VA Entitlement Calculator

VA entitlement is the amount the Department of Veterans Affairs guarantees on a VA home loan, which protects the lender against loss if the borrower defaults. The VA typically guarantees 25% of the loan amount, and this guarantee replaces the need for private mortgage insurance or a down payment. For veterans with full entitlement — meaning no outstanding VA loans — there is no loan limit under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, so you can purchase at any price with zero down as long as the lender approves you. The basic entitlement is $36,000, with an additional bonus entitlement tied to your county's conforming loan limit. Understanding your available entitlement is critical when purchasing a second home with a VA loan or when you have a prior VA loan that wasn't fully restored.

The VA funding fee is a one-time charge paid at closing that helps fund the VA loan program and reduce the cost to taxpayers. The fee percentage varies based on your down payment amount, whether it's your first or subsequent use of a VA loan, and the type of transaction. For a purchase with zero down on first use, the funding fee is 2.15% of the loan amount; subsequent use with zero down increases to 3.30%. Putting 5% or more down reduces the fee to 1.50%, and 10% or more drops it to 1.25% regardless of usage. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher, surviving spouses receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, and Purple Heart recipients on active duty are exempt from paying the funding fee entirely.

Yes, VA loan entitlement can be used multiple times throughout your lifetime — there is no limit on how many VA loans you can have over time. If you've paid off a previous VA loan and sold the property, you can request a full restoration of your entitlement through the VA. You can also have two VA loans simultaneously if you have remaining entitlement, which is common for service members who PCS and keep their previous home as a rental. In cases of partial entitlement, the county loan limit applies and determines your maximum no-down-payment loan amount based on your remaining entitlement. Working with a lender experienced in VA loans is important when navigating second-tier entitlement scenarios to ensure accurate calculations.