A VA loan is a mortgage backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and available to eligible veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard, Reservists, and many surviving spouses. The VA does not lend the money, your lender does, but the VA guaranty lets lenders offer terms no one else can match.
A VA loan needs no down payment, has no monthly mortgage insurance, and accepts credit scores down to about 580 at most lenders. You pay a one-time funding fee (typically 1.25% to 3.3%) that can be rolled into the loan, and the fee is waived entirely if you have a service-connected disability rating.
For an eligible borrower, a VA loan is almost always the best financing option available, full stop.
| Who qualifies | Veterans, active duty, Guard/Reserve (with service requirement met), and many surviving spouses |
|---|---|
| Minimum credit score | No VA minimum (lenders typically use 580–620) |
| Minimum down payment | $0 in most cases |
| Debt-to-income (DTI) | No hard cap; 41% soft target with residual income |
| Mortgage insurance | None, replaced by one-time VA funding fee |
| Loan limits (2026) | No limit with full entitlement; conforming otherwise |
| Property types | Primary residence only (1–4 units, owner-occupied) |
| Upfront fee | 2.15%–3.3% funding fee; waived for disabled veterans |
Build the full payment, including the rolled-in funding fee.
See how far zero down stretches your budget on a VA loan.
Check whether your debts and income line up for a VA file.
Estimate cash to close, even at zero down, there are costs.
Yes. The VA itself does not set a minimum, and most lenders accept 580 to 620. At 600, you are firmly inside the qualifying range. Pricing improves as your score climbs, so it is worth cleaning up small balances before you lock.
In most cases, yes. There is no required down payment if you have full entitlement and the home appraises at or above the purchase price. You will still need cash for closing costs, prepaid taxes, and insurance, though sellers can be asked to cover up to 4% of those.
For first-time use with zero down, it is 2.15% of the loan amount for regular military and 2.4% for Guard/Reserve. The fee drops if you put 5% or more down. Subsequent VA loans cost more (3.3%). Veterans with a service-connected disability rating pay nothing.
Yes. You can use a VA loan as many times as you qualify, and you can have more than one VA loan at the same time if you have enough remaining entitlement. This is useful when you PCS or keep a former primary as a rental.
Residual income is the cash you have left each month after taxes, housing, debts, and major bills. The VA sets minimums by region and family size. A strong residual number lets the VA approve loans with higher DTIs that conventional or FHA would decline.
Yes, as long as you live in one of the units. VA financing on 2–4 unit owner-occupied properties is one of the most powerful wealth-building moves available to eligible borrowers.
Yes. With lender approval, a future buyer (VA-eligible or not in limited cases) can take over your loan at your existing rate. On a low-rate VA loan, this can be a meaningful selling point when you eventually move.
A practical checklist with true monthly-payment math, loan choices, cash-to-close planning and a fillable buying worksheet.
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