Frequently Asked Questions

No, the VLB will finance any tract of land containing at least one acre, with dedicated access to a public roadway. You are welcome to find your own land using various land search web services, including LandWatch.com and LandsOfTexas.com.

Yes. Each seller will need to complete a farm and ranch contract – TREC No. 25-12.

No, there isn't. The loan amount that you are eligible for is based on credit approval (not a credit score). There are several steps you to can take to prepare:

1. Review your credit.
2. Gather your income information.
3. Be prepared to provide your loan processor with your most recent pay stubs to assist in determining your creditworthiness.

The VLB is considered the lender for land loans.

The VLB Land Loan is a State of Texas loan through the Texas Veterans Land Board and is not in conjunction with Veterans Affairs.

No, the VLB can not help you sell your property.

No. Program guidelines only allow a spouse co-borrower on land loans.

No, the VLB does not maintain a list of contractors for home improvement loans. We suggest researching contractors in your area who are able to perform your desired home improvements.

No, there isn't. The loan amount that you are eligible for is based on credit approval (not a credit score). There are several steps you to can take to prepare:

1. Review your credit.
2. Gather your income information.
3. Be prepared to provide your loan processor with your most recent pay stubs to assist in determining your creditworthiness.

The VLB is considered the lender for land loans.

Unfortunately, you are not allowed to be your own general contractor. We suggest researching contractors in your area who are able to perform your desired home improvements.

Yes, it does. Additionally, you must own the home that you are improving, and the property must be your primary residence.

You must occupy the home for at least 90 days before you apply.

Residents are encouraged to personalize the room (e.g., TV, comfortable chair, pictures.) Upon admission, the operator will provide a list of what residents can’t bring, including items that say, “keep out of reach of children.” Residents or responsible parties may bring TVs for the resident’s room as most of the Texas State Veterans Homes provide basic cable service at no charge. Extended cable is available at an extra cost. The Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home provides TVs in all resident rooms. The Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home in Big Spring charges a fee for cable service.

Residents or responsible parties may provide TVs for the resident’s rooms. The Texas State Veterans Home provides basic cable service at no charge to the resident. The Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home provides TVs in all resident rooms. The Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home in Big Spring charges a fee for cable service.

Wireless internet is available throughout the Texas State Veterans Homes. Computers with internet access are also available for resident use in each of the home’s libraries.

Kitchenettes are located in the main dining room and D-wing dining room. Snacks are available for the residents 24/7. Personal refrigerators may be placed in resident rooms, visitors may bring food, but it must be in a closed container. The Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home in Tyler, as part of the small house concept, has an open kitchen concept in all houses.

Each Home focuses on Veteran Centered Care and provides specialized training to educate the staff on what it means to be a military Veteran, spouse of a Veteran or a Gold Star Parent. Their are operators in each Home who understand and value your military service. There are many volunteer groups that are Veteran focused, often members are Veterans themselves wanting to support those who now need it. On-site support groups and activities that are Veteran-centered are offered, so that the resident can be engaged in areas of interest. The VA per diem rate subsidizes the cost of care for qualified Veterans, making the Texas State Veterans Home an affordable choice.

The “Small House” concept means that it’s not like a traditional institutional-style nursing home built under one roof with long halls going out from a central nurse’s station. It’s a unique gated neighborhood of ten beautiful and welcoming skilled nursing homes created for Texas Veterans, Veteran spouses, surviving spouses and Gold Star Parents.

No, we do not offer assisted living, but there are numerous assisted living communities in the area.

Each home has a medical director that may be selected to be the Veteran’s primary care physician. The resident also has the right to choose their own primary care physician. All physicians must go through the credentialing and privileging process before providing care in any Texas State Veterans Home.

The VA helps pay for the Veterans per diem so the primary care physician can’t be a physician at the VA; however, for specialty referral appointments and hospitalizations the Veterans can be seen at the VA by a VA physician.

Pets are allowed to visit as long as they are up to date on their vaccinations and are on a leash. The William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home in Temple and the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home in Tyler allow pets, but the resident must be able to care for the pet personally.

"We have nine long-term nursing homes spread out across the state, in Amarillo, Big Spring, Bonham, El Paso, Floresville, Houston, McAllen, Temple, and Tyler. Hours for the Texas State Veterans Homes vary. For more information, contact the home directly."

There can be waiting lists. Please contact the Texas State Veterans Home directly to see if there is a waiting list.

There is no charge for the burial of Veterans, their spouses and dependent children at a Texas State Veterans Cemetery. The burial benefit includes the grave plot, the opening and closing of the grave, a concrete grave liner for casketed burials, a headstone or marker and perpetual grave care. The funeral home will obtain a burial flag to accompany the Veteran’s casket or urn. Upon request, the funeral home will also arrange for military honors for the Veteran. The benefit does not cover funeral home charges such as the cost of a casket, cremation, viewing, flower cars or transportation of the remains and family. However, if the Veteran has a service-connected cause of death, the family may be eligible for reimbursement from the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) for some of the funeral home costs up to $2,000.

All arrangements are made through a funeral home. A funeral home representative will collect a copy of the military discharge form (DD-214) or other military service documents that proves eligibility from a family representative. The funeral home representative will contact the cemetery of choice to verify eligibility and make all of the arrangements for the burial service, to include military honors. If you are making arrangements for the interment of a spouse, you will also need to provide the funeral home a copy of the marriage certificate.

Yes. Upon the family's request, Veterans receive a military funeral honors ceremony, to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons, with at least one being a member of the Veteran's parent service of the armed forces. Volunteer Veterans organizations may also assist in providing military funeral honors. The DOD program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the Veterans' family, but Texas State Veteran’s Cemetery staff can also assist. Please contact a Texas State Veterans Cemetery near you for additional information.

Although you cannot reserve a burial space, you can pre-register at a Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Complete an Interment Registration Form, attaching a copy of the military discharge form (DD-214) (and a copy of a marriage certificate, if applicable) and send these documents to the Texas State Veterans Cemetery of your choice. The cemetery will verify your eligibility, inform you accordingly, and maintain a copy of these documents on hand so that the next of kin does not have to find them at the time of need.

Please refer to the National Archives website to request your military service records.

The Texas Veterans Land Board on-site representatives accept the flag used during the services on behalf of the family or next-of-kin and will hold the flag for 90 days if no next-of-kin is found or comes forward. After the 90-day period expires, the flag is flown on the central cemetery flagpole to honor the Veteran’s service and as a reminder that we never leave Veterans behind.

Yes. Burial benefits are available for spouses and eligible dependents meeting specific guidelines in a Texas State Veterans cemetery, which includes burial with the Veteran and perpetual care. The spouse or dependents name, date of birth, and death date will be inscribed on the Veteran's headstone, at no cost to the family. Spouses and dependents may be buried, even if they predecease the Veteran. Gold Star parents are eligible to buried with service members killed in action, under specific VA guidelines, which can be found under VA’s CFR 38.620.

No. Veterans, their spouses, and dependent children are interred in the next available grave space for the type requested (i.e., casketed space, cremation space in a columbarium wall niche or cremation space for in-ground burial). However, you may get pre-authorization for internments at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery.

Although you cannot reserve a burial space, you can get pre-authorized at a Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Complete an Interment Registration Form, attaching a copy of the military discharge form (DD-214 and a copy of a marriage certificate, if applicable) and send these documents to the Texas State Veterans Cemetery of your choice. The cemetery will verify your eligibility, inform you accordingly and maintain a copy of these documents so that the next of kin does not have to find them at the time of need.

Please contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1.

Please call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838.

Please contact the National Archives at 1-314-801-0800.

For emergencies, please fax form SF-180 to 314-801-0764.

For burial at a National Cemetery fax form SF-180 to 314-801-0764.

For Natural Disasters, fax form SF-180 to 314-801-0927.

Please contact your nearest military installation.

You can request your Military Awards and Decorations through the National Archives Military Awards and Decorations through the National Archives.

The VLB offers three types of loan programs: land, home, and home improvement. However, we can’t help you with refinancing your loan. You may want to check the VA's refinancing program, or with another lender to see if they can assist you.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is a federal agency, whereas the Texas Veterans Land Board is a state program part of the Texas General Land Office.

There are no loan programs through the VLB for children. The only program available is the Public Land Sale open to the public.

To contact the VA Refinance Program visit their webpage on Mortgage Refinancing.

You can contact the Veterans Affairs Loan Guarantee Program at 1-877-827-3702 and press #3.

To find your VA compensation check status you can call 1-800-827-1000, visit your nearest VA regional benefit office or view your VA payment history on the VA eBenefits website.

The VA offers the HISA grant as part of their Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services, visit their website to apply.

To find information about the education benefits visit the Texas Veterans Commission webpage Veterans Education Services.

The VA offers instructions on how to apply for a VA discharge upgrade or the Texas Veterans Commission Family & Survivors website.

There are benefits available to surviving spouses through different agencies. Please call 1-800-252-8387 for assistance or visit the VA Pension website or the Texas Veterans Commission Family & Survivors website.

The Texas Veterans Commission offers Veterans Mental Health services.

The Texas Comptroller offers property tax exemptions for Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses

Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans offers pro bono legal services to Texas Veterans.

The Veterans Administration Health Care Advocacy Program.