Is there a VA loan limit?

For borrowers with full entitlement, there is no VA loan limit under full-entitlement VA rules. You can borrow as much as a lender will approve with zero down payment. However, if you have reduced entitlement (for example, from a previous VA loan still active), county loan limits apply to determine the maximum zero-down amount.

What is the VA funding fee?

The VA funding fee is a one-time charge that helps fund the VA loan program. It ranges from 1.25% to 3.3% of the loan amount depending on your down payment, service type, and whether it's your first or subsequent use. Veterans with service-connected disabilities are exempt from the fee.

Can I use a VA loan more than once?

Yes. You can reuse the VA loan benefit multiple times. If you've paid off and sold the previous home, your full entitlement can be restored. You can even have two VA loans simultaneously if you have remaining entitlement, though the second use carries a higher funding fee.

Do VA loans require PMI?

No. VA loans never require private mortgage insurance (PMI), regardless of your down payment. This is one of the biggest financial advantages of the VA program. On a $400,000 loan, avoiding PMI saves roughly $200–$400 per month compared to conventional loans with less than 20% equity.

Who is eligible for a VA loan?

Eligible borrowers include active-duty service members (90+ days served during wartime, 181+ days during peacetime), veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, National Guard and Reserve members with 6+ years of service, and unremarried surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from a service-connected disability. Consult a professional for advice tailored to your specific situation.

Can I use a VA loan for investment property?

VA loans are only for primary residences. However, you can purchase a multi-unit property (up to four units) with a VA loan if you live in one of the units. This allows you to house-hack — live in one unit and rent the others to offset your mortgage payment.

VA Loan Eligibility Calculator

Estimate your VA loan entitlement, maximum no-down-payment loan, and funding fee. See how service type and usage history affect your VA home-buying power.

Purchase Price

Down Payment

Service Type

VA Loan Usage

VA Disability Exemption

Loan Amount

$400,000.00

Principal borrowed

Funding Fee

$8,600.00

2.15% of loan

Total Financed

$408,600.00

Loan + funding fee

Est. Monthly P&I

$2,193.45

Assumes 5% rate, 30yr

Down Payment

$0.00

Initial upfront amount

PMI Savings vs. Conventional

$166.67/mo

No PMI required on VA loans

Funding Fee by Down Payment

Down Payment	Fee Rate	Fee Amount
0%	0.02%	$8,600.00
5%	0.02%	$5,700.00
10%	0.01%	$4,500.00

Planning notes, formulas, and examples

About the VA Loan Eligibility Calculator

VA loans are one of the most powerful home-buying benefits available to eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses. With no down payment, no private mortgage insurance, and competitive interest rates, the VA loan program has helped millions of military families achieve homeownership.

Under full-entitlement VA loan rules, county loan limits no longer apply to borrowers with full entitlement. However, if you have reduced entitlement (from a previous VA loan that hasn't been restored), county limits still matter when you estimate the maximum zero-down loan amount. Understanding your remaining entitlement is crucial for planning.

This calculator estimates your VA loan entitlement, the maximum no-down-payment loan amount, and the VA funding fee based on your service type, down payment, and whether this is your first or subsequent use of the VA loan benefit.

Use it as a VA financing worksheet before you request a Certificate of Eligibility or compare lender scenarios.

When This Page Helps

VA loan eligibility and funding fees depend on several factors: your service category, whether you've used the benefit before, any disability rating, and your down payment. This calculator consolidates all of those variables into one tool so you can see your exact benefit amount, the funding fee cost, and how a voluntary down payment could reduce your fees.

How to Use the Inputs

Select your service type: Regular Military, Reserves/National Guard, or other eligible category.
Indicate whether this is your first use of the VA loan benefit or a subsequent use.
Enter the home purchase price you're considering.
Set any voluntary down payment percentage (0% is allowed with full entitlement).
Indicate if you have a VA disability rating (exempt from funding fee).
Review your entitlement, funding fee, and maximum loan amount.

Formula used

Full Entitlement: No county limit, max loan determined by lender
Reduced Entitlement: Max No-Down Loan = County Limit − (Used Entitlement × 4)
Funding Fee = Loan Amount × Fee Rate
Fee Rate varies: First use 2.15% (0% down), 1.5% (5%+ down), 1.25% (10%+ down)
Subsequent use: 3.3% (0% down), 1.5% (5%+ down), 1.25% (10%+ down)
Disabled veterans: 0% funding fee

Example Calculation

Result: Loan = $400,000 | Funding fee = $8,600 (2.15%) | Total financed = $408,600

A veteran purchasing a $400,000 home with zero down and first-time use pays a 2.15% funding fee of $8,600. This can be financed into the loan, bringing the total to $408,600. No PMI is required, saving roughly $200+/month compared to conventional loans with less than 20% down.

Tips & Best Practices

Disabled veterans with a VA disability rating are exempt from the funding fee entirely.
Making a 5% or 10% down payment significantly reduces the funding fee percentage.
The funding fee can be financed into the loan if you don't want to pay it upfront.
You can restore full entitlement by paying off and selling a home with a prior VA loan.
VA loans have no PMI and no prepayment penalties — two major cost savings over conventional loans.
Get your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA before shopping for homes.

Full vs. Reduced Entitlement

Veterans with full entitlement have no cap on zero-down loans. Reduced entitlement applies when a prior VA loan is still active or the entitlement was not fully restored. In that case, the remaining entitlement determines how much you can borrow without a down payment, based on the county conforming loan limit.

Funding Fee Reduction Strategies

The fastest way to lower your funding fee is to make a down payment. Going from 0% to 5% down drops the fee from 2.15% to 1.5% on first use. A 10% down payment reduces it further to 1.25%. If you have a service-connected disability, apply for your rating before closing to be exempt entirely.

VA Loan vs. FHA and Conventional

VA loans offer the best terms for eligible borrowers: no down payment, no PMI, competitive rates, and lenient DTI limits (up to 41% or higher with residual income). FHA loans require 3.5% down plus MIP for the life of the loan. Conventional loans require 5–20% down or PMI until 20% equity. For most veterans, the VA loan is the clear best choice.

Sources & Methodology

Last updated: March 30, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

For borrowers with full entitlement, there is no VA loan limit under full-entitlement VA rules. You can borrow as much as a lender will approve with zero down payment. However, if you have reduced entitlement (for example, from a previous VA loan still active), county loan limits apply to determine the maximum zero-down amount.
Eligible borrowers include active-duty service members (90+ days served during wartime, 181+ days during peacetime), veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, National Guard and Reserve members with 6+ years of service, and unremarried surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from a service-connected disability. Consult a professional for advice tailored to your specific situation.