Residual Income, Explained
VA loans require more than a DTI check. Nathan walks through the residual income test (the Midwest table for Michigan) so you know your real ceiling before you start shopping.
Grand Rapids, Michigan · VA-Focused Real Estate
A home your service
has already earned.
Nathan Strodtbeck, REALTOR® guides veterans, active-duty service members, and military families through the VA loan process in West Michigan, from calculating your buying power to closing day.
Why VA Buyers Choose Nathan
The VA loan benefit is complex.
Getting it right matters.
Most real estate agents have processed one or two VA transactions. Nathan has focused his practice on understanding VA underwriting, including the residual income test, funding fee waivers for disabled veterans, and how BAH factors into your true buying power.
Funding Fee Waivers
Veterans receiving VA disability compensation are exempt from the funding fee, a benefit many buyers don't know about. That exemption can mean thousands of dollars at closing.
No PMI, No Down Payment
VA loans carry no private mortgage insurance regardless of down payment. Understanding that advantage shapes every offer you make in a competitive West Michigan market.
Know Your Number
Calculate your VA
buying power in minutes.
Enter your pay grade, BAH, and any disability compensation. The calculator applies VA underwriting rules, including the residual income test, and shows you the home price range where both your DTI and residual income qualify.
Currently on market
Recently listed in
West Michigan.
About Nathan
A REALTOR® with the same
discipline he built in uniform.
Nathan Strodtbeck is a West Michigan REALTOR® with Keystone Home Group LLC who brings discipline, leadership, and a strong work ethic to every client relationship. After five years of Army service in IT and cybersecurity roles, including deployments to Poland, Texas, and Kuwait, he returned to Grand Rapids in 2025 to focus his practice on helping military members, veterans, and investors navigate the real estate market.
Nathan's analytical background makes complex topics like VA underwriting, residual income, and funding fee waivers feel manageable instead of overwhelming. He understands the unique pressures that service members face during PCS moves, deployments, and transitions to civilian life, and he guides clients through the buying and selling process with clarity and patience.
Grand Rapids Kent County Ada Forest Hills Cascade Rockford Lowell West Michigan
Free Resource
The VA Homebuyer's Guide
for West Michigan.
A plain-language walkthrough of the VA loan process, from Certificate of Eligibility to closing. Covers Michigan-specific details, the residual income test, and what to expect in the Grand Rapids market.
- · VA loan eligibility requirements
- · How your funding fee (or waiver) is calculated
- · The West Michigan home search process
- · Questions to ask your lender
Free VA Homebuyer's Guide
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Whether you're calculating your first number or under contract tomorrow, Nathan is a straightforward resource. No obligation, no sales pressure.