VA Loan Data Dictionary (Field Definitions & Codes)
This is the canonical field reference for the VA Loan Data Hub and its CSV downloads. Each entry lists the field name, plain-language meaning, type or unit, example value, where the field is used, and notes that matter for joins, filters, and downstream calculators.
Search checks field name, label, type, example, dataset usage, and notes.
CSV-stable field names
The exported column names match the field_name values shown on this page.
Join on machine keys
Use state_code, county_fips, dates, and versions for joins. Treat human labels as display text.
Reviewed for 2026
Examples below were normalized for 2026 planning and cleaned up where the original page used stale or contradictory values.
Official-source bias
State benefit and local overlay summaries are shortcuts only. Always verify the linked government source before relying on them.
How to use this dictionary
Use this page before building joins, calculators, dashboards, QA checks, or AI workflows on VA Loan Network data.
Field names are the contract
- CSV exports use the same
field_namevalues listed here. - If a rename is ever required, document it, version it, and preserve a backwards-compatible alias when practical.
Join on IDs, not labels
- Use
state_codeandcounty_fipsfor joins. - Names like “Texas” or “Travis County” are presentation labels, not canonical keys.
Prefer a stable ID, an effective date, and a dataset version any time a rule, rate, or limit can change over time.
Core identifiers & geography fields
These fields appear in multiple datasets and are the safest keys for joins.
| Field name | Label | Type / unit | Example | Used in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
dataset_slug |
Dataset slug | Text | funding_fee |
All CSVs | Identifies which VA Loan Network dataset a record comes from. |
dataset_version |
Dataset version | Text / semantic | 2026.1 |
Most data CSVs | Version string for the dataset; use it when structure, assumptions, or rules change. |
effective_date |
Effective date | Date (ISO) | 2026-01-01 |
Funding fee, limits, residual income | Date on which a rate, table, or limit becomes effective. |
state_code |
State code | Text (USPS code) | TX |
Loan limits, appraisal fees, state benefits, local overlays | Two-letter USPS abbreviation, including DC and PR where applicable. |
state_name |
State name | Text | Texas | Loan limits, state benefits pages | Human-readable state name. Use state_code as the join key. |
county_name |
County name | Text | Travis County | Loan limits | County label used for display; not unique without state_code. |
county_fips |
County FIPS | Text (5 digits) | 48453 |
Loan limits | FIPS code used as the canonical county-level join key. |
region_name |
Region name | Text (enum) | South | Residual income, appraisal fees | High-level region; exact meaning depends on the dataset. |
region_code |
Region code | Text (enum) | SOUTH |
Residual income | Machine-friendly region label. See the dataset-specific glossary for allowed values. |
Loan limits & entitlement fields
Fields used on the loan-limit and entitlement or guaranty tools.
| Field name | Label | Type / unit | Example | Used in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
limit_year |
Loan limit year | Integer | 2026 |
Loan limits | Calendar year corresponding to the FHFA conforming-limit release. |
units |
Number of units | Integer | 1 |
Loan limits | Property unit count used to select the correct limit for 1–4 unit properties. |
loan_limit_1_unit |
1-unit loan limit | USD | 832750 |
Loan limits | FHFA conforming limit for 1-unit properties in the county and year. |
loan_limit_2_unit |
2-unit loan limit | USD | 1066250 |
Loan limits | Conforming limit for 2-unit properties for the same county and year. |
high_cost_flag |
High-cost area flag | Boolean / 0–1 | 0 |
Loan limits | Indicates whether a county uses an above-baseline conforming limit for the year. |
baseline_limit |
Baseline national limit | USD | 832750 |
Loan limits | National baseline conforming limit for that year; the same value applies to all baseline counties. |
total_entitlement_available |
Total entitlement available | USD | 208187.50 |
Entitlement | Total basic and bonus entitlement available at the time of calculation. |
entitlement_used |
Entitlement already used | USD | 80000 |
Entitlement | Entitlement tied up in an existing or prior VA loan that has not yet been fully restored. |
guaranty_percent |
Guaranty percentage | Percent | 25 |
Entitlement, loan limits | Target VA guaranty as a percentage of the loan amount. |
guaranty_amount |
Guaranty amount | USD | 208187.50 |
Entitlement | VA guaranty implied by entitlement and loan amount; used to test 25% coverage. |
required_down_payment |
Required down payment | USD | 12500 |
Entitlement, loan limits | Estimated minimum down payment needed to reach the target guaranty coverage when partial entitlement is used. |
Funding fee & closing-cost fields
Fields used for funding fee, seller concessions, and allowable-fee datasets.
| Field name | Label | Type / unit | Example | Used in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
loan_purpose |
Loan purpose | Text (enum) | Purchase | Funding fee, seller concessions | Purpose category such as Purchase, IRRRL, Cash-out, or Manufactured Home. |
service_category |
Service category | Text (enum) | Regular Military | Funding fee | Grouping such as Regular Military, Reserve / National Guard, or another VA fee-table category. |
first_use_flag |
First-use flag | Boolean / 0–1 | 1 |
Funding fee | Indicates whether VA treats the scenario as first use instead of subsequent use for funding-fee purposes. |
irrrl_flag |
IRRRL flag | Boolean / 0–1 | 0 |
Funding fee | Marks Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans, which use separate fee treatment. |
down_payment_percent |
Down payment percent | Percent | 5 |
Funding fee | Borrower down payment as a percentage of purchase price; used to determine fee tier for some purposes. |
funding_fee_rate |
Funding fee rate | Percent | 1.5 |
Funding fee | Funding fee percentage used to calculate the fee amount when the borrower is not exempt. |
funding_fee_amount |
Funding fee amount | USD | 4500 |
Funding fee calculator | Calculated fee in dollars, based on loan amount, purpose, use, and exemptions. |
funding_fee_exempt_flag |
Funding fee exempt | Boolean / 0–1 | 0 |
Funding fee | True when the borrower is exempt, such as qualifying disability-compensation or certain surviving-spouse cases. |
fee_financed_flag |
Fee financed flag | Boolean / 0–1 | 1 |
Funding fee | Marks whether the funding fee is financed into the loan amount instead of paid in cash at closing. |
seller_concessions_percent |
Seller concessions percent | Percent (of reasonable value) | 3.5 |
Seller concessions | Counted seller concessions as a percentage of the property’s reasonable value shown in the VA Notice of Value. |
seller_concessions_cap_percent |
Seller concessions cap | Percent (of reasonable value) | 4 |
Seller concessions | VA caps counted seller concessions at 4% of the home’s reasonable value. |
non_allowable_fees_amount |
Non-allowable fees | USD | 750 |
Allowable fees | Estimated amount of fees the borrower is generally not permitted to pay directly under VA fee rules. |
Property, appraisal & MPR fields
Fields used on appraisal fee schedules, condo lookup, and minimum-property-requirement tools.
| Field name | Label | Type / unit | Example | Used in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
property_type |
Property type | Text (enum) | Single-family | Appraisal fees, MPR | High-level property category such as single-family, condo, manufactured home, or multi-unit. |
appraisal_region_code |
Appraisal region code | Text (enum) | TX-01 |
Appraisal fees | Locality grouping used by VA to define fee caps and timeliness standards. |
appraisal_fee_max |
Maximum appraisal fee | USD | 800 |
Appraisal fees | Maximum fee allowed for an appraisal in the region, property type, and period covered by the schedule. |
appraisal_timeline_purchase_days |
Purchase timeline | Business days | 10 |
Appraisal fees | Timeliness standard for purchase appraisals in the relevant region and property type. |
condo_project_id |
Condo project ID | Text / ID | VA123456 |
Condo lookup | Identifier used in VA condo tools. Helpful for matching and lender handoff, but not a substitute for official LGY access. |
condo_status |
Condo status | Text (enum) | Accepted | Condo lookup | High-level status such as Accepted, Conditionally Accepted, Rejected, or Expired. |
mpr_category |
MPR category | Text (enum) | Safety | MPR checklist | Top-level bucket for minimum property requirements, such as Safety, Structural, Utilities, or Access. |
mpr_subcategory |
MPR subcategory | Text | Roof & coverings | MPR checklist | More specific grouping inside a category, such as peeling paint, handrails, or heating system. |
mpr_code |
MPR code | Text / code | SAF-ROOF-01 |
MPR checklist | Structured code representing a specific MPR item for tracking and analytics. |
mpr_required_flag |
MPR required flag | Boolean / 0–1 | 1 |
MPR checklist | Marks whether the condition must be corrected for standard VA eligibility instead of being discretionary or cosmetic. |
State Veteran benefits & local overlay fields
Fields used on the state-benefits and local-requirements datasets.
| Field name | Label | Type / unit | Example | Used in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
state_benefit_category |
Benefit category | Text (enum) | Property tax relief | State Veteran benefits | Grouping such as Property tax, Education, Housing grants, Licensing, or other Veteran benefits. |
property_tax_exemption_flag |
Property tax exemption flag | Boolean / 0–1 | 1 |
State Veteran benefits | Indicates whether the state publishes at least one qualifying property-tax exemption or reduction program for Veterans. |
property_tax_exemption_summary |
Property tax exemption summary | Text | Full exemption for 100% disabled Veterans on a primary residence, with state-specific rules and caps. | State Veteran benefits | Short summary of the main Veteran-focused property-tax program; always verify thresholds on the linked official source. |
homebuyer_program_flag |
Homebuyer program flag | Boolean / 0–1 | 1 |
State Veteran benefits | Indicates whether the state publishes at least one Veteran-targeted homebuyer or housing-assistance program. |
benefit_url |
Benefit source URL | URL | https://example.gov/veteran-benefits |
State Veteran benefits | Primary state or agency page where the benefit is documented. |
local_overlay_category |
Overlay category | Text (enum) | Water quality | Local requirements | Grouping for local requirements that affect VA transactions, such as water quality, septic, well, or pest issues. |
local_overlay_scope |
Overlay scope | Text (enum) | Statewide | Local requirements | Whether the overlay applies statewide, to specific counties, or to defined zones. |
local_overlay_summary |
Overlay summary | Text | Water test required for private wells before VA closing; see the governing state or local source for specifics. | Local requirements | Plain-language summary of the overlay so agents and lenders can see how it may affect a transaction. |
State and local benefit descriptions are summaries only. Always use the linked government source to confirm current eligibility rules, dollar limits, and filing requirements.
Citation & references
Use this citation when reusing the dictionary or its generated CSV exports.
VA Loan Network. “VA Loan Data Dictionary (Field Definitions & Codes).” Reviewed . https://valoannetwork.com/va-loans/data/dictionary/
- VA Lender’s Handbook / VA Pamphlet 26-7 (WARMS) for underwriting tables, glossary context, and MPR guidance.
- VA.gov funding fee and closing costs for current fee and seller-concession guidance.
- FHFA conforming loan-limit values for county and national baseline loan-limit data.
- VA appraisal fee schedules and timeliness requirements for appraisal fee and timing data.
- State Veteran agencies and official state tax or housing departments for property-tax relief and state-program details.
FAQs
Short answers about field names, CSVs, joins, and update behavior.
What is the VA Loan Network data dictionary?
It is the central reference for the fields used across the VA Loan Data Hub, so analysts, lenders, engineers, and AI systems can interpret those datasets consistently.
Do field names in your datasets ever change?
Rarely. If a rename becomes necessary, the change should be documented here, versioned in the dataset, and handled with an alias when practical.
What does the “_flag” suffix mean?
It usually marks a Boolean field stored as true or false, yes or no, or 1 or 0. The exact meaning is defined in the notes for that field.
Can I join multiple datasets together?
Yes. Common join keys include state_code, county_fips, effective_date, and dataset_version. This dictionary shows where those fields appear.
How should I treat blanks or null values?
Blanks usually mean “not applicable,” “not published,” or “not present in that record type.” The notes column is where that intent should be explained.
Can I rely on this instead of reading VA or FHFA documents?
Use this as a fast reference, not as a substitute for the governing source. Rule changes, fee updates, and edge cases should still be verified against VA, FHFA, or the relevant state source.
Do you include HMDA or lender-specific fields here?
No. This dictionary covers VA Loan Network public datasets. If lender-specific or third-party fields are added later, they should be defined here before release.
Are your field names safe to embed in my own tools?
Yes. They are designed to be stable enough for dashboards, spreadsheets, internal tools, and prompt templates, as long as you still validate important business logic against the source data.
How do you handle changes in official rules over time?
Fields like effective_date and dataset_version exist so you can track when values changed and compare records across different rule periods.
What if a field definition seems wrong or incomplete?
Report the field name, dataset, and the specific issue through the site contact page. This dictionary should be updated whenever a definition is wrong, incomplete, or newly ambiguous.