VA Loan Fort Gordon · Augusta VA Mortgage · Veterans & Active Duty
VA loans for Fort Gordon & Augusta military families.
$0 down VA loans in Georgia. No PMI. BAH-friendly payments. Whether you’re PCSing to Fort Gordon (now Fort Eisenhower) or already call Augusta home, we’ve served the military community here since 1992 — local underwriting, no call center, and we know Evans, Grovetown, Martinez, Hephzibah and the surrounding GA & SC markets like home.
$0 Down Payment
Eligible buyers can finance 100% of the purchase price.
No Private Mortgage Insurance
Save hundreds per month vs. conventional with low down payment.
BAH Often Covers the Payment
For active duty, BAH at the Augusta rate frequently covers full PITI.
We Handle the VA Paperwork
Certificate of Eligibility, residual income, funding fee — we do the work.
30+
Years closing VA loans in the CSRA
NMLS# 148371
License
GRMA# 5819
State authority
Required disclosures honored
Equal Housing Lender
The Fort Gordon market
Most military families in Augusta have to buy off-post. We make that easy.
16,000+
Active military at Fort Gordon
~1,000
On-post houses (and shrinking)
$2.4B
Annual economic impact
31,000+
Total base workforce
Fort Gordon (now officially Fort Eisenhower) is one of the largest Army installations in the country and home of U.S. Army Cyber Command. With only about 1,000 on-post homes available — and that number shrinking — the vast majority of military families have to buy or rent off-post directly in our market. That’s where PCS home buying near Fort Gordon starts, and where a $0-down VA loan does the heavy lifting.
Columbia County — Evans, Grovetown, and Martinez — is the #1 preferred destination thanks to its school system. PCS orders create a perpetual, seasonal wave of motivated buyers every spring and summer, and we’ve been closing those loans for 30+ years.
Columbia County Guide
Where Fort Gordon families settle
- Evans — top-rated schools, newer subdivisions, easy I-20 access. The default landing zone for officer-rank PCS families.
- Grovetown — closest to the gates, fastest commute, strong new-construction inventory at moderate price points.
- Martinez — established neighborhoods, mature trees, walkable to retail and dining. Strong resale market.
- Hephzibah — Fort Gordon’s south side; bigger lots, lower price points, and many USDA-eligible addresses alongside VA.
BAH Explainer
Your BAH may cover the entire payment.
The DoD’s Basic Allowance for Housing is paid at the local market rate. In the Augusta area, BAH for many ranks frequently covers full PITI — principal, interest, taxes, and insurance — on a moderately priced home in Columbia County.
Combined with $0 down and no PMI, that’s the closest thing to free housing you’ll find as a buyer. We’ll model your specific BAH against a real Columbia County mortgage payment before you ever submit an application.
How we model it
We do this math on a real call. Not a hypothetical calculator, not a teaser ad — actual numbers for your situation, no credit pull required.
VA programs we close
More than just the standard VA purchase.
VA Purchase
The standard VA loan — $0 down, no PMI, competitive VA rates. Owner-occupied primary residence in Augusta or Columbia County.
First-Time Military Buyer
Buying your first home on a VA benefit? There’s no first-time-buyer penalty — $0 down, flexible credit, and we walk you through every step.
VA IRRRL Streamline
Streamline refinance for existing VA borrowers. Lower rate, lower payment, minimal documentation, often no new appraisal.
VA Cash-Out Refinance
Tap your home equity at competitive VA rates for renovations, debt payoff, or reserves — up to high loan-to-value limits.
Learn more →
VA Jumbo
For loans above the standard county limit. Full-entitlement veterans may still qualify with $0 down.
Learn more →
VA One-Time Close
Build a custom home with a single VA loan that converts from construction to permanent financing.
VA eligibility basics
Eligibility, entitlement & VA loan limits — in plain English.
You don’t need to have it all figured out before you call. Here’s the short version of how VA eligibility works for Augusta and Fort Gordon buyers.
Who’s eligible
Veterans, active-duty service members, most National Guard and Reserve members after qualifying service, and eligible surviving spouses. Service length requirements vary — we confirm yours when we pull your COE.
Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
The document that proves your VA entitlement. We request it from the VA for you — most come back the same day — so you can shop with confidence.
Full vs. reduced entitlement
With full entitlement there’s no VA loan limit and $0 down. If you already have an active VA loan, reduced entitlement applies and county limits affect the zero-down portion. We do the math up front.
VA loan limits
The VA removed loan caps for full-entitlement borrowers — your approval is driven by income, credit, and residual income, not an arbitrary ceiling. Higher-priced homes may use a VA Jumbo structure.
The VA funding fee
A one-time fee that funds the program, rollable into the loan. Veterans with a service-connected disability, Purple Heart recipients, and eligible surviving spouses are generally exempt.
BAH & what you can afford
Active-duty BAH at the Augusta rate frequently covers full PITI on a moderately priced Columbia County home. We model your specific BAH against a real payment before you apply.
Local vs. national
Why Augusta veterans choose us over the big national VA lenders.
National lenders sell speed and ad spend. We sell certainty, relationships, and a Columbia County zip code that means something to your underwriter.
| National Lender | First Choice Mortgage | |
|---|---|---|
| Local Knowledge | National call center | 32 years in Augusta / CSRA |
| Columbia County Expertise | Generic content | Evans, Grovetown, Martinez specific |
| Community Trust | Brand advertising | Local reviews, local faces |
| PCS Realtor Relationships | None locally | Realtor network in place |
| Response Time | Queue-based | Direct local licensed loan officers that know the area |
| Established Since | 2002 (Missouri) | 1992 (Augusta, GA) |
How a VA loan works
Three steps. We do the heavy lifting.
Check eligibility
Tell us your service status. We’ll pull your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for you — most are returned in minutes.
Get pre-approved
We will pre-approve you and walk you through residual income, the funding fee, and what your monthly payment looks like against your BAH.
Close on your home
From contract to keys, we coordinate with your real estate agent, the appraiser, and the VA. You sign. We do the rest.
VA loan FAQ
Common VA loan questions from Augusta & Fort Gordon buyers.
Do you offer VA loans for Fort Gordon (Fort Eisenhower)?+
How much is $0 down on a VA loan in Georgia?+
What is a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?+
Are there VA loan limits in Augusta?+
What is the VA funding fee, and who is exempt?+
Can I use my VA benefit more than once?+
What is a VA IRRRL streamline refinance?+
Can I take cash out with a VA loan?+
Can I buy with less-than-perfect credit?+
Do you work with PCS / military buyers on a tight timeline?+
Ready to use your VA benefit?
We’ll pull your COE, give you a real rate, and tell you exactly what you can buy against your BAH. No pressure, no credit pull until you’re ready.
VA loans are subject to VA eligibility requirements. Not all applicants will qualify. First Choice Mortgage is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. NMLS# 148371. Equal Housing Lender.