Helping Veterans Build Roots: VLB Closes Highest Loan Total of 2025

Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., announced that the VLB Land Loans team has achieved a major milestone this fiscal year, closing 87 loans valued at $9,504,600 — the highest total in 2025.

“Serving our men and women in uniform, and our Veterans who have served, is one of our highest priorities at the Veterans Land Board,” Buckingham said. “I am proud of the work done by our land loans team as we help Veterans purchase land for recreation or to build their homes and fulfill their American Dream. The VLB is honored to continue assisting Veterans through their land-buying journey, from qualifying to closing.”

The Veterans Land Loan Program is the only one of its kind in the nation, offering Texas Veterans and Military Members an exclusive opportunity to purchase land with financing designed specifically for them. Eligible applicants may borrow up to $150,000 at competitive interest rates, requiring only a five percent down payment for tracts of at least one acre. For spouses who are both Veterans, the Dual Spouse Land Loan Benefit allows them to combine eligibility and borrow up to $225,000 for the purchase of the same tract.

The program is structured to remain sustainable well into the future. Bonds used to fund loans are retired through repayments, and administrative costs are covered by a small fee on each loan. This ensures the program continues to serve new generations of Veterans while offering affordable access to land ownership.

Veterans who apply must be at least 18 years old, legal residents of Texas, and meet one of several service requirements, including active duty, membership in the Texas National Guard, or a qualifying record of military service. Surviving spouses of Veterans listed as missing in action or deceased due to service are also eligible. The land itself must be located wholly in Texas, be at least one acre, and meet certain accessibility and zoning criteria.

The loan process has been simplified into a series of clear steps, from preparing finances and getting prequalified to completing documentation and finalizing closing. To make the journey even easier, the Veterans Land Board offers resources like its call center, available at 800-252-8387, and a weekly thirty-minute virtual session called Zoom@Noon, which provides answers about land loans and other benefits.

Currently, the land loan interest rate for Veterans is 7.25 percent, with fixed-rate 30-year terms and no pre-payment penalty. All loans are subject to credit approval, but once a loan is repaid in full, Veterans may apply for another land loan or explore additional programs such as home and home improvement loans.

From building a future home to simply owning a piece of Texas for recreation or investment, the program continues to help Veterans and their families secure lasting opportunities. With nearly $9.5 million in land loans closed already this year, Buckingham emphasized that the program’s success is measured not just in numbers but in the lives it changes, giving Veterans the chance to put down roots and achieve their version of the American Dream.