BECAUSE EVERY VETERAN DESERVES
A HERO’S WELCOME HOME.

Meet The VA Loan Nerd: Joey Mathews, Marine-turned-mortgage-expert.

The VA Loan Nerd founder, Joey Matthews, in a blue suit, light blue shirt, and brown pants standing outdoors by a brick wall, with a green and brown background, smiling and leaning on the wall.

Serving as a Marine in Iraq and then as a firefighter in Cicero, IL, I learned that true service is about making a tangible difference for your community—wherever that may be. As a veteran entering the mortgage space, I noticed a gap affecting my fellow service men and women that I couldn’t help but try to fill. VA loans, I knew, could change lives, but the barriers, misconceptions, and confusion in the process kept too many veterans from accessing one of the best perks of the benefits they worked so hard to earn.

So, I nerded out. I became an expert in Veterans Affairs benefits from top to bottom, examining every detail and debunking every myth. Merging a commitment to client experience with a love for helping veterans, I set out on a mission to make VA loans more accessible and the whole process more straightforward and approachable. When people started playfully calling me “The VA Loan Nerd,” I took it as a sign: this was my new way to serve.

  • Now, I embrace the nickname as a way to share my knowledge and experience, with the goal to better serve veteran families like mine. With a dedicated team behind me, The VA Loan Nerd has grown to a company committed to providing clear guidance and support to help veterans navigate the homebuying process. I am grateful for the opportunity to provide support to a community that means so much to me, and I look forward to helping you achieve your homeownership goals!

    - Joey Mathews, The VA Loan Nerd founder

INTRODUCING OUR TEAM OF VA LOAN NERDS

A veteran-led team of home loan experts ready to support you.

When you’re not working with Joey, you’ll be connected with our passionate team of VA Loan Nerds. Coming from military, first responder, and real estate backgrounds, we’re here to provide specialized expertise in VA loans and a personalized touch you won’t find elsewhere.

A man wearing a white cowboy hat and a gray patterned button-up shirt, smiling in front of a stylized background with dark brown, green, and yellow accents.

Bryan Davis

A woman with red hair, blue eyes, and earrings, wearing a blue blazer and a black top, smiling against a background with green, yellow, and black colors.

Caitlin Duffy

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Joe Olson

A man in a gray suit smiling against a brown and green background.

Josh Hill

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Ivan Passamentt

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Stylized graphic of The VA Loan Nerd face with glasses and spiky hair, in the color beige.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

  • A person in military camouflage closing his car door outside a house with light brown shutters.

    The guiding principles of The VA Loan Nerd.

  • Veteran-Led, Veteran Focused

    When we say “by veterans, for veterans,” we mean business…because that’s our business! Founded by a veteran, The VA Loan Nerd is committed to honoring service men and women through quality care and expert guidance as they seek to use military benefits to purchase or refinance a home. We’ve been in your boots, so we know exactly how to support you as you enter the complex world of VA home loans!

  • Frontline Advocacy for Our Clients

    We advocate for you—not for big lenders or our bottom line. Our founder Joey Mathews, and his team of VA Loan Nerds are prepared to fight for the best use of the benefit you earned. You can think of our staff of former service members (veterans, police, firefighters, etc.) as your frontline team, helping you secure the home of your dreams.

  • Friendly, Personalized Guidance

    At The VA Loan Nerd, we don’t do one-size-fits-all. We believe every veteran deserves personalized support tailored to who they are and what they need, and that’s just how we operate. Our team gets to know you and your unique story so your experience with us is as smooth and enjoyable as possible. When you work with us, you’re not just a customer, you’re part of our community.

  • Transparency Guaranteed

    We value integrity and clear communication so you can feel confident every moment you work with us. No smoke and mirrors here, just straight-up honesty and clear answers about your options, costs, and next steps. We promise transparent guidance, without any surprises or hidden fees throughout the process. We even tell you that you’ll receive a gift after closing!

  • Mastery of VA Loan Knowledge

    We’re called The VA Loan Nerd because VA loans are our passion and our obsession. Not only do we understand all the ins and outs of VA loans, we actively keep an eye on changes at Veterans Affairs, including guidelines and regulations that impact you. We communicate with the VA directly when needed so we can navigate your loan efficiently and effectively. This deep expertise is our business and your tactical advantage when looking to buy your first or next home.

  • From the Frontline of VA Loans

    Neighborhood Loans was amazing. They were there every step of the way and even sent videos to help explain our questions. They were also excited for us when we got approved, sold, and every step. I would recommend them 100%. - Stephanie E.

  • From the Frontline of VA Loans

    I highly recommend using Neighborhood Loans. Their team is friendly, efficient and got us locked in on an amazing rate. As a first time home owner, we have never been through the refinance process before and this team walked us through everything, answered all our questions and made us feel very comfortable throughout the whole process! - Courtney A.

  • From the Frontline of VA Loans

    This was an awesome experience definitely a 10 out of 10. It was fast easy with no hiccups. Very professional and definitely know what they are doing. We're definitely recommend them to friends and family or use them again. - Jesus J.C.

  • From the Frontline of VA Loans

    Was very fortunate to be introduced to Joey. He was always available and had an answer for every question. And i I had a lot of questions. Without a doubt the best experience working with Joey! He lives up to his moniker The VA Loan Nerd, 12/10 experience. - Lance E.M.

  • From the Frontline of VA Loans

    Joey and his team were so great to work with! Joey is very knowledgeable and is quick to respond to our questions and concerns . He made the whole buying process quick and easy. Even our realtor was very impressed by him. We will definitely recommend Joey and Neighborhood Loans to anyone interested in buying! - Robin D.

ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW HOMEBASE?

Let us help get you there.

Whether you’re buying or refinancing, The VA Loan Nerd offers the comprehensive, tailored guidance needed to make your journey smooth and stress-free—so you can stop worrying about logistics and get back to the stuff that really matters. Get the process started today by completing our eligibility form below.

Get Started

Calling all Veteran Service Organizations and realtors!

The VA Loan Nerd founder, Joey Matthews, in a blue blazer and brown pants walking across a city street, talking on a cell phone, with parked cars and buildings in the background.

VA loans carry some amazing perks, but veterans need the right support to make their dream of homeownership a reality. When you partner with The VA Loan Nerd as a VSO or a real estate agent, you can help demystify the benefits to your clients and community, moving them closer to turning the key on their own home.

Learn More