source. Every link below goes to an official government site.
Crisis support (24/7)
- Veterans Crisis Line: 988, press 1https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
VA home loans and COE
- VA: Home loanshttps://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/
- VA: Request your COEhttps://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/how-to-request-coe/
- VA: Eligibilityhttps://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/eligibility/
- VA: Funding fee and closing costshttps://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/funding-fee-and-closing-costs/
- VA: Trouble making paymentshttps://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/trouble-making-payments/
Benefits and health care
- VA disability compensationhttps://www.va.gov/disability/
- VA health carehttps://www.va.gov/health-care/
- Find a VA locationhttps://www.va.gov/find-locations/
- Helpful VA phone numbershttps://www.va.gov/resources/helpful-va-phone-numbers/
Education and careers
- GI Bill and educationhttps://www.va.gov/education/
- Transfer your Post-9/11 GI Billhttps://www.va.gov/education/transfer-post-9-11-gi-bill-benefits/
- VA careers and employmenthttps://www.va.gov/careers-employment/
- DOL Veterans' Employment (VETS)https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets
- DOL Transition Assistance Programhttps://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/tap
Housing help, families and records
- VA homeless programshttps://www.va.gov/homeless/
- Family and caregiver benefitshttps://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/
- National Archives: military records (DD-214)https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
- VA: Get your military recordshttps://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/
Active duty and PCS
- Military OneSourcehttps://www.militaryonesource.mil/
- Military OneSource: Moving and PCShttps://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/
- Military OneSource: Installation directoryhttps://installations.militaryonesource.mil/
Texas
- Texas Veterans Commissionhttps://www.tvc.texas.gov/
- Texas Veterans Land Boardhttps://vlb.texas.gov/
- Texas Comptroller: 100% disabled veteran FAQhttps://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/exemptions/disabledvet-100-faq.php
- Texas Veterans Mental Health Program (Military Veteran Peer Network)https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/mental-health-substance-use/mental-health-substance-use-resources/texas-veterans-mental-health-program
County veterans service offices
- Denton County Veterans Serviceshttps://www.dentoncounty.gov/391/Veterans-Services
- El Paso County Veterans Assistancehttps://www.epcounty.com/243/Veterans-Assistance
New Mexico, Alabama and Florida
- New Mexico Dept. of Veterans Serviceshttps://www.dvs.nm.gov/
- Alabama Dept. of Veterans Affairshttps://va.alabama.gov/
- Alabama homestead exemptionshttps://www.revenue.alabama.gov/property-tax/homestead-exemptions/
- Florida Dept. of Veterans' Affairshttps://floridavets.org/
- Florida property tax exemptionshttps://floridarevenue.com/property/Pages/Taxpayers_exemptions.aspx
Consumer protection
- CFPB: Buying a househttps://www.consumerfinance.gov/owning-a-home/
- USA.gov: Housing scamshttps://www.usa.gov/housing-scams
Official government sites only (.gov, .mil and official state and county agencies). Links checked November 2026.
Nonprofits We Love
Organizations that show up for veterans and military families. We’re proud to support them.
American Warrior Association
A Christ-centered nonprofit providing faith-based healing, moral injury recovery and leadership development for veterans, first responders and their families.
Visit site →NonprofitVeterans Point (Denton County)
Supports service members, veterans and their families through peer support, with a mission to facilitate connection in the veteran community.
Visit site →NonprofitWounded Warrior Project
A nonprofit for veterans and active duty service members, with programs that support wounded warriors.
Visit site →NonprofitElizabeth Dole Foundation
Support, resources and community for America's hidden heroes: military and veteran caregivers.
Visit site →NonprofitOperation Homefront
A national nonprofit that helps build strong, stable and secure military and veteran families.
Visit site →NonprofitSemper Fi & America's Fund
Cares for critically wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and military families, with one-on-one case management and lifetime support.
Visit site →NonprofitTeam Red, White & Blue (Team RWB)
Supports veterans through fitness, events and community programs that promote health and camaraderie.
Visit site →NonprofitBlue Star Families
The largest community for military and veteran families, with resources, local events and connections in your neighborhood.
Visit site →NonprofitHiring Our Heroes
Dedicated to empowering veterans and military spouses in their pursuit of meaningful employment.
Visit site →NonprofitAmerican Corporate Partners
Personalized mentorship and resources to help transitioning service members, veterans and active-duty spouses build meaningful careers.
Visit site →NonprofitYellow Ribbon Fund
Enhancing the lives of military families facing medical crisis by keeping families together during recovery.
Visit site →NonprofitAmerica's Warrior Partnership
A national nonprofit that partners with communities to prevent veteran suicide, connecting veterans, families and caregivers with local resources.
Visit site →NonprofitCombined Arms
Connects veterans, service members, families and caregivers with organizations for housing, employment, benefits, food, wellness and more.
Visit site →NonprofitAmerican Red Cross: Military Families
Helps military families, members and veterans prepare for, cope with and respond to the challenges of military service.
Visit site →These are nonprofits we personally love and support. We aren’t paid to list them, and they aren’t government agencies.
We've personally vetted the organizations listed here, but Francisco Mortgage Team and Go Rascal Inc. aren't affiliated with them and make no representations, warranties or promises about their services, results or views. Links are provided for convenience only. Please do your own research before working with any organization.
Proud VettedVA Member
Proud VettedVA MemberWe’re proud members of Vetted VA, which calls itself “the most trusted VA loan education resource, built by veterans, for veterans.” It connects veterans with professionals who have been vetted and held accountable.
Vetted VA isn’t affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. See the Texas directory on vettedva.com.
Questions about your VA loan benefit?
Paul’s happy to help, no pressure. Call or text anytime, or book a time that works for you.
Paul Francisco, Mortgage Advisor · NMLS #1878399 · Go Rascal Inc., NMLS #2072896