GERMANTOWN, Wis. — Competing in today’s housing market is a challenge for any prospective home buyer. 

But there is help available for various population groups, such as military families.

Home loans accessible through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are what helped Wayne and Angela Robbins get their dream home in Germantown. They moved in a year ago and couldn’t be happier.

What You Need To Know

  • One Wisconsin veteran bought a new home with a VA Home Loan.

  • A VA Home Loan is a mortgage that is guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at much lower interest rates. It offers more flexible credit and income requirements and less closing costs.

  • Realtor said using a local lender is best for veterans.

  • Wayne Robbins said he hopes his story of finding his dream home will help other veterans find theirs.

Wayne Robbins is an Army veteran. He spends most of his days hanging around the house. He has a passion for drawing and loves sitting on the back patio. Because he relies on a wheelchair, the family had to find a place that could accommodate that.

“It’s been a blessing,” Wayne Robbins said.

Angela Robbins said she loves to entertain and have people over to their new house.

The couple said their realtor, Theresa Dixon with Wisconsin Real Estate Group, was instrumental in helping them navigate the process.

“It was taking so long to try to get what we need, and what we qualify for that would be beneficial for Wayne and myself,” Angela Robbins said.

A VA Home Loan is a mortgage that is guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at much lower interest rates. It offers more flexible credit and income requirements and less closing costs. In most cases, a VA Home Loan doesn’t require a down payment or private mortgage insurance.

“I think it’s really important for veterans to have realtors working for them that know how to write these offers, know how to advocate for them, and know the ins and outs of how to show value within a VA loan,” Dixon said.

After meeting Wayne and Angela Robbins, Dixon said she wants to help more military families navigate the home-buying process.

“Everything about this particular process and this particular condo, it was just frosting on the cake of a wonderful journey of looking for the right place,” Dixon said.

Wayne Robbins said getting help from the VA to buy a house has been a blessing.

“It showed me that they cared for me as a veteran,” he said. “It means a lot when people show that they’re thankful for service members.”

Wayne Robbins said he hopes his story of finding his dream home will help other veterans find theirs.

For more information on VA Home Loans, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.