[madison10]

How is that their business? They need to need to make sure you can pay your mortgage nothing else.

[jpp113]

Perhaps, as part of making sure he can pay his mortgage, they became concerned that the long commuting distance may cause him to quit the job?

[Dr. Sivana]

How is that their business? They need to need to make sure you can pay your mortgage nothing else.

FDIC chartered banks have to follow various bank regulations that require them to provide a lot of information that is not directly related to how able are you to pay the mortgage (e.g. CRA, HMDA). A VA mortgage is subject to additional regulations, and the guarantor (VA) is allowed to stipulate additional conditions. The VA rate is probably better than a straight up rate, and unfortunately, these are the strings tied to the enticing lower rate.