Zero down, but the funding fee varies. Calculate your VA loan payment with the correct rate based on your down payment and service category. Built for veterans.
M = P × [ i(1 + i)^n ] / [ (1 + i)^n - 1 ] (P includes funding fee)The VA loan uses the standard amortization formula. The loan amount includes the funding fee (loan × fee%), and there is no monthly mortgage insurance since VA loans have no PMI.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| M | Monthly payment (P&I) |
| P | Loan amount including funding fee |
| i | Monthly interest rate (annual ÷ 12) |
| n | Total payments (years × 12) |
Our calculations are based on established financial and scientific formulas. The following sources inform the default values and methodology used in this calculator:
The VA funding fee varies based on your down payment, whether it is your first or subsequent use, and whether you are exempt. This table shows how the fee changes across scenarios.
| Scenario | Down Payment | Funding Fee Rate | Fee on $300,000 | Financed Loan Amount | Monthly P&I at 6% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Use | 0% | 2.15% | $6,450 | $306,450 | $1,837 |
| First Use | 5% | 1.50% | $4,500 | $304,500 | $1,826 |
| First Use | 10% | 1.25% | $3,750 | $303,750 | $1,822 |
| Subsequent Use | 0% | 3.30% | $9,900 | $309,900 | $1,858 |
| Subsequent Use | 5% | 1.50% | $4,500 | $304,500 | $1,826 |
| Disability Exempt | Any | 0% | $0 | $300,000 | $1,799 |
The VA funding fee is a one-time cost that can be financed into the loan, meaning no out-of-pocket payment at closing. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating (any percentage) are exempt from the fee entirely. The 0% down option is unique to VA loans and makes homeownership accessible for veterans who may not have saved a large down payment. Use this calculator to see your exact payment with the fee included.
VA loan eligibility depends on your military service history and character of service. The VA guarantees a portion of the loan (the "entitlement"), which protects lenders and allows them to offer 0% down financing. Understanding your eligibility and entitlement is the first step to using a VA loan.
| Service Type | Minimum Service Requirement | Eligibility | Typical Entitlement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Duty | 90 continuous days (wartime) / 181 days (peacetime) | Full | $127,600+ (basic) | Certificate of Eligibility (COE) required |
| Reserves / National Guard | 6 years of service | Full | $127,600+ (basic) | Must have been honorably discharged or be currently serving |
| Veteran (Discharged) | Varies by era (see above) | Full | $127,600+ (basic) | Must have honorable discharge; other-than-honorable may qualify in some cases |
| Surviving Spouse | Spouse died in service or from service-connected disability | Full | $127,600+ (basic) | Must not have remarried (with some exceptions after age 57) |
| Active Duty (Selected) | Less than 90 days | No | None | Must complete minimum service requirement |
| Dishonorable Discharge | N/A | No | None | Character of service must be honorable or general under honorable conditions |
VA loans are one of the most valuable benefits of military service — offering 0% down payment, no PMI, competitive interest rates, and limited closing costs. The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) can be obtained online through the VA eBenefits portal. Entitlement can be restored after a VA loan is paid off, allowing you to use the benefit multiple times. Use this VA loan calculator to estimate your monthly payment and see how the funding fee affects your total cost.
The VA itself sets no minimum score — it's your lender that does. Most lenders look for 580–620, though some go lower for otherwise strong profiles. Two years after a bankruptcy discharge or foreclosure is the VA guideline for re-establishing eligibility, and most lenders follow it. Because VA loans default to zero down, compensating factors like residual income and stable employment carry extra weight in the approval decision.
The VA appraisal (which produces the Certificate of Reasonable Value) confirms the home's value and enforces Minimum Property Requirements: safe drinking water, working heat, a roof with remaining life, no safety hazards. It is not a home inspection — it won't find a failing furnace or hidden mold — so VA buyers should still hire their own inspector. If the appraisal comes in below the purchase price, you can renegotiate, cover the gap in cash, or walk away; that is a protection conventional buyers often lack.
No monthly PMI — that is the program's structural advantage and the reason the funding fee exists. A VA borrower putting 0% down pays only principal, interest, taxes, and homeowner's insurance, while a conventional 0%-down borrower would typically add $150–$300/month in PMI on a median-priced home. Over a 30-year loan, that difference compounds into the hundreds of thousands in avoided insurance cost.
Yes — entitlement is reusable. Selling the home and paying off the loan restores your entitlement in full; keeping it and buying again with partial entitlement is also possible, though the remaining entitlement may cap the zero-down loan size in high-cost counties. Many veterans use the benefit three or more times across a lifetime of duty stations.
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