Big news just came down the pipeline, and it is a major win for veterans trying to buy a home. On July 30, President Trump signed H.R. 1815, the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act, into law. It sounds like a boring title, but trust me, this is the kind of legislation that actually changes lives.
Here’s the deal. Veterans using a VA loan can now officially pay their real estate agent if the seller doesn’t. Why is that a big deal? Because up until now, VA policy made it illegal for buyers to pay their own agent. If the seller didn’t cover it, the veteran was out of luck. No representation, no shot at winning in today’s market, and no real chance to compete with other buyers. That rule was outdated, confusing, and frankly, unfair.
Thanks to some serious advocacy by the National Association of REALTORS, and a rare moment of political cooperation in Congress, that rule is gone for good.
What the New Law Does
This bill didn’t just fix one thing. It handled multiple issues that have been holding veterans back. Here’s what just got put into place:
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VA buyers can now compensate their real estate agent
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A partial claim program is established to help VA borrowers catch up on mortgage payments if they fall behind
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Community support programs will receive funding to help veterans experiencing homelessness
This is the kind of common-sense update we don’t see nearly enough.
In 2024, VA-backed lenders helped finance nearly 490,000 home purchases and refinances. That’s half a million people who trusted the VA loan program to make homeownership possible. But if those buyers weren’t allowed to pay their agent and sellers decided not to offer any compensation, veterans were stuck either navigating one of the most complex financial decisions of their lives alone, or walking away from the deal entirely.
Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
In case you missed it, the real estate industry went through some big changes in 2024. One of them involved how buyer agent compensation is handled and communicated. For buyers using traditional financing, they could negotiate or pay for representation if needed. But VA buyers weren’t allowed to do that. It was an unfair setup that put thousands of active-duty service members and veterans at a clear disadvantage.
NAR fought hard to get a temporary fix put in place last year, but this new law makes it permanent. Veterans now have access to the same tools, representation, and market flexibility as every other buyer.
As Shannon McGahn, Chief Advocacy Officer for NAR, put it, “This is about fairness. Veterans deserve the same shot at homeownership as every other buyer.”
This Was Not an Accident
The road to reform wasn’t short or easy. NAR, veterans' groups, and key lawmakers worked with the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees to bring this issue to the top of the list. The result is a law that protects our service members and strengthens the VA loan program.
McGahn also pointed out that real estate professionals play a critical role in helping veterans navigate their eligibility, secure financing, and get their offers accepted in a competitive market. Removing barriers for VA buyers helps everyone involved.
This law is a victory, plain and simple. It shows that when advocacy is done right, and people stay focused on what actually matters, change happens.
