Table of Contents
- What is the VA Loan Limit?
- How to Apply for a VA Home Loan?
- What is the Median Home Price?
- What are the VA Appraisal Fees?
- Do I need Flood Insurance?
- How do I learn about Property Taxes?
- What is the Population?
- What are the major cities?
- About Alpine County
- Veteran Information
- Apply for a VA Home Loan
- VA Approved Condos
FAQ
What is the VA Loan Limit?
2021 VA Home Loan Limit: $0 down up to $5,000,000* (Subject to lender limits) /2 open VA loans at one time $548,250* (Call 888-573-4496 for details).
How to Apply for a VA Home Loan?
This is a quick look at how to apply for a VA home loan in Alpine County. For a more detailed overview of the VA home loan process, check out our complete guide on how to apply for a VA home loan. Here, we’ll go over the general steps to getting a VA home loan and point out some things to pay attention to in Alpine County. If you have any questions, you can call us at VA HLC and we’ll help you get started.
- Get your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- Give us a call at (877) 432-5626 and we’ll get your COE for you.
- Are you applying for a refinance loan? Check out our complete guide to VA Refinancing.
- Get pre-approved, to get pre-approved for a loan, you’ll need:
- Previous two years of W2s
- Most recent 30 days paystubs or LES (active duty)
- Most recent 60 days bank statements
- Landlord and HR/Payroll Department contact info
- Find a home
- We can help you check whether the home is in one of the Alpine County flood zones
- Get the necessary inspections
- Termite inspection: required
- Well or septic inspections needed, if applicable
- Get the home appraised
- We can help you find a VA-Certified appraiser in Alpine County and schedule the process
- Construction loan note: Construction permit/appraisal info
- Building permit
- Elevation certificate
- Lock in your interest rates
- Wait until the appraisal to lock in your loan rates. If it turns out you need to make repairs, it can push your closing back. Then you can get stuck paying rate extension fees.
- Close the deal and get packing!
- You’re ready to go.
What is the Median Home Price?
As of March 31, 2021, the median home value for Alpine County is $432,318. In addition, the median household income for residents of the county is $63,750.
How much are the VA Appraisal Fees?
- Single-Family: $600.
- Individual Condo: $600.
- Manufactured Homes: $600.
- 2-4 Unit Multi-Family: $850.
- Appraisal Turnaround Times: 7 days.
Do I need Flood Insurance?
- The VA requires properties are required to have flood insurance if they are in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
- There is currently no digital data in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. However, if you want to find out whether a place you are looking at in Alpine County is located in a flood zone, talk to your Real Estate Agent.
How do I learn about Property Taxes?
- Donald O’Connor is the current tax assessor for Alpine County. His office can be reached at 99 Water Street, Markleeville, California 96120 and by calling (530) 694-2491.
- The state of California offers incentive programs that expand statewide for new, growing, and relocating businesses. Two of these programs are the California Competes Tax Credit which offers qualifying businesses with a tax credit, and the New employment Credit which offers a tax credit for taxpayers who hire full-time employees. Furthermore, the state offers several other incentives.
What is the Population?
- The county’s population of 1,129 is 61% White, 25% American Indian, and 12% Hispanic.
- Most county residents are between 18 and 65 years old, with 17% under 18 years old and 26% older than 65.
- In total, the county has about 350 households, with an average of 2.8 people per household.
What are the major cities?
There are eleven unincorporated communities in Alpine County, with Merkleeville serving as the county seat. The ten other communities are Alpine Village, Bear Valley, Fredericksburg, Kirkwood, Lake Alpine, Loope, Mesa Vista, Paynesville, Sorensens, and Woodfords.
About Alpine County
Alpine County has the smallest population of any county in California. Located in the Sierra Nevada, between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park, the county was named for its uncanny resemblance to the Swiss Alps. There are no incorporated cities in the county; the CDP Markleeville occupies the county seat. The county is small enough that adjacent Douglas County in Nevada provides its public transportation.
Although it is the smallest county in California, Alpine County is home to several good K-12 schools. Diamond Valley, the largest school in the area, holds the distinction of being a California Distinguished School. There is also a lot of support for distance learning in the county. For example, the library has invested in a large ebook collection, making it possible to keep up on your reading from the comfort of your own home.
A majority Republican-leaning county has gone democrat in the past, most notably, Barack Obama in 2008, John Kerry in 2004, and Franklin Roosevelt in 1936. Because of the low population density, the county vote is conducted wholly by mail.
The county is only an hour away from Lake Tahoe and home to some of the most beautiful forest scenery in the world. Whether walking through sunlit pine groves or shredding snow-covered slopes, Alpine County is a place where you can enjoy your time in nature.
Veteran Information
The county is currently home to 79 veterans.
Apply for a VA Home Loan
- For more information about VA Home Loans and how to apply, click here.
- If you meet the VA’s eligibility requirements, you will be able to enjoy some of the best government-guaranteed home loans available.
- VA loans can finance the construction of a property. However, the property must be owned and prepared for construction as the VA cannot ensure vacant land loans.
VA Approved Condos
At the moment, there are no Alpine County VA-approved condos. However, it is still possible to get a condo through the condo approval process. Call us at (877) 432-5626, and we will assist you through the process.
