First Lending Solutions is a Riverside, California mortgage broker and mortgage lender that helps eligible veterans, active-duty service members, Reserve and National Guard members, and eligible surviving spouses use VA home loans to buy or refinance a home. The company was founded in 2005 by CEO Alan Vogan, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who has worked in mortgage and real estate since 2001.
For Alan, helping fellow veterans is personal. We help military families near March Air Reserve Base, Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar and the San Diego Navy bases, and veterans across California, understand the benefit they earned.
What is a VA home loan?
A VA home loan is a mortgage made by a private lender and partially guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Key features for eligible borrowers:
- No down payment for eligible borrowers, subject to your VA entitlement and lender requirements. You can still choose to put money down.
- No monthly mortgage insurance. A one-time VA funding fee may apply instead (more on that below).
- Purchase and refinance options, including the VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) and VA cash-out refinance.
- VA property standards. A VA appraisal checks that the home is safe, sound and sanitary, which protects you as well as the lender.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.
Why veterans work with First Lending Solutions
- Led by a Marine. Our founder and CEO, Alan Vogan, served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
- Mortgage broker and mortgage lender. We can compare a VA loan with your other options.
- A local Riverside office since 2005.
- What clients say: Rated 5.0 stars from 308 Google reviews (as of October 2026).
VA eligibility and your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
VA eligibility is based on your service history and the character of your discharge, under rules set by the VA. Veterans, active-duty service members, Reserve and National Guard members, and certain surviving spouses may qualify. Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) confirms that you meet the service requirements and shows your available entitlement. We can help you request it, and if you’ve used the benefit before, we’ll check whether your entitlement can be used again. You still need to meet credit, income and property requirements.
VA purchase loans
A VA purchase loan can be used to buy a primary residence, including single-family homes and condos in VA-approved projects. We’ll help you understand your budget, your full monthly housing cost and what the VA appraisal will look for before you make an offer.
VA refinance: IRRRL and cash-out
- VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL). Sometimes called a VA streamline refinance, the IRRRL lets eligible homeowners refinance an existing VA loan into a new VA loan, for example to seek a lower interest rate or move from an adjustable rate to a fixed rate. The refinance generally has to provide a real benefit to you.
- VA cash-out refinance. Eligible homeowners can refinance a VA or non-VA loan into a VA loan and, depending on equity and guidelines, take cash out for goals like home improvements or paying off other debts.
We’ll tell you honestly whether refinancing makes sense. All refinances are subject to eligibility and underwriting.
The VA funding fee
Most VA loans include a one-time VA funding fee that may apply depending on the type of loan, any down payment and whether you’ve used your benefit before. It can often be financed into the loan. Exemptions apply for some veterans, including those receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability, and for certain other borrowers. Your COE shows your funding fee status, and we’ll explain how it applies to you.
Serving military families near local bases
Riverside sits next to March Air Reserve Base, and we help families there and across the Inland Empire. See our Riverside mortgage page for local details. If you’re stationed at Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar, Naval Base San Diego, Naval Air Station North Island or Naval Base Point Loma, visit our San Diego County page. We also help veterans in Orange County.
How it works
- Start online or call. California borrowers can apply online, or call (951) 684-3307. If you have orders, tell us your report date.
- Confirm eligibility and options. We help you request your COE, review your income, credit and goals, and compare VA with your other options.
- Close with confidence. We coordinate the VA appraisal, underwriting and escrow with you and your agent and keep you updated through closing.
VA home loan FAQs
Who is eligible for a VA home loan?
Veterans, active-duty service members, Reserve and National Guard members, and certain surviving spouses may be eligible for a VA home loan, based on service history and VA rules. First Lending Solutions can help you request your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and review your situation. Eligibility for the benefit is not the same as loan approval; credit, income and property requirements still apply.
Do VA loans require a down payment?
VA loans offer no down payment for eligible borrowers, subject to VA entitlement and lender requirements. Some borrowers choose to make a down payment anyway. First Lending Solutions will walk you through your options and the total cash you may need, including closing costs.
What is a VA IRRRL?
A VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), sometimes called a VA streamline refinance, lets eligible homeowners refinance an existing VA loan into a new VA loan, for example to seek a lower interest rate or move from an adjustable rate to a fixed rate. The refinance generally must provide a benefit to the borrower and is subject to approval.
Does the VA funding fee apply to everyone?
No. A one-time VA funding fee may apply depending on the loan type, any down payment and prior use of the benefit, and it can often be financed into the loan. Some veterans are exempt, including those receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability. Your COE shows your funding fee status.
Is First Lending Solutions affiliated with the VA?
No. First Lending Solutions is a private mortgage broker and mortgage lender based in Riverside, California, founded by Marine Corps veteran Alan Vogan. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.
More questions? See our full mortgage FAQ.
Ready to use your VA home loan benefit?
Apply online, or call our Riverside office to talk with a team led by a fellow veteran.
Apply now (California) Call (951) 684-3307
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. PT · 3610 Central Ave Suite 400, Riverside, CA 92506
First Lending Solutions serves California primarily and is also licensed in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida and Texas. The online application is for California borrowers; if you live in one of those other states, call (951) 684-3307 to talk with a licensed loan officer.
Disclosures
1st Lending Solutions, Inc. DBA First Lending Solutions, 3610 Central Ave Suite 400, Riverside, CA 92506. (951) 684-3307. Company NMLS #135932 (NMLS Consumer Access). Alan Vogan, NMLS #236124. CA DRE Corporation License #01482431. CA DRE Broker License #01373250. CA DFPI California Financing Law License #60DBO96452. AL Consumer Credit License #23244. AL Mortgage Brokers License #23245. FL Mortgage Broker Business License #MBR7449. KY Mortgage Company License #MC796021. TN Mortgage Lender License #174096. TX SML Mortgage Company License (NMLS #135932). Equal Housing Opportunity. This is not a commitment to lend or extend credit. All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, program guidelines and property eligibility. Programs and terms are subject to change without notice and may not be available in all areas. VA loans require eligibility. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.