House Approves Bill to Protect Veterans' Right to Real Estate Representation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a unanimous voice vote, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1815, the VA Home Loan Reform Act, which aims to permanently protect veterans' ability to compensate their real estate agents directly—a policy the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) introduced temporarily in June 2024.

The bill ensures that veterans using their VA home loan entitlement are on a level playing field with other buyers in a competitive housing market. It also establishes a partial claims program to help veterans avoid foreclosure by catching up on missed mortgage payments.

🏡 Why This Matters:

• The VA Home Loan Guaranty Program allows veterans to buy homes with no down payment.

• In 2024 alone, approximately 490,000 veterans used VA loans to purchase or refinance homes.

• Currently, it's the only home loan program that prohibits buyers from directly paying their agent, putting veterans at a disadvantage.

🤝 NAR’s Strong Support:

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) played a critical role in backing this legislation, highlighting the importance of professional real estate representation for veterans navigating VA loan requirements.

“NAR remains committed to ensuring that veterans and active-duty service members have equal opportunities in the housing market,” said Shannon McGahn, NAR’s Chief Advocacy Officer. “This bill is a major step toward fairness.”

🔍 What the Bill Does:

• Codifies the VA's temporary 2024 policy allowing veterans to pay their own agents

• Levels the playing field for VA buyers in today’s competitive real estate market

• Creates a partial claims program to help struggling veteran homeowners avoid foreclosure