Helena VA Loan Rates, Closing Costs & Stats

Helena, MT

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    • A VA loan is a mortgage loan that’s backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for those who have served or are presently serving in the U.S. military. The VA does not directly lend, it guarantees the loans made by private lenders to veterans, active military personnel, and qualifying military spouses.

    The most obvious benefit of VA loans is that no downpayment is necessary to purchase a home. They will also typically have significantly lower fees-- meaning that if you're eligible to receive a VA loan, it will likely be the most favorable option. VA loans come in 3 varities: purchase, refinance and cash out refis.

    For additional benefits of VA loans, click here.

    Helena's 34 lenders originated 158 VA loans during 2023. The total origination value was $68,180,000, with an average VA loan value of $431,519.

    Helena VA Loans, 30 Year Fixed Rates

    30 Year VA mortgages in Helena averaged 6.97% for the week of 2024-04-19, compared to the national average (all VA variants) of 6.758% for the same period.

    Helena's average VA mortgage closing costs are $6,887.

    The average rate for the prior week (2024-04-12) was 6.5% and one month ago for the week of 2024-03-15, the average rate was 6.47%.

    The average rate one year ago was 5.96%.

    For refis of the same type during the week of 2024-04-19, the average rate was 6.76%.

    Click on whitespace and scroll within the chart to zoom in/out. Larger bubbles equate with more originations.

    Helena VA Loan Lenders by Rates & Fees

    The below table looks at the average fees/closing costs and rates for VA 30 Year Fixed Rate (purchase, first lien) mortgages originated by each lender at the Helena level.

    Name # of Loans 2023 Avg. 30yFix Rate 2023 Avg. Closing Costs
    Mortgage Research Center, LLC 20 6.74% $8,364
    Opportunity Bank of Montana 18 6.03% $9,397
    MANN FINANCIAL INC. 14 6.21% $11,711
    UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC 13 5.91% $8,599
    QUICKEN LOANS, LLC 11 5.94% $16,562
    GUARANTEED RATE, INC. 8 6.09% $8,322
    USAA Federal Savings Bank 8 6.16% $13,590
    FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION 6 6.31% $5,677
    NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 4 5.81% $8,454
    PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC 4 5.22% $7,138
    FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION 4 6.13% $19,397
    U.S. Bank 3 6.46% $9,484
    LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC 3 5.58% $24,295
    NEW DAY FINANCIAL, LLC 3 7.66% $13,985
    Stockman Bank of Montana 3 6.21% $8,413
    The Federal Savings Bank 3 6.13% $20,945
    Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. 2 6.75% $11,101
    BNC National Bank 2 5.44% $3,286
    Mr. Cooper ( Nationstar Mortgage ) 2 6.38% $12,373
    CARDINAL FINANCIAL 1 6.25% $21,324
    NEWREZ LLC 1 5.63% $35,258
    ENVOY MORTGAGE, LTD 1 7.25% $7,680
    CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC 1 6.75% $14,982
    Plains Commerce Bank 1 5.25% $10,002
    MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE, INC. 1 5.75% $7,394
    PLAZA HOME MORTGAGE, INC. 1 6.75% $18,599
    CHURCHILL MORTGAGE CORPORATION 1 5.75% $902
    Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc. 1 5.99% $8,478
    BROKER SOLUTIONS, INC. 1 6.50% $26,302
    Mid-Continent Funding, Inc. 1 6.99% $5,933
    HOMEBRIDGE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. 1 5.50% $4,280
    PLANET HOME LENDING, LLC 1 6.99% $1,977
    First Interstate Bank 1 5.75% $34,404
    NETWORK CAPITAL FUNDING CORPORATION 1 5.50% $10,610

    The top Helena VA lender as defined by loan originations is Mortgage Research Center, LLC, with 20 VA loans originated. Their average total fees are $8,364, which is $1,033 lower than the next largest lender, Opportunity Bank of Montana.

    The lowest fee Helena VA lenders (with over 10 loans originated) are Mortgage Research Center, LLC ($8,364), UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC ($8,599), Opportunity Bank of Montana ($9,397), MANN FINANCIAL INC. ($11,711) and QUICKEN LOANS, LLC ($16,562).

    The lowest rate Helena VA lenders (with over 10 loans originated) are UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC (5.91%), QUICKEN LOANS, LLC (5.94%), Opportunity Bank of Montana (6.03%), MANN FINANCIAL INC. (6.21%) and Mortgage Research Center, LLC (6.74%).

    Market Conditions (Median, Average Prices & Listing Count)

    Realtor.com - Helena (CBSA) retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
    Date Median Listing Price (YoY Change) Average Listing Price (YoY) MSA/US Median Price Ratio Active Listings
    2018-01-01 $284,650 (-1.7%) $428,212 (17.5%) 0.00 442
    2018-02-01 $284,900 (-1.5%) $388,880 (6.5%) 0.00 455
    2018-03-01 $299,000 (3.5%) $391,496 (-0.7%) 0.00 492
    2018-04-01 $299,925 (3.8%) $424,798 (9.2%) 0.00 557
    2018-05-01 $299,900 (4.1%) $415,992 (8.1%) 0.00 621
    2018-06-01 $302,200 (6.1%) $408,766 (6.8%) 0.00 687
    2018-07-01 $310,000 (9.2%) $416,900 (10.0%) 0.00 701
    2018-08-01 $302,525 (6.3%) $415,826 (8.8%) 0.00 689
    2018-09-01 $299,900 (3.5%) $416,867 (12.2%) 0.00 697
    2018-10-01 $304,900 (5.7%) $422,861 (12.7%) 0.00 646
    2018-11-01 $328,000 (13.1%) $481,050 (22.1%) 0.00 404
    2018-12-01 $326,000 (12.5%) $479,685 (19.9%) 0.00 365
    2019-01-01 $314,900 (10.6%) $480,939 (12.3%) 0.00 331
    2019-02-01 $319,950 (12.3%) $486,257 (25.0%) 0.00 309
    2019-03-01 $327,043 (9.4%) $489,334 (25.0%) 0.00 310
    2019-04-01 $327,093 (9.1%) $490,996 (15.6%) 0.00 309
    2019-05-01 $325,000 (8.4%) $491,775 (18.2%) 0.00 337
    2019-06-01 $324,500 (7.4%) $482,434 (18.0%) 0.00 366
    2019-07-01 $320,725 (3.5%) $460,158 (10.4%) 0.00 395
    2019-08-01 $317,827 (5.1%) $455,582 (9.6%) 0.00 386
    2019-09-01 $316,068 (5.4%) $453,402 (8.8%) 0.00 373
    2019-10-01 $315,045 (3.3%) $452,559 (7.0%) 0.00 358
    2019-11-01 $320,000 (-2.4%) $460,700 (-4.2%) 0.00 316
    2019-12-01 $320,000 (-1.8%) $487,288 (1.6%) 0.00 278
    2020-01-01 $321,000 (1.9%) $471,920 (-1.9%) 0.00 242
    2020-02-01 $334,500 (4.6%) $526,684 (8.3%) 0.00 231
    2020-03-01 $344,675 (5.4%) $544,927 (11.4%) 0.00 228
    2020-04-01 $355,750 (8.8%) $540,271 (10.0%) 0.00 241
    2020-05-01 $365,000 (12.3%) $551,080 (12.1%) 0.00 231
    2020-06-01 $367,675 (13.3%) $544,093 (12.8%) 0.00 221
    2020-07-01 $382,400 (19.2%) $586,872 (27.5%) 0.00 195
    2020-08-01 $399,900 (25.8%) $578,995 (27.1%) 0.00 176
    2020-09-01 $414,975 (31.3%) $568,956 (25.5%) 0.00 176
    2020-10-01 $409,450 (30.0%) $566,362 (25.2%) 0.00 156
    2020-11-01 $462,450 (44.5%) $607,282 (31.8%) 0.00 120
    2020-12-01 $453,675 (41.8%) $619,606 (27.2%) 0.00 101
    2021-01-01 $419,450 (30.7%) $613,033 (29.9%) 0.00 93
    2021-02-01 $451,925 (35.1%) $642,076 (21.9%) 0.00 77
    2021-03-01 $469,638 (36.3%) $654,974 (20.2%) 0.00 83
    2021-04-01 $454,900 (27.9%) $641,543 (18.7%) 0.00 96
    2021-05-01 $448,500 (22.9%) $636,924 (15.6%) 0.00 101
    2021-06-01 $474,450 (29.0%) $673,695 (23.8%) 0.00 113
    2021-07-01 $475,000 (24.2%) $654,316 (11.5%) 0.00 143
    2021-08-01 $472,000 (18.0%) $640,288 (10.6%) 0.00 151
    2021-09-01 $488,750 (17.8%) $664,459 (16.8%) 0.00 137
    2021-10-01 $499,000 (21.9%) $660,974 (16.7%) 0.00 126
    2021-11-01 $525,800 (13.7%) $700,079 (15.3%) 0.00 111
    2021-12-01 $549,500 (21.1%) $706,888 (14.1%) 0.00 80
    2022-01-01 $550,000 (31.1%) $734,391 (19.8%) 0.00 63
    2022-02-01 $562,500 (24.5%) $715,059 (11.4%) 0.00 69
    2022-03-01 $537,825 (14.5%) $648,176 (-1.0%) 0.00 69
    2022-04-01 $550,000 (20.9%) $661,575 (3.1%) 0.00 77
    2022-05-01 $539,500 (20.3%) $664,320 (4.3%) 0.00 102
    2022-06-01 $584,725 (23.2%) $780,285 (15.8%) 0.00 119
    2022-07-01 $589,900 (24.2%) $805,225 (23.1%) 0.00 161
    2022-08-01 $599,450 (27.0%) $805,691 (25.8%) 0.00 188
    2022-09-01 $599,000 (22.6%) $820,394 (23.5%) 0.00 183
    2022-10-01 $580,000 (16.2%) $810,798 (22.7%) 0.00 189
    2022-11-01 $550,000 (4.6%) $786,655 (12.4%) 0.00 189
    2022-12-01 $569,000 (3.6%) $813,523 (15.1%) 0.00 158
    2023-01-01 $575,500 (4.6%) $800,268 (9.0%) 0.00 151
    2023-02-01 $579,450 (3.0%) $838,234 (17.2%) 0.00 130
    2023-03-01 $553,675 (3.0%) $809,761 (24.9%) 0.00 140
    2023-04-01 $585,000 (6.4%) $813,535 (23.0%) 0.00 143
    2023-05-01 $602,200 (11.6%) $848,188 (27.7%) 0.00 164
    2023-06-01 $649,950 (11.2%) $850,796 (9.0%) 0.00 192
    2023-07-01 $656,950 (11.4%) $886,380 (10.1%) 0.00 210
    2023-08-01 $632,000 (5.4%) $845,474 (4.9%) 0.00 224
    2023-09-01 $625,000 (4.3%) $824,915 (0.6%) 0.00 231
    2023-10-01 $599,900 (3.4%) $811,091 (0.0%) 0.00 227
    2023-11-01 $609,925 (10.9%) $893,085 (13.5%) 0.00 214
    2023-12-01 $599,900 (5.4%) $901,660 (10.8%) 0.00 187
    2024-01-01 $556,850 (-3.2%) $891,041 (11.3%) 0.00 166
    2024-02-01 $584,950 (1.0%) $887,679 (5.9%) 0.00 165
    2024-03-01 $625,000 (12.9%) $923,872 (14.1%) 0.00 170
    Helena's median listing price for 2024-03-01 was $625,000, a difference of $71,325 (12.9%) versus the prior year and $40,050 versus the prior month.

    Helena's median listing price comes in at 0% of the national average.

    Helena's average listing price for 2024-03-01 was $923,872, a difference of $114,111 (14.1%) versus the prior year and $36,193 versus the prior month.

    For the 2024-03-01 period, Helena had 170 MLS listings, a difference of 5 listings (3%) versus the prior month and 30 listings (21%) versus the prior year.

    Median Listing Time on Market & Square Footage

    Realtor.com - Helena (CBSA) retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
    Date Median Listing Time on Market Median Square Footage
    2018-01-01 0 days 1,968 sqft
    2018-02-01 0 days 2,005 sqft
    2018-03-01 0 days 2,048 sqft
    2018-04-01 0 days 2,075 sqft
    2018-05-01 0 days 2,123 sqft
    2018-06-01 0 days 2,118 sqft
    2018-07-01 0 days 2,129 sqft
    2018-08-01 0 days 2,118 sqft
    2018-09-01 0 days 2,126 sqft
    2018-10-01 0 days 2,247 sqft
    2018-11-01 0 days 2,321 sqft
    2018-12-01 0 days 2,248 sqft
    2019-01-01 0 days 2,162 sqft
    2019-02-01 0 days 2,184 sqft
    2019-03-01 0 days 2,210 sqft
    2019-04-01 0 days 2,231 sqft
    2019-05-01 0 days 2,182 sqft
    2019-06-01 0 days 2,215 sqft
    2019-07-01 0 days 2,189 sqft
    2019-08-01 0 days 2,173 sqft
    2019-09-01 0 days 2,143 sqft
    2019-10-01 0 days 2,127 sqft
    2019-11-01 0 days 2,144 sqft
    2019-12-01 0 days 2,116 sqft
    2020-01-01 0 days 2,065 sqft
    2020-02-01 0 days 2,101 sqft
    2020-03-01 0 days 2,149 sqft
    2020-04-01 0 days 2,234 sqft
    2020-05-01 0 days 2,226 sqft
    2020-06-01 0 days 2,272 sqft
    2020-07-01 0 days 2,300 sqft
    2020-08-01 0 days 2,388 sqft
    2020-09-01 0 days 2,412 sqft
    2020-10-01 0 days 2,400 sqft
    2020-11-01 0 days 2,429 sqft
    2020-12-01 0 days 2,414 sqft
    2021-01-01 0 days 2,352 sqft
    2021-02-01 0 days 2,284 sqft
    2021-03-01 0 days 2,269 sqft
    2021-04-01 0 days 2,114 sqft
    2021-05-01 0 days 2,016 sqft
    2021-06-01 0 days 2,074 sqft
    2021-07-01 0 days 2,074 sqft
    2021-08-01 0 days 2,053 sqft
    2021-09-01 0 days 2,194 sqft
    2021-10-01 0 days 2,116 sqft
    2021-11-01 0 days 2,117 sqft
    2021-12-01 0 days 2,205 sqft
    2022-01-01 0 days 2,196 sqft
    2022-02-01 0 days 2,266 sqft
    2022-03-01 0 days 2,110 sqft
    2022-04-01 0 days 2,164 sqft
    2022-05-01 0 days 2,137 sqft
    2022-06-01 0 days 2,164 sqft
    2022-07-01 0 days 2,153 sqft
    2022-08-01 0 days 2,090 sqft
    2022-09-01 0 days 2,118 sqft
    2022-10-01 0 days 2,128 sqft
    2022-11-01 0 days 2,114 sqft
    2022-12-01 0 days 2,112 sqft
    2023-01-01 0 days 2,112 sqft
    2023-02-01 0 days 2,112 sqft
    2023-03-01 0 days 2,035 sqft
    2023-04-01 0 days 2,070 sqft
    2023-05-01 0 days 2,196 sqft
    2023-06-01 0 days 2,202 sqft
    2023-07-01 0 days 2,200 sqft
    2023-08-01 0 days 2,164 sqft
    2023-09-01 0 days 2,148 sqft
    2023-10-01 0 days 2,101 sqft
    2023-11-01 0 days 2,126 sqft
    2023-12-01 0 days 2,136 sqft
    2024-01-01 0 days 2,115 sqft
    2024-02-01 0 days 2,146 sqft
    2024-03-01 0 days 2,175 sqft
    Helena's median listing age (time on market) for 2024-03-01 was 0 days.

    Helena's median square footage for active listings during the 2024-03-01 period was 2,175 sqft. One year prior, the average listing was 2,035 sqft.

    VA Loan Features

  • No down payment required
  • Negotiable and competitive interest rate.
  • Ability to finance the VA funding fee (plus reduced funding fees with a down payment of at least 5 percent and exemption for veterans receiving VA compensation).
  • VA rules limit the amount you can be charged for closing costs.
  • Closing costs are comparable with other financing types (and may be lower).
  • Closing costs may be paid by the seller.
  • No private mortgage insurance premiums are required.
  • An assumable mortgage.
  • Right to prepay your mortgage without penalty.
  • For homes inspected by VA during construction, a warranty from builder and assistance from VA to obtain cooperation of builder.
  • VA assistance to veteran borrowers in default due to temporary financial difficulty.