Sonoma County, California VA Home Loan Information

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 Sonoma 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 $707,250* (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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma County. If you have any questions, you can call us at VA HLC and we’ll help you get started.

1. Get your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
   • Give us a call at (877) 432-5626 and we’ll get your COE for you.
2. Are you applying for a refinance loan? Check out our complete guide to VA Refinancing.
3. 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
4. Find a home
   • We can help you check whether the home is in one of the Sonoma County flood zones
5. Get the necessary inspections
   • Termite inspection: required
   • Well or septic inspections needed, if applicable
6. Get the home appraised
   • We can help you find a VA-Certified appraiser in Sonoma County and schedule the process
   • Construction loan note: Construction permit/appraisal info
     1. Building permit
     2. Elevation certificate
7. 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.
8. 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 Sonoma County is $712,196. In addition, the median household income for residents of the county is $81,018.

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.
• In Plumas County, rivers like the Middle Fork Feather River and Wolf Creek have flood hazard areas around them. However, the city of Quincy can see significant flooding around Spanish Creek which crosses through the north.

How do I learn about Property Taxes?

• Deva Marie Proto is the tax assessor for Sonoma County. Her office is located at 585 Fiscal Drive, Room 104F, Santa Rosa, California 95403.
• 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 programs to further diversify the state’s economy.

What is the Population?

• The county’s population of 494,336 is 62% White, 27% Hispanic, and 4.6% Asian.
• Most county residents are between 18 and 65 years old, with 19% under 18 years old and 20% older than 65.
• In total, the county has about 189,374 households, with an average of 2.5 people per household.

What are the major cities?

The county has nine cities with the most populated, and the county seat is Santa Rosa. The eight other cities in the county are Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Sonoma, and Windsor.

About Sonoma County

Formed in 1850 as one of the original counties of California, Sonoma County is widely known as the state’s heaviest supplier of wine in the region that includes Lake, Napa, and Mendocino counties, known as Wine Country. With 13 viticulture areas and more than 250 wineries, Sonoma County is currently the 32nd largest agricultural producer in the country.

In the 1920s, the county was the eighth largest agro-producer in the United States. The booming viticulture industry of the area is primarily attributed to incredibly fertile soil coupled with quality irrigation water. Nearly 8 million tourists visit the site yearly, visiting wineries, spending an excess of 1 billion dollars (2006).

Considered the sibling valley of Napa, Sonoma is unique from Napa for many reasons. Caves at the Kunde Winery age and enhance win because of the proximity to the dormant running volcanic lava directly in the rear of the winery. These caves are made up of 32,000 square feet and hold 5,500 barrels of wine. Additionally, the film Bottleshock was shot in Sonoma. Ironically, the film’s plot centers around a Napa Valley-based winery and its upset victory over a French winery during a wine tasting ceremony.

In 2007, the county was named the 185th best place to live for occupational advancement and business development by Forbes Magazine.

Additionally, there are seven academic institutions of higher education located in the county. These include USF, Northern California University, SSU, Santa Rosa Community College, Empire College, and Golden Gate University.

Over 50 parks and 268 campsites further the appeal of Sonoma County, as does the crime rate below the national average and the coastal landscape. Located in the San Francisco Bay area, the 1,576 square miles of land encompass the Santa Rosa metropolitan area. As of 2010, the beaches in the county were named the cleanest in the state.

Veteran Information

The county is currently home to 25,613 veterans.

• Sonoma County is home to six VFW post:
  • Post 3919 Gold Ridge Post – 282 High Street, Ste 100 A, Sebastopol, California 95472.
  • Post 3237 Fredrick Waldo Rohnert – Gen. Henry H Arnold Post – 8508 Park Avenue, Cotati, California 94931.
  • Post 768 Russian River Post – 1248 North Fitch Mountain Road, Healdsburg, California 95448.
  • Post 1929 Petaluma Post – 1094 Pealuma Blvd. S, Petaluma, California 94952.
  • Post-1943 Bear Flag Post – 126 1^st Street W, Sonoma, California 95476.
  • Post 9268 Ray Zittleman Post – 205 West First Street, Cloverdale, California 95425.
• VA Medical Centers in the county:
  • North Bay Vet Center – 6010 Commerce Blvd., Ste. 145, Rohnert Park, California 94928.
  • Santa Rosa VA Clinic – 3841 Brickway Boulevard, Santa Rosa, California 95403.
• County Veteran Assistance Information
  • Sonoma County Veteran Service Office – 3725 Westwind Boulevard, First Floor, Santa Rosa, California 95403.

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): BRODY RANCH MASTER HOA (000362) Address: 1416 MAURO PIETRO DR PETALUMA CA 94954 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 01/06/2019 Review Completion Date: 01/17/2019	Name (ID): COTATI STATION (000316) Address: 6917 SANTERO WAY COTATI CA 94931 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 02/26/2018 Review Completion Date: 03/13/2018
Name (ID): GLENBROOK (C00881) Address:  SANTA ROSA CA 99999-0000 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 12/31/1988 Review Completion Date: 12/31/1988	Name (ID): HILLSIDE GARDENS CONDO’S (C01149) Address: AKA HILLSIDE GARDENS HOA VALLEJO CA 94590-0000 SONOMA Status: Accepted With Conditions Request Received Date: 11/25/1996 Review Completion Date: Unavailable
Name (ID): IRISH HUNTER CONDO’S (000203) Address: SANTA ROSA SANTA ROSA CA 95409 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 06/15/2016 Review Completion Date: 07/26/2016	Name (ID): MILL CREEK AT BRODY RANCH (000363) Address: 1416 MAURO PIETRO DR PETALUMA CA 94954 SONOMA Status: Accepted With Conditions Request Received Date: 01/07/2019 Review Completion Date: 01/11/2019
Name (ID): PACIFIC NORTH TOWNHOUSES (C00892) Address:  SANTA ROSA CA 99999-0000 SONOMA Status: Accepted With Conditions Request Received Date: 11/17/1111 Review Completion Date: Unavailable	Name (ID): REDWOOD PARK ESTATES (000212) Address: 1456 PARKWAY DR ROHNERT PARK CA 94928 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 09/08/2016 Review Completion Date: 09/27/2016
Name (ID): ROHNERT PARK VILLAS (C00897) Address:  ROHNERT PARK CA 94928-0000 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 03/31/1981 Review Completion Date: 03/31/1981	Name (ID): SEASCAPE PHASE I (C00861) Address: AKA SHADOW RIDGE UNIT 4 VALLEJO CA 99999-0000 SONOMA Status: Accepted With Conditions Request Received Date: 11/17/1111 Review Completion Date: Unavailable
Name (ID): SHELTER HILLS II PH. 1, 3 (C01028) Address:  PETALUMA CA 90000-0000 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 12/10/1987 Review Completion Date: Unavailable	Name (ID): SHELTER HILLS UNIT 2, 1-3 (C01055) Address:  PETALUMA CA 90000-0000 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 12/10/1987 Review Completion Date: Unavailable
Name (ID): SONOMA COMMONS CONDO’S (C01180) Address: UNITS ON LOTS #25 & #26 SONOMA CA 95476-0000 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 12/10/1995 Review Completion Date: Unavailable	Name (ID): SONOMA LOFTS (000266) Address: 649 FIRST STREET SONOMA CA 95476 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 04/23/2017 Review Completion Date: 05/16/2017
Name (ID): SONOMA MEADOWS (C00900) Address:  SONOMA CA 99999-0000 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 09/16/1985 Review Completion Date: Unavailable	Name (ID): ST. HELENA PARK ASSOCIATION (000317) Address: 6600 HUNTER DRIVE/ C/O EUGENE ST. HELENA CA 91928 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 03/06/2018 Review Completion Date: 03/25/2018
Name (ID): STONE RIDGE @ QUARRY HEIGHTS (000035) Address: PHASE 1-15-23 PETALUMA CA 94953 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 11/06/2011 Review Completion Date: 01/12/2012	Name (ID): THE RESIDENCES AT TAYLOR MOUNT (000509) Address: 2686 FRANZ KAFKA AVE SANTA ROSA CA 95404 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 10/27/2020 Review Completion Date: 11/02/2020
Name (ID): TOWN GREEN VILLAGE (000234) Address: 136 JOHNSON ST WINDSOR CA 95492 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 11/22/2016 Review Completion Date: 12/11/2016	Name (ID): VALLEJO VILLA (C00904) Address:  SANTA ROSA CA 99999-0000 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 07/15/1992 Review Completion Date: 07/15/1992
Name (ID): VILLA ROSA 1-3 (C01002) Address: NONE SANTA ROSA CA 95403-0000 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 01/01/1985 Review Completion Date: 01/01/1985	Name (ID): WESTBERRY CONDOS (C00907) Address: WESTBERRY DR SANTA ROSA CA 95403-0000 SONOMA Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 04/22/1985 Review Completion Date: 04/22/1985
Name (ID): WILDBERRY CONDOS (C01026) Address:  ROHNERT PARK CA 90000-0000 SONOMA Status: HUD Accepted Request Received Date: 10/28/2008 Review Completion Date: 10/29/2008	For more information about the VA condo approval process, call us at (877) 432-5626.

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