VA Entitlement Calculator: Estimate Remaining Entitlement and No‑Down Capacity
Use your COE and your property’s county one‑unit loan limit to estimate remaining entitlement, a common no‑down maximum, and an estimated down payment when you’re above that cap. This is a planning tool—your lender and the VA determine eligibility, underwriting approval, and the final guaranty structure.
COE + entitlement math · partial vs full · down payment estimator
VA COE Entitlement & Guaranty Calculator
Enter your COE’s entitlement charged and your county’s one‑unit loan limit to estimate remaining entitlement and a common no‑down capacity. Add an optional purchase price (and financed funding fee) to estimate down payment.
COE entitlement calculator
You can type values like 832,750, $832750, 832k, or 1.25m.
Remaining entitlement (estimated)
—
Enter county limit and entitlement charged to calculate.
Entitlement cap used (25% × county limit)
—
Max no-down total loan (est.)
—
Max no-down purchase price (est.)
—
Down payment needed (est.)
—
Estimated base loan (after down)
—
Estimated total loan (base + fee)
—
VA guaranty used (est.)
—
Coverage provided (entitlement + down)
—
Coverage % of total loan (est.)
—
Entitlement remaining after this loan (est.)
—
How COE & entitlement work (clear rules)
These are the points that change remaining entitlement, no‑down capacity, and down payment estimates.
1) A COE proves eligibility — it’s not loan approval
Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) confirms you may use benefits and shows entitlement status. Lender approval depends on underwriting and appraisal/value.
2) Full entitlement vs partial entitlement is the main fork
- Full entitlement: generally means $0 entitlement charged (or restored). County limits are not used as an entitlement-based cap for VA loans over $144,000.
- Partial entitlement: means some entitlement remains charged to another VA loan. County one‑unit limits are used to estimate remaining entitlement and no‑down capacity.
3) The COE number that matters: “TOTAL ENTITLEMENT CHARGED…”
Many COEs show “basic entitlement” (often $36,000), but for this calculator the practical input is the total entitlement charged to previous VA loans.
4) Partial entitlement estimate (common quick math)
- Cap (max guaranty) = county limit × 25%
- Remaining = max(cap − charged, 0)
- Max no‑down total loan ≈ remaining × 4
5) Financing a funding fee changes max purchase price
If you finance a funding fee, it increases the total loan amount. A simple estimate is: max no‑down purchase price ≈ max no‑down total loan − financed fee.
6) Down payment estimate when above no‑down capacity
A common estimate is: down ≈ 25% × (purchase price − max no‑down purchase price) (floored at $0). Use the Advanced setting if you want the funded fee included in the coverage test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Short, direct answers focused on COEs, entitlement, guaranty, and partial entitlement scenarios.
What is a VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?
A COE confirms your eligibility to use VA home loan benefits and shows entitlement status (including any entitlement charged to prior VA loans). It is not a lender approval or a rate quote.
Where do I find “total entitlement charged” on my COE?
Many COEs include a line like “TOTAL ENTITLEMENT CHARGED TO PREVIOUS VA LOANS IS $_____.” Use that dollar amount as entitlement charged unless your entitlement has been restored.
What does “full entitlement” mean?
Full entitlement generally means no entitlement is currently charged (or it was restored). In that case, county loan limits are not used as an entitlement-based cap for VA loans over $144,000, though lender underwriting still applies.
What’s the difference between entitlement and guaranty?
Entitlement is the benefit amount available to back a VA loan. Guaranty is the portion of the loan amount the VA guarantees to the lender, typically expressed as a coverage percentage.
How is remaining entitlement estimated with partial entitlement?
A common estimate is: remaining entitlement = max((county one-unit loan limit × 25%) − entitlement charged, 0). This is the relationship many lenders use for quick partial-entitlement math.
Why does the county one-unit limit matter for partial entitlement?
When you have partial entitlement, the VA uses the county one-unit conforming loan limit reference to determine a maximum guaranty figure for remaining-entitlement calculations.
How do I estimate max no-down purchase price if I finance the VA funding fee?
If you estimate a max no-down total loan (often remaining entitlement × 4), a financed funding fee reduces the max purchase price because it increases the total loan amount. A simple estimate is: max purchase price ≈ max total loan − financed fee.
Can I have two VA loans at the same time?
Sometimes. If you keep an existing VA loan, you may still use remaining entitlement for another purchase—subject to occupancy rules and lender overlays. Partial entitlement and down payment requirements are common in this scenario.
What if my entitlement was restored but my COE still shows a charged amount?
If entitlement was restored, your COE should reflect that status. If the COE wording looks inconsistent with your situation, request an updated COE through your lender or VA channels before relying on estimates.
Do county loan limits apply if I have full entitlement?
With full entitlement, the VA does not set a loan limit. County loan limits are primarily used for remaining-entitlement calculations when you have partial entitlement and want a no-down purchase.
Sources
Primary references commonly used for entitlement, guaranty, COE language, and county-limit concepts.
- VA.gov — VA loan limits / full vs partial entitlement overview.
VA.gov page - VA.gov — eligibility & COE information.
VA.gov eligibility - VA Loan Guaranty — Guaranty Calculation Examples (PDF).
PDF - VA Lenders Handbook (M26-07) — Entitlement & Guaranty chapters (WARMS PDFs).
Chapter 2 (Entitlement) · Chapter 3 (Loan & Guaranty) - FHFA — conforming loan limits (county one‑unit limits reference).
FHFA
VA Loan Network. “VA COE Entitlement & Guaranty Calculator.” https://valoannetwork.com/va-loans/data/entitlement/
What VA entitlement is (and what it is not)
VA entitlement is the VA’s guaranty to the lender—not money paid to you. It helps replace a down payment by backing part of the loan if you default, which is why many eligible borrowers can buy with $0 down and without monthly mortgage insurance.
- It doesn’t override approval: you still must qualify for the payment, meet credit/income requirements, and clear appraisal/property standards.
- It’s tied to occupancy: the VA loan program is built for a primary residence (including 2–4 units if you occupy one unit).
- Your COE is the control document: it confirms eligibility and shows whether entitlement is full or partial.
How to use the calculator with your COE
- Get your current COE and find the line that reads “TOTAL ENTITLEMENT CHARGED TO PREVIOUS VA LOANS.” Enter that dollar amount as Entitlement charged.
- Confirm the property’s county one‑unit loan limit (the county where you’re buying, not where you currently live) and enter it as the County one‑unit loan limit.
- If you’re buying now, add your target purchase price and (optionally) an estimated financed funding fee. If you plan to roll the fee into the loan and want it included in the coverage test, enable the Advanced setting.
- Use the outputs for offer planning: if your target price is above the tool’s max no‑down purchase price, expect a down payment to close the “coverage” gap and have your lender confirm the exact requirement.
Official definitions and program rules live on the VA’s loan limits and eligibility pages: VA loan limits/entitlement and VA eligibility.
Restoration and second‑use planning
If you’ve used a VA loan before, your real decision point is whether entitlement is fully available or still tied up. Use the calculator early, then validate with your lender before you write an offer—small COE differences can change cash to close.
- Sold and paid off: entitlement is often restorable; request an updated COE after closing to confirm it shows no entitlement charged.
- Paid off but kept the home: you may be able to use one‑time restoration; it’s limited—use it deliberately.
- Assumption without substitution: your entitlement may remain tied up until that loan is paid off (always confirm with an updated COE).
- Prior loss/claim: some entitlement may stay charged until the VA’s loss is repaid or otherwise resolved, increasing the odds of a down payment on your next purchase.
If your COE remarks look inconsistent with your situation (restored status vs charged amount), treat that as a stop sign and request a corrected/updated COE before relying on estimates.
Created by: Levi Rodgers
Validated by: Kenneth Schwartz, Senior Loan Officer NMLS#1001095
Last updated