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 Kern 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 Kern County. For a more detailed overview of the VA home loan process, check out our complete guide on how to apply for a VA house 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 Kern 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 Kern 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 Kern 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 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 Kern County is $267,976. In addition, the median household income for residents of the county is $53,350.
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.
- Kern County is made of three regions: Valley, Mountain, and Desert. Flood zones are located mainly in the valley regions. Your agent can help you determine whether any given property is in a flood area. In addition, Kern County has undertaken a Hazard Mitigation Plan to help reduce risks from natural disasters county-wide.
How do I learn about Property Taxes?
- Jon Lofquist is the current tax assessor for Kern County, California. His office can be reached at 1115 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, California 93301 and by calling (661) 868-3485.
- Veterans, owner-occupiers, and senior citizens may be eligible for property tax relief. You can find out whether you qualify through the county assessor. In addition, the Assessor’s Office can do re-appraisals to determine property values and flood risks.
What is the Population?
- The county’s population of 900,202 is 54% Hispanic, 32% White, and 6.3% Black.
- Most county residents are between 18 and 65 years old, with 28% under 18 years old and 11% older than 65.
- In total, the county has about 270,282 households, with an average of 3.17 people per household.
What are the major cities?
The County has eleven cities, including the city of Bakersfield which serves as the county seat. The ten other cities in the County are Arvin, California City, Delano, Maricopa, McFarland, Ridgecrest, Shafter, Taft, Tehachapi, and Wasco.
About Kern County
Located in the southern part of California, Kern County is known for its oil fields, along with an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities. Residents of Kern County enjoy horseback riding, water skiing, off-road biking, hunting, hiking, camping, and fishing. The area also provides Olympic-quality kayaking, snow skiing, and many other outdoor activities.
The County also prides itself on embracing the future while staying grounded in its traditions. Life in the County is modern, but they don’t forget the past. Kern is proud of its agriculture and aerospace roots but has taken steps to expand innovation and welcome new businesses to the region. Life in Kern is all about embracing the new without forgetting the old.
Education in Kern County provides a wide range of opportunities. The County is home to the largest high school and elementary school districts in the country. For example, the Bakersfield City School District serves over 30,000 students. However, the County is also home to one of the state’s smallest school districts. Blake School District in Woody serves just 13 students.
The California Living Museum is a zoo and garden full of native plants and animals. Kern County’s libraries also host the Science 4 Kern program to keep 4th and 5th graders engaged in STEM learning. For higher education, there are three nationally recognized community colleges in the County. Students benefit from individual support as they progress towards professional accreditations or prepare to transfer to four-year schools.
The fast-growing city of Bakersfield provides plenty of opportunities for new businesses. Its central location means that people have access to 40 million customers that pass through the region. The city’s young millennial populations are both skilled workers and ideal customers.
Furthermore, outside of the big city, there is still plenty to do and see throughout Kern. The Nut Festival celebrates the region’s pistachio and almond groves. There are also thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails. Residents and visitors can also go fly fishing and whitewater rafting on the rivers in Kern. The County offers the best of both worlds: big-city entertainment and the tranquility of the natural world.
Veteran Information
The county is currently home to 35,594 veterans.
- Kern County is home to 11 VFW post:
- Post 7216 Specialist 4 Leonard L. Alvarado Post – 2101 Ridge Road, Bakersfield, California 93305.
- Post 97 Richard H. Woodward Post – 5350 S Union Avenue, Bakersfield, California 93307.
- Post 10859 North of the River Post – 400 Norris Road, Bakersfield, California 93308.
- Post 6742 Wasco Post – 603 E Street, Wasco, California 93280.
- Post 11012 Maricopa Post – 600 Hazelton Street, Maricopa, California 93252.
- Post 5948 Tehachapi Mountain Post – 211 West Tehachapi Blvd., Tehachapi, California 93561.
- Post 12114 Major Jason E. George Post – 125 East F Street, Tehachapi, California 93561.
- Post 7665 Kern River Post – 2811 Nugett, Lake Isabella, California 93240.
- Post 9791 Frazier Mountain Park Post – 613 San Gabriel Trail, Frazier Park, California 93225.
- Post 9657 Rosamond Post – 1990 El Rey Street, Rosamond, California 93560.
- Post 9375 California City Post – 21016 Neuralia Road, California City, California 93505.
- VA Medical Centers in the county:
- Bakersfield VA Clinic – 1801 Westwind Drive, Bakersfield, California 93301.
- Bakersfield Vet Center – 1110 Golden State Avenue, Bakersfield, California 93301.
- County Veteran Assistance Information
- Kern County Veterans Service Office – 1120 Golden State Avenue, Bakersfield, California 93301.
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
| Name (ID): HIDDEN LAKES (002531) Address: TRACT 4786 BAKERSFIELD CA 93306-0000 KERN Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 05/31/1988 Review Completion Date: 05/31/1988 | Name (ID): KERN CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION (004928) Address: 1003 PEBBLE BEACH DR BAKERSFIELD CA 93309 KERN Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 03/05/2020 Review Completion Date: 03/17/2020 |
| Name (ID): RIO BRAVO (005358) Address: 2937 SUMMIT CIRCLE BAKERSFIELD CA 93306 KERN Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 12/16/2020 Review Completion Date: 12/20/2020 | Name (ID): RIO BRAVO PHASE II CONDOMINIUM (004393) Address: 100 H ST BAKERSFIELD CA 93304 KERN Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 04/05/2017 Review Completion Date: 04/13/2017 |
| Name (ID): SUNSHINE VILLAGE WEST ASSOC (004853) Address: TRACT 3683 BAKERSFIELD CA 93389 KERN Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 09/15/2019 Review Completion Date: 09/24/2019 | Name (ID): VALHALLA VILLAGE CONDOS (007136) Address: BAKERSFIELD CA 93309 KERN Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 11/06/1990 Review Completion Date: Unavailable |
