ACCORDING TO A Department of Veterans Affairs recents release from Dec.

ACCORDING TO A Department of Veterans Affairs recents release from Dec. 29, America's veterans and their families have a greater chance to make their dreams of homeownership reality, thanks to an increase in the Veterans Affairs home-loan guaranty limit.

Effective last Jan. 1 changes in the limits mean veterans are able to secure no-downpayment loans up to $417000 The previous ceiling was $359650 The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 tied increases in the VA guaranty to increases in the Federal dwelling Loan Mortgage Corporation's conforming-loan limit.

When this limit increases, the VA guaranty limits also go on foot up, allowing the VA to hold pace with the rising abode values. VA-guaranteed home loans are made by means of banks and mortgage companies to veterans, service members and reservists.

With Veterans Affairs guaranteeing a portion of the loan, veterans can receive competitive interest rates without making