Rudy Flores is a real estate agent, not a loan officer. He’s a Realtor® and Real Estate Strategist with the Patti & Jeff McKelvey Team at Coldwell Banker West. He doesn’t quote rates, choose loan programs or approve loans.
This site covers VA purchase loans, IRRRLs and cash-out refinances, and a lender makes each one. On a purchase, the VA says the loan comes from a private bank, mortgage company or credit union. Rudy’s part starts where a loan meets a home: buying one, selling one, or deciding whether to keep one.
Lease Negotiation Then, VA Contracts Now
Rudy spent about 12 years on the real estate side of telecom projects. He negotiated site leases and worked with cities and counties, more than 100 in all, on permits, zoning and right-of-way. Lease work is about terms: who pays for what, what happens if a step falls through, and what must be signed before the next step can start.
A VA purchase has terms like that too. If the appraisal comes in below the price, one option the VA lists is a Reconsideration of Value, where your agent gives the lender sales data showing the home is worth more. The other two are renegotiating the price or paying the difference at closing. Rudy gathers recent sales of similar homes before you offer, so that data is on hand if you need it.
Seller help with costs is another place where terms matter. The VA doesn’t limit seller credits for a buyer’s closing costs. It does limit seller’s concessions, such as paying the funding fee or paying off a buyer’s debts, to no more than 4% of the home’s reasonable value. Rudy sizes a request by how long the home has been listed and what similar homes sold for, and your lender confirms how the credit fits your loan.
How Rudy Works Alongside Your Lender
- Start by telling Rudy what you’re weighing: buying, selling or keeping a home. A 15-minute call is one way in. The Home Strategy Quiz is another, and Rudy reads each quiz answer himself.
- Your lender handles pre-approval, the rate and the funding fee, and may be able to pull your COE. Rudy helps you list questions to bring, such as whether you’re exempt from the funding fee. The VA’s exempt list includes people who receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability.
- Once you’re in contract, Rudy goes over the appraisal results with you and talks through any repair items or value questions.
- If repairs come up, or the seller can help with costs, Rudy drafts the request, and you both check with your lender on how it counts.
- When you sell, he lays out estimated net proceeds for each path. If a buyer asks to take over your VA loan, that approval runs through your lender. The VA’s form for assumption approval and release from personal liability is VA Form 26-6381.
License and team
Rudy is a Realtor® with Coldwell Banker West and works with the Patti & Jeff McKelvey Team. You can confirm his California real estate license, CalDRE #02257808, with the California Department of Real Estate license lookup. The responsible broker is Coldwell Banker West, CalDRE #01481919.
Questions about working with Rudy
Do I need Rudy for a VA streamline refinance (IRRRL)?
An IRRRL is mostly between you and your lender. It replaces a VA-backed loan you already have with a new one, and you must be able to certify that you live in the home now or did before. With no purchase contract to write, Rudy’s role is small. He can help if you’re weighing a refinance against a sale.
Can a VA cash-out refinance replace a loan that isn’t VA?
Yes, the VA says it can. A cash-out refinance can move a non-VA loan into a VA-backed one, or let you take cash out of your equity. You must qualify for a COE, meet the VA’s and your lender’s standards, and live in the home. Your lender decides if you qualify.
Does Rudy pick my rate or loan program?
No. Rates, programs and approvals come from lenders, and you’re free to choose any lender you like. Quotes from two lenders on the same day are easier to compare, and Rudy can help you write down your questions. VA Loans San Diego is independent and isn’t affiliated with the VA.
Keep exploring
- Home Strategy Quiz — Four quick questions; Rudy reads every answer himself.
- Book a 15-minute call — Pick a time that works for you.
- Videos — Market notes, listings and neighborhood clips.
- Ask Rudy — Answers to real questions, and a form to ask your own.
- Our local sites — The team’s sites for each part of San Diego County.
Talk to a lender. Rates, loan programs and approvals come from lenders, not from websites or real estate agents. Talk to your own mortgage broker, or use our preferred lender, Point Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #231073), at (619) 475-4095. You are always free to choose any lender you like, and you can verify any lender’s license at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
Company names describe Rudy’s past professional experience only and do not imply affiliation with, or endorsement by, any of them. Rudy is a real estate agent, not a lender, attorney, tax professional or contractor.
