Eligible borrowers with full entitlement may finance with little or no down payment and no monthly PMI. A VA funding fee may apply unless you are exempt. National VA Loans helps eligible veterans, active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and surviving spouses use their VA home loan benefit to buy, build, renovate, or refinance.
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Educational content is reviewed for clarity and lending context; personalized eligibility requires borrower-specific review.
National VA Loans is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.
Last reviewed: June 2026
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A VA home loan is a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and offered by approved lenders to eligible veterans, active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and qualifying surviving spouses.
Many eligible borrowers with sufficient entitlement can buy with no down payment, subject to lender qualification, property approval, occupancy, appraisal, and underwriting.
No. VA loans do not require private mortgage insurance, which can reduce monthly costs compared with some conventional loans that use a smaller down payment.
Eligibility can include veterans, active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and qualifying surviving spouses. Service requirements vary, and a Certificate of Eligibility helps confirm VA benefit eligibility.
The main benefits are $0 down payment with full entitlement, no monthly PMI, and often more flexible residual-income underwriting. Rate outcomes vary by credit, occupancy, points, and market conditions. Tradeoffs include a one-time VA funding fee (unless exempt), primary-residence occupancy, and VA Minimum Property Requirements.
Yes. Pre-qualification helps connect your target price to income, debts, credit, entitlement, cash-to-close, taxes, insurance, and local market assumptions before you write offers.
The VA funding fee is a one-time program fee that varies by loan type, down payment, service category, and whether you have used the benefit before. Some borrowers, including many with service-connected disability compensation, may be exempt.
Many VA purchases close in a similar timeframe to other mortgage loans when documents, appraisal, title, and underwriting move smoothly. A personalized timeline depends on your property, contract, documentation, and market conditions.