Veterans Day is personal for Terry Nanney: her father was an Army Ranger in World War II. Here are the VA benefits and VA home loan basics for military families.
Veterans Day is one of the most personal days of the year for me, and this year it falls on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. My father was an Army Ranger who served in World War II, so I grew up with a deep respect for what military service asks of a person and of a family. If you are a veteran, serving now, or the spouse, parent, or child of someone who served: thank you. This post is for you.
And because so many of the families I work with in Moore County and across the Sandhills are connected to Fort Bragg, I also want to spend time on something practical: the benefits veterans have earned, especially the VA home loan and how it can help you buy a home here.
Why Veterans Day is observed on November 11
Veterans Day is observed every year on November 11, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. The fighting stopped at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, and the first Armistice Day was observed a year later, in 1919, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the anniversary a day of remembrance. It became a legal holiday in 1938, and in 1954 it was renamed Veterans Day to honor all American veterans, not only those who served in World War I.
Unlike some holidays that shift to a Monday, Veterans Day keeps its date: November 11, every year. When the date falls on a weekend, the federal holiday is observed on the nearest weekday, but the day itself is always the 11th. It is a day to say thank you, and a day to remember.
VA Benefits: What Veterans Should Know
The Department of Veterans Affairs administers a broad set of benefits earned through military service. Eligibility rules, application steps, and program details change over time, so the most reliable place to confirm what applies to you is the VA's official website, va.gov. With that said, here is a plain-language overview of the benefits veterans most often ask me about.
VA health care: veterans who meet eligibility requirements can enroll in VA health care and receive medical services through VA facilities and community providers. Enrollment is based on things like your service, discharge status, and priority group.
Disability compensation: veterans with disabilities that were caused or made worse by their military service may qualify for monthly, tax-free compensation. The amount is tied to the severity of the disability, and the claim process starts at va.gov.
Education and training: the GI Bill helps eligible veterans, service members, and in some cases their family members pay for education and training, from degrees and certificates to on-the-job training. Today the Post-9/11 GI Bill is the benefit most veterans use.
VA home loan program: a benefit that helps eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and some National Guard and Reserve members finance a primary home, backed by the VA and offered through private lenders. I go into more detail below.
Pension and burial benefits: the VA pension is a needs-based benefit for wartime veterans and their survivors who meet income and net worth limits, and burial benefits can include burial in a VA national cemetery, a headstone or marker, and burial allowances for eligible veterans and their families.
The VA Home Loan: One of the Most Powerful Benefits
Of all the benefits tied to service, the VA home loan is the one I see change lives most directly in my work. The VA does not lend the money itself; it guarantees a portion of the loan, which lets a VA-approved lender offer terms that are hard to match anywhere else. Here are the basics.
Certificate of Eligibility (COE): eligibility is confirmed through a COE from the VA. It covers qualifying veterans, active-duty service members, and some National Guard and Reserve members. Your lender can usually help you get it, but the COE itself comes from the VA.
No down payment in most cases: qualified buyers can often finance 100% of the purchase price with no down payment. Not every purchase is zero-down, but most qualified VA buyers finance with none.
No private mortgage insurance: because the VA backs part of the loan, VA borrowers do not pay private mortgage insurance, or PMI, which can save hundreds of dollars a month compared with many conventional loans.
A one-time VA funding fee: instead of ongoing mortgage insurance, there is a one-time funding fee that varies by loan type and service history. The fee may be waived for some veterans with service-connected disabilities, which is one more reason a VA loan can be such a strong fit.
Competitive rates and flexible credit: VA loans generally offer competitive interest rates and more flexible credit guidelines than many conventional programs, which can open the door for buyers who do not think they can qualify.
Primary residence: the VA home loan is for your primary residence, not an investment property or a vacation home.
You can use it more than once: the benefit is not a one-time deal. Veterans who sell or pay off a VA loan can often use their entitlement again, which is why many military families buy with a VA loan more than once over a career.
A note on how the process works: your COE comes from the VA, and the mortgage itself is made by a lender who knows the VA program. That experience matters, because VA loans have their own appraisal, underwriting, and closing rules, and a lender who works with them every day makes the process smoother. Funding fee amounts, loan limits, and eligibility details do change, so please confirm the current program details at va.gov before you get too far into planning.
VA loans here in Moore County and the Sandhills
Moore County and the surrounding Sandhills are home to many military families tied to Fort Bragg, and that connection runs deep in this community. Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen, Whispering Pines, and the nearby towns of Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Raeford, and Cameron all see buyers whose service history is part of their story.
I have been helping buyers and sellers in this market since 2003, and I have helped many military homebuyers use VA loans here, from first-time purchases to families relocating with a new assignment to the installation. I know the neighborhoods that suit a commute to Fort Bragg, the communities that welcome military retirees, and the lenders and inspectors who understand what a VA transaction needs.
If you are a veteran, an active-duty service member, a military retiree, or a military family looking to buy a home in the Sandhills, I would love to help. No pressure and no jargon, just honest guidance from someone who has done this here for a long time. Every client deserves the same thorough, respectful service and equal opportunity, and that is how I work with every family I serve.
A simple thank you
So on this Veterans Day, whether you served in peacetime or wartime, stateside or overseas, for a few years or for a career: thank you. Your service mattered, and this community is grateful you are here.
If you or someone you love is ready to buy, sell, or simply explore what a VA loan could mean for your family's next chapter, my door is open. Call or text me at 910-528-2078, or schedule a time to talk on my calendar.
Experience isn't expensive, it's priceless!
Terry Nanney, Realtor®
Towering Pines Real Estate, brokered by eXp Realty
Serving Moore County and the surrounding Sandhills of North Carolina
Program and eligibility details for VA benefits, including funding fee amounts and interest rates, change over time. This post is an educational overview, not an official determination of eligibility, a quote of credit, or financial advice. Please confirm current requirements with the VA at va.gov and with a qualified VA lender before making decisions.
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Written by
Terry Nanney
Local real estate agent in Southern Pines, NC, serving the wider Moore County Sandhills.
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