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With features including no required down payment or minimum credit score, the Department of Veterans Affairs mortgage guarantee program is a popular home finance choice for servicemembers and lenders alike. That trend continues in 2015, when 14 markets had more than $1 billion in VA mortgage lending during the first half of the year, compared to just five during the same time in 2014.From the Capitol region to Southern California — and many places in between — here's a look at the top 10 markets for VA mortgage lending. The data, from RealtyTrac, is based on metropolitan statistical areas ranked by total VA originations during the first half of 2015, along with the year-over-year increase for that market.
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Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Md.

1H15 Loan Volume: $1.16 billion (+63.51%)
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Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga.

1H15 Loan Volume: $1.2 billion (+66.35%)
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Colorado Springs, Colo.

1H15 Loan Volume: $1.2 billion (+57.42%)
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Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo.

1H15 Loan Volume: $1.5 billion (+79.36%)
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Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash.

1H15 Loan Volume: $1.6 billion (+77.13%)
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Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz.

1H15 Loan Volume: $1.9 billion (+74.16%)
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Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.

1H15 Loan Volume: $2.2 billion (+83.45%)
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Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif.

1H15 Loan Volume: $2.2 billion (+102.8%)
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San Diego-Carlsbad, Calif.

1H15 Loan Volume: $3.4 billion (+97.06%)
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Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va.

1H15 Loan Volume: $5.1 billion (+71%)
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