Estimate your VA loan payment, funding fee, and total interest over the life of the loan.
Free VA loan estimator for eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses. Models 0% down, the 2026 funding fee schedule, and the full monthly payment with taxes and insurance.
Direct answers to the most common questions, in plain language. Skim if you're in a hurry; dig deeper below.
Yes — 100% financing is standard for eligible veterans.
Most VA-eligible borrowers can finance the full purchase price with no down payment. A down payment is optional and lowers your funding fee and monthly payment, but it is not required.
Typically 2.15% first use and 3.3% subsequent use with $0 down.
The VA funding fee is a one-time charge that replaces mortgage insurance. With $0 down, it is 2.15% for first-time use and 3.3% for subsequent use. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating are exempt.
Yes, and most borrowers choose to finance it.
You can add the funding fee on top of the loan amount instead of paying it at closing. This raises your monthly payment slightly but keeps cash on hand for moving, repairs, and reserves.
For eligible veterans, almost always yes.
VA loans have no PMI, no down payment requirement, and competitive rates. FHA charges lifetime MIP on most loans and requires 3.5% down. Conventional loans need 20% down to avoid PMI. If you qualify, VA is typically the lowest-cost option.
The mechanics in short answers — no jargon, no upsell.
The lender funds the mortgage, and the Department of Veterans Affairs insures a slice of it. That guarantee is why lenders accept 0% down without charging PMI.
Instead of monthly PMI, you pay a one-time funding fee. It is typically 2.15% first use or 3.3% subsequent use with $0 down, and it can be rolled into the loan.
Principal + interest, property tax, homeowners insurance, and (optionally) HOA. There is no PMI line item to drag the payment up.
VA loans never carry prepayment penalties. Extra principal goes directly against the loan balance and shortens the term.
Designed so anyone can model their situation in under a minute, with or without a finance background.
Finance 100% of the purchase price up to your county loan limit, with no PMI ever.
VA loans never charge PMI, saving most borrowers $100–$300 every month for the life of the loan.
VA-backed loans typically price 0.25–0.50% below comparable conventional loans.
VA underwriting weighs residual income heavily, so borrowers with mid-600s FICO scores routinely qualify.
Veterans with a service-connected disability rating, Purple Heart recipients, and qualifying surviving spouses pay $0 funding fee.
You can use your VA entitlement multiple times across a lifetime — buy, sell, and buy again.
Everything you might ask before, during, or after using this tool.
Active-duty service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members meeting time-in-service requirements, and certain surviving spouses qualify. You will need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA, which most lenders can pull electronically in minutes.
With $0 down, the funding fee is 2.15% of the loan amount for first-time use and 3.3% for subsequent use. The fee drops with a down payment of 5% or 10%. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating, Purple Heart recipients, and qualifying surviving spouses are exempt.
Yes. Most borrowers finance the funding fee on top of the base loan amount. This avoids a large cash outlay at closing but increases your monthly payment slightly and the total interest you pay over the life of the loan.
Veterans with full entitlement (no active VA loan and no prior VA foreclosure) have no loan limit — you can borrow whatever a lender will fund. Borrowers with reduced entitlement are subject to the conforming county loan limits.
No. VA loans never carry private mortgage insurance, regardless of your down payment. The funding fee is paid once and replaces ongoing PMI for the life of the loan.
Yes. Your VA entitlement is reusable. After you pay off a prior VA loan or sell the property, you can restore your entitlement and use it again. Many veterans use VA financing two, three, or more times across their lives.
The VA itself does not set a minimum credit score, but most lenders look for 580–620 at minimum. Stronger scores get better rates. VA underwriting also weighs residual income heavily, so a modest credit score with strong cash flow often still qualifies.
Yes. VA loans prohibit prepayment penalties. You can pay extra toward principal any month, refinance whenever it makes sense, or pay the loan off completely at any time with no charge.
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Eligibility hinges on service history. Active-duty members typically qualify after 90 continuous days. Veterans need 90 days during wartime or 181 days during peacetime, with an honorable or general discharge. National Guard and Reserve members generally qualify after 6 years of service, or sooner if activated to federal duty.
Surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty, or from a service-connected disability, also qualify in many cases. The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is the document that proves it — your lender pulls it electronically through the VA portal in most cases.
The funding fee is the VA's version of mortgage insurance, except you pay it once instead of monthly. For purchases with $0 down, the 2026 schedule is 2.15% for first-time use and 3.3% for subsequent use. A 5% down payment drops first-use to 1.5% and subsequent-use to 1.5%. A 10% down payment drops both to 1.25%.
Veterans receiving disability compensation from the VA, those eligible to receive disability compensation but receiving retirement pay instead, Purple Heart recipients on active duty, and qualifying surviving spouses pay no funding fee. If you qualify as exempt, switch the toggle in the calculator — your monthly payment and lifetime cost both drop noticeably.
For eligible veterans, VA is almost always cheaper. FHA requires 3.5% down and charges lifetime mortgage insurance premium (MIP) on most loans — typically 0.55% annual MIP plus a 1.75% upfront premium. That is roughly $170/month on a $375K loan, for the life of the loan.
Conventional loans avoid PMI only at 20% down. Below that, expect 0.3–1.5% annual PMI depending on credit and LTV. VA loans skip both of these, and the funding fee — even at 3.3% subsequent use — is usually less than the lifetime cost of FHA MIP on the same loan. Run both side-by-side in the calculators before you commit.
Two short notes worth reading before you trust any number on this page.
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We are not a bank, NBFC, advisor, broker, or distributor of any financial product. The numbers shown here are estimates for educational purposes only, based on the inputs you provide.
Results are not financial, legal, or tax advice. Please consult a qualified professional before any decision about your loan, investments, or personal finances. Actual loan terms and charges depend on your bank and individual circumstances.
