Morongo Band of Mission Indians and VA Reach Agreement for Direct Home Loans for Tribal Veterans

Morongo Band of Mission Indians Partners with VA to Provide Home Loans for Tribal Veterans

MORONGO INDIAN RESERVATION, CA – In a historic move, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians has become the first Southern California tribe to collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer direct home loans to qualifying tribal veterans on reservation trust lands.

At a special ceremony held at the Morongo Tribal Council Chambers, Morongo Tribal Chairman Robert Martin and Jeffrey London, director of the VA’s Loan Guaranty Service in Washington, D.C., signed a memorandum of understanding to allow the VA Native American Direct Loans to be accessible at Morongo. The event was attended by members of the Morongo Tribal Council, officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office in Washington D.C., and the Phoenix Regional Loan Center.

Chairman Martin expressed the significance of this agreement, stating, “Historically, securing a home loan has always been an extremely difficult process for Native Americans, and it’s exponentially harder if the property is located on reservation land. This agreement will help ensure that our tribal veterans who have honorably served in the U.S. military will be able to purchase, construct, or improve a home for their families, and that the terms of that loan will be fair.”

The VA Native American Direct Loan program, which began in 1997, has provided over 1,000 loans to date. These loans are offered with no down payment, no private mortgage insurance, and competitive interest rates, currently set at 4.00%.

Jeffrey London, director of the VA’s Loan Guaranty Service, emphasized the benefits of the program, stating, “The VA Native American Direct Loan is an excellent option when a mortgage lender is unwilling or unable to make a loan on trust land.”

To be eligible for the loan, applicants must be tribal veterans or spouses of tribal members with sufficient military service, the home being financed must be on trust or allotted land, and the veteran must have a satisfactory credit rating and reliable income source.

As part of the agreement, the Morongo tribe has adopted necessary legal procedures related to the VA Native American Direct Loans, including foreclosure, eviction, and lien priority.

“We are excited about partnering with the Morongo Band to serve veterans, and we look forward to helping more Native American veterans by establishing more MOUs with other tribal nations in Southern California,” London added.

This collaboration marks a significant step towards providing housing opportunities for tribal veterans and their families, showcasing the commitment of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the VA to support those who have served our country.