Veterans / VA Loan Realtor in Lincoln NE – Wade Bartels

My Marine Corps years

Marine Corps color guard carrying the American flag and 1st Radio Battalion colors

I served in the Marine Corps from 2011 to 2016, stationed at Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms. I was the Color Sergeant for 1st Radio Battalion and worked ground electronics maintenance, MOS 2847.

Today, more than 25% of my business is veterans, and that is not an accident. I have a special heart for taking care of my own. That means making sure you actually use the benefits you earned, and that the advice you are getting comes from someone who has stood where you are standing.

When another veteran calls me, they get an agent who speaks the language, knows the VA loan cold, and treats their move like it matters. Because it does.

Why most Lincoln agents miss the mark on VA loans

VA loans are different. Zero down. No PMI. Specific appraisal requirements. Strict property condition standards. Funding fee rules. Seller concessions that work differently than conventional.

Most agents don't know this stuff, or they know it wrong. So they write offers that fail appraisal, miss out on seller concessions you're entitled to, or worse, steer you away from VA because they don't want to deal with it.

I served in the Marines. I use VA loans. I close VA transactions regularly. You're not going to get a bad deal on my watch.

What VA loan buyers actually get

Wade Bartels in Marine Corps utilities carrying deployment gear

Zero down payment. You can buy a house with $0 at closing on the down payment.
No private mortgage insurance (PMI). Saves you $100–300/month vs conventional.
Competitive rates. Often better than conventional by 0.25–0.5%.
Seller concessions up to 4%. That can cover most closing costs.
No prepayment penalty. Pay it off early, no fee.
Funding fee can be rolled in. Or waived entirely if you have a service-connected disability.

Active duty, veterans, and military families

Wade Bartels with fellow Marines in dress blues

PCS to Offutt? Moving to Lincoln from Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, anywhere? Coming back from deployment?

I've helped active duty families, retired veterans, Guard and Reserve members, and surviving spouses through home purchases in Lincoln. I know the timeline pressure of PCS orders. I know what a short-notice purchase looks like.

Call me. Or email. I'll make it work.

Bonus round: your rating changes the playbook

Most agents treat every VA buyer the same. Your disability rating actually changes the math, so here is the side-by-side I walk my veterans through.

What it affects	100% rating	Under 100%
VA funding fee	Waived.	Also waived if you receive VA disability compensation at any rating, even 10%. A 0% rating with no compensation pays the fee.
Nebraska property taxes	The homestead exemption can wipe out your property taxes with no income limit if your disability is 100% permanent and service-connected. Apply through your county assessor; the window runs to June 30 each year.	No veteran-specific exemption below 100%, but you may still qualify under Nebraska's income and age categories. Worth five minutes with the assessor to check.
Qualifying income	Disability pay counts, and because it is tax-free, lenders can gross it up when they calculate what you qualify for.	Same. Every dollar of compensation counts, grossed up the same way.
Monthly buying power	The tax exemption shrinks the escrow side of your payment, which means the same monthly budget buys more house. Hand your lender the award letter at the FIRST conversation so they run the numbers with it.	Standard taxes in escrow. Budget on full taxes and let any later rating increase be good news, not a plan.
Claim pending at closing	Rare, but if a permanent upgrade is pending, same refund rule applies.	The sleeper play: if your claim is granted after closing with an effective date BEFORE closing, you can get the funding fee refunded. Keep every piece of paperwork and chase it.
Adapted housing grants	SAH and SHA grants can fund real home modifications for specific severe service-connected conditions.	These key off your specific conditions, not the percentage. If mobility or vision is part of your rating, check before you shop, because it changes which houses work.

Three more plays worth knowing. If you are on TDIU and paid at the 100% rate, ask the county assessor how the homestead exemption reads your status before you assume either way. If you buy mid-year, the exemption follows the application calendar, so budget for full taxes the first year. And if a rating increase is in progress, talk to your VSO about timing before you go under contract, because it can change both your fee and your monthly number.

Rules shift and counties differ. I am not your lender or your VSO, but I know which questions to ask and who actually answers them, and I will connect you before we write an offer.

If you are buying with a 100 percent rating, the full walkthrough of the Nebraska homestead exemption, the filing dates and what happens when you buy mid-year is on buying a house with 100 percent VA disability in Nebraska. For what a VA loan actually costs at closing in this state, funding fee included, read VA loan costs in Nebraska.

"As a mortgage lender, communication with Realtors is critical for a successful transaction. Wade went above and beyond that expectation and is a true pro."
Ben S., mortgage lender · Google review

Get straight answers on your VA benefit

From an agent who runs VA deals every month. No runaround.

First name Last name Email Phone

Goes straight to Wade. Usually replies same day.

Common questions

Do I need a realtor who specializes in VA loans?

You need one who actually knows them. Most don't. A bad agent can cost you the deal with a wrong offer structure or by steering you into a house that won't pass VA appraisal. Worth finding someone who does it right.

How much house can I buy with a VA loan in Lincoln NE?

Depends on your income, credit, and debts, same as any loan. But VA doesn't require a down payment, which means all your savings can go toward closing, reserves, or just staying in your savings account. For a typical Lincoln buyer with solid income, that often means a house in the $250K–500K range.

Can I use my VA loan more than once?

Yes. The VA loan benefit is a one-time-at-a-time thing, but you can use it, sell the house, and use it again. With some strategy, you can even have two active VA loans at the same time.

How much is the VA funding fee on a first purchase vs a second?

On a zero-down purchase it's 2.15% of the loan the first time you use the benefit and 3.3% on later uses. Put 5% or more down and it drops. It rolls into the loan, so it's not cash out of pocket. And if you receive VA disability compensation at any rating, it's waived entirely.

Will VA require repairs before closing?

Sometimes. The VA appraiser looks for specific "minimum property requirements": things like safe water, functional heat, no peeling paint on pre-1978 homes, no active roof leaks. I spot these before we write an offer so we don't get surprised at appraisal.

Can I buy an acreage with a VA loan?

Yes, but with limits. VA allows up to a certain number of acres for a primary residence. If the property is too agricultural, VA won't back it. We screen for this up front.

How much cash do I actually need to buy with a VA loan?

The question every veteran asks first. Rough planning number: about 2% of the purchase price, and it moves with your disability rating and where you buy. We can ask the seller to cover closing costs, so I usually tell veterans to have at least a couple thousand dollars on hand. More is better. But if that's all you've got, we can get you in a house.

I have a 100% disability rating. What should I know before buying?

Three things. Your funding fee is waived completely, which saves thousands. Your disability compensation counts as qualifying income, and it's tax-free, so lenders can weigh it favorably. And Nebraska's homestead exemption can cut your property taxes significantly, which lowers your real monthly cost. Bring your rating up early and we plan around all three.

My disability rating is under 100%. What changes?

Less than you'd think. If you receive VA disability compensation at any rating, even 10%, the funding fee is still waived, and your compensation still counts as income. The loan itself works exactly the same: zero down, no monthly mortgage insurance. The rating mostly changes your monthly budget math, not what you qualify for.

I used my VA loan before. What do I still qualify for?

Usually more than you think. The benefit is reusable: sell and buy again, or in some cases carry two VA loans at once using remaining entitlement. Even veterans who lost a home years ago often have entitlement left. We check your Certificate of Eligibility and know exactly where you stand before you shop.

Should I use Veterans United, USAA, or Navy Federal, or go with a local lender?

The big national VA shops do enormous volume, their technology is slick, and their people do VA loans all day. The trade-offs: you're a file number in a call center, and the underwriting happens far from Lincoln. I work with leads from these lenders every week and the loans close fine. But when a deal gets tight, local wins. Ask me and I'll tell you straight which fits your situation.

What are the benefits of using a local lender for a VA loan?

Listing agents in Lincoln recognize a local lender's name on your pre-approval, and that credibility genuinely helps your offer win. You get a person who answers their own phone, knows the local appraisers, and can fix a problem the week of closing instead of routing you through a queue. On a competitive house, that speed is worth real money.

Go deeper

What a Veteran Realtor Actually Does Differently on a VA Deal in Lincoln

Free guide

7 Questions to Ask Any Lincoln Agent Before You Hire Them

Before you hand a VA purchase to anyone, run them through these seven questions and score the answers.

Semper Fi. Let's get you a house.

Free 15-minute call. I'll tell you straight what your VA benefit can do in this market.

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When you need help with a VA loan, call a Marine.