Program figures verified July 2026 — details change; confirm your scenario with us.
What is the Virginia VA Credit Tune-Up?
If you're a Virginia Veteran planning to buy in 6-12 months but your credit isn't quite where it needs to be for the strongest approval tier, the Credit Tune-Up is a structured coaching process we walk you through at no cost.
The goal: get your credit score into the band that unlocks the strongest approval tier (typically 720+) before you start house shopping. For most Veterans, this means working on credit utilization, disputing legitimate errors, addressing collections strategically, and avoiding common mistakes that DROP scores during pre-approval.
This is not a credit repair company. Mike is a licensed loan officer (Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) #260555) doing what good loan officers should do — helping you prepare so the eventual VA loan goes smoothly. No fees, no contracts, no monthly subscriptions.
How it works — 4 steps
Initial credit review
15-30 minute call. Mike pulls a soft credit assessment (no hard inquiry) and looks at scores, tradelines, derogatories, and utilization. Identifies the 2-3 biggest score levers specific to your situation.
Customized action plan
Mike sends you a written plan: which accounts to pay down (and in what order), which derogatories are worth disputing, which to leave alone, and what timeline gets you to your target score. Virginia-specific to your debt + income picture.
Monthly check-ins
Free monthly 15-min calls to check progress, adjust the plan as your score moves, and answer questions. Most Veterans see meaningful score movement within 60-120 days.
Pre-approval when ready
Once your score hits the target band, Mike transitions you to full pre-underwriting for your VA loan. By that point you've been working together for months — the actual loan process is smooth.
Common Virginia Veterans credit situations Mike works with
- Recent military separation — switching from LES income to civilian W-2 income can temporarily affect credit profile
- Medical debt from VA care delays — sometimes Veterans get hit with medical collections during care transitions; many of these can be removed
- Old derogatories from younger years — credit card defaults, old collections that are nearing the 7-year fall-off date
- High utilization — Veterans carrying balances on credit cards because they're saving cash for moving / starting civilian life
- Spouse credit issues — sometimes leaving the non-Veteran spouse off the application is the right play; Mike walks through the math
- Thin file Veterans — those who've never had much credit history; Mike helps build tradelines safely
What you'll need on the first call
- Your DD-214 (Mike doesn't need to see it on call 1, but having it ready helps)
- A general sense of your current credit score (Credit Karma is fine to start)
- Rough timeline for when you'd like to buy
- What city/area you're targeting in Virginia
- Your phone for 15-30 minutes uninterrupted
Start your Virginia VA Credit Tune-Up
Free, no commitment. Our team reaches out within 5 minutes during business hours to schedule your first 15-30 minute call. Virginia Veterans + active-duty + reservists only.
The Virginia VA Credit Tune-Up is a free coaching service provided by Mike Certo and does not guarantee mortgage approval. Credit improvement timelines vary. Actual VA loan approval depends on full underwriting at the time of application. Not a commitment to lend. Equal Housing Lender.