Buying a home is difficult, especially in a competitive market, but misunderstandings about the VA loan program make it more difficult for service members who want to become homeowners.

Veterans can get VA loans with little to no money down and low-interest rates, making homeownership more accessible. On the other hand, a lending specialist claims that veterans have difficulty purchasing homes and that he sees offer after offer.

"Getting a home under contract in today's market is extremely tough for anyone." But it's particularly challenging for veterans, who the wrong individuals sometimes teach that sellers should not accept offers backed by a VA loan or an FHA loan," said Scott Hastings, Loan Officer, HomeBridge Financial Services.

Hastings has worked in the real estate market for 20 years, assisting clients such as US Air Force Veteran Andre Lima and his family looking for their dream house.

One of the numerous misunderstandings, according to Hastings, is that some dealers miss service members' offers, preventing them from using their hard-earned advantages.

"They believe sellers will be burdened with higher costs," Scott Hastings explained. "The new VA loan is no expense to the sellers." They also believe that appraisers will be too harsh on the properties, which is not the case."

That is not the reality, according to Hastings, and it is not the only battle veterans confront. They are having difficulty competing.

"They just get beaten out by folks who have traditional finance, especially people who offer considerably more than the purchase price," Hastings observed.

His advice to sellers is to think carefully about putting VA loan offers at the bottom of the pile. He says that the program assists people who have served their country in realizing their ambition of owning a property.