VA Loan Hub
Use this hub to jump straight to the VA loan topic you need: funding fee, eligibility and COE, loan limits and entitlement, credit and underwriting, appraisal and MPRs, property types, complex scenarios, refinancing, and how VA Loan Network works.
Browse by topic
Start with the basics, then drill into eligibility, costs, limits, property rules, and advanced scenarios.
Start here
Use these guides if you’re just getting started and want the plain‑language version of what VA loans are, who they’re for, and how to move from “thinking about it” to closing without getting lost.
- VA Loan Overview – What a VA home loan is, who it’s for, core benefits, and the steps from preapproval through closing.
- VA Loan Requirements – Service history, income and residual income, occupancy rules, and property requirements that shape basic eligibility.
- Do VA Loans Have PMI? – How VA loans avoid monthly mortgage insurance, what replaces PMI, and how that impacts your payment.
- Compare VA Loan Offers – Match with 2–3 VA‑approved lenders and compare APR, fees/credits, timelines, and service side by side.
- VA Readiness Path – A guided, step‑by‑step path from “Am I eligible?” to closing.
COE & eligibility
Everything tied to proving you’ve earned the VA benefit and how that benefit shows up in the Certificate of Eligibility and entitlement numbers.
- VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) – What the COE is, how to request it, how lenders pull it electronically, and how it reflects entitlement and funding‑fee status.
- Who Is Eligible for a VA Loan? – Service length, character of service, surviving spouse eligibility, and how entitlement connects to actual approvals.
- Entitlement & COE data (dataset) – Machine‑readable entitlement tables and example scenarios.
Funding fee & refunds
The one‑time VA funding fee, when it applies, how exemptions work, and how to handle refunds, roll‑ins, and seller help without breaking VA rules.
- VA Funding Fee Guide – Current funding‑fee rates by usage and down payment, who is exempt, and examples that show real‑dollar cost differences.
- VA Funding Fee Refund – When you may qualify for a partial or full refund, how to request it, and what documentation the VA and lender will look for.
- Rolling the VA Funding Fee Into the Loan – How rolling the fee into the loan works, how it impacts payment and equity, and when it might make sense.
- 4 Percent Rule on VA Loans – How much a seller can contribute, what counts as a concession, and how funding‑fee and buydown credits are tested.
- VA Closing Costs – National‑average closing‑cost ranges and how credits, buydowns, and lender fees change your cash to close.
Loan limits & entitlement
How Blue Water Navy changed full entitlement, when county limits still matter, and how to reuse your VA benefit for a second home or jumbo VA scenario.
- VA Loan Limits – How county loan limits interact with full and partial entitlement in 2026 and beyond.
- Bonus (Remaining) Entitlement – How remaining guaranty and county limits size your zero‑down ceiling and when a small down payment bridges the gap.
- Second‑Tier Entitlement – Using your VA benefit again while a prior VA loan is still outstanding, including occupancy, reserves, and minimum loan‑size rules.
- Two VA Loans at Once – Keeping your first VA home (often as a rental) and qualifying for a second primary residence with VA financing.
- VA Jumbo Loans – How high‑balance VA loans are underwritten, when county limits still matter, and what extra reserves or tighter ratios you might see.
Credit & qualification
How lenders actually underwrite VA credit files: scores, late payments, manual underwriting, residual income, and ways to strengthen your profile before you apply.
- Bad Credit VA Loan – How lenders set score overlays, when manual underwriting can help, and what is realistic with lower credit scores.
- Manual Underwriting for VA Loans – What happens when AUS says “Refer,” and how residual income, housing history, and compensating factors are evaluated.
- Minimum Credit Score Needed for VA Loans – Typical lender minimums and why thresholds differ across the market.
- VA Home Loan with a 580 Credit Score – What it usually takes to qualify around 580, including reserves, DTI, and pricing expectations.
- How Credit Score Impacts VA Loan Rates – Score bands, rate adjustments, and how improving credit can change points and long‑term cost.
- Improve Credit Before a VA Loan – Practical steps to clean up reports, reduce balances, and strengthen your file before you apply.
- Rapid Rescores for VA Mortgage Credit – When a rapid rescore might help, what documentation you need, and timing considerations.
- Grossing Up VA Disability / Tax-Free Income – How some lenders gross up non‑taxable income and what proof is required.
- Using Military Pay to Qualify – How BAH, BAS, and other military pays are counted and when they can be used in qualification.
- What Counts as Qualifying Income? – Which income sources can be used and how lenders test for stability and history.
- Residual Income for VA Loans – Residual income standards by region and household size, and how they differ from standard DTI tests.
Appraisal & Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs)
How VA appraisals work, what MPRs actually require, and what to do if value comes in low or the property needs repair.
- VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs) – Core safety, soundness, and sanitation rules, plus common issues that show up on VA appraisals.
- VA Tidewater Initiative – What it means when the appraiser invokes Tidewater and how to respond with better comparables before the value is finalized.
- Reconsideration of Value (ROV) – How to request an ROV and what type of evidence supports a change to the appraised value.
Property types
How VA treats manufactured homes, multi‑unit properties, and condos — and what extra documentation or approvals each type usually needs.
- Manufactured and Mobile Homes – Eligibility basics for manufactured homes, including HUD certification, foundations, and title rules.
- Multi‑Unit (2–4 Unit) Properties – Owner‑occupancy requirements, rent‑treatment, and what new landlords should expect from underwriting.
- VA‑Approved Condos – How to check if a condo project is VA‑approved and the basics of the condo approval process.
- Using a VA Loan to Buy a Condo – Buyer checklist for condo purchases, including HOA docs and project‑level risks to watch.
Complex VA loan scenarios
When your file is not vanilla — second‑tier entitlement, manual underwrites, renovation, or post‑BK/foreclosure cases that need nuance and clear rules.
- Complex VA Loan Center – Central hub for advanced scenarios like second‑tier entitlement, two VA loans at once, jumbo VA, construction‑to‑perm, renovation, manual underwrites, and post‑BK or foreclosure.
- Residual Income for VA Loans – Residual income standards by region and household size, and how they differ from standard DTI tests.
- VA Loan Compensating Factors – Positive aspects of your profile that can offset higher risk in manual underwriting.
- VA Renovation Loans – How VA renovation works, what repairs are eligible, and what to expect from contractors and draws.
- VA Loans After Bankruptcy or Foreclosure – Typical seasoning timelines and what you need to show to get back into a VA mortgage.
Refinancing
VA‑to‑VA streamlined IRRRLs, cash‑out refis, and how to choose the right path based on payment change, equity, and net tangible benefit rules.
- VA Refinance Overview – Types of VA refinances (IRRRL, cash‑out, and more), and how to decide which path fits your situation.
- VA IRRRL (Streamline Refinance) – How IRRRL works, seasoning rules, net tangible benefit tests, and when a streamline refi can make sense.
- VA Cash‑Out Refinance – Using VA to tap equity for debt consolidation, repairs, or other needs, and how underwriting differs from a purchase.
- IRRRL and Cash‑Out Credit Requirements – Credit and qualification details specific to VA IRRRL and cash‑out refinances.
Rates, calculators & tools
Live rate snapshots and calculators that turn guidelines into “what this means for my payment, price range, and cash to close” numbers.
- Today’s VA Home Loan Rates – A daily look at current VA purchase and refinance rates and APRs from multiple lenders.
- How Much House You Can Afford Calculator – Estimate a comfortable VA home price based on income, debts, and target payment.
- VA Closing Costs Calculator – Estimate closing costs and see how seller credits and lender credits might change your cash to close.
- 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Rates – BAH reference and how housing allowances can be used in VA loan qualification.
- Loan Estimate Review – Help comparing Loan Estimates and understanding where fees, credits, and rate differences really sit.
VA loan guides
Location‑specific and topic‑specific guides built for Veterans and military families planning moves, PCS changes, or complex relocations.
- VA Loan Guides Index – A collection of city, base, and topic‑specific guides designed for Veterans and military families planning a VA‑financed move.
How VA Loan Network works
How the comparison network is structured, how matches are made, and how compensation works so you can see potential conflicts of interest clearly.
- VA‑Only Comparison Network – Why being an independent, VA‑only comparison network helps you see unbiased options instead of just one lender’s offer.
- Partner Transparency and How We Match – How matches are selected, how VA Loan Network is compensated, and your right to choose any lender.
Key VA data & calculator shortcuts
These are the high‑impact data pages that power most of our examples: eligibility & entitlement math, loan limits, funding fee, residual income, MPRs, and streamline refi rules.
Eligibility, COE & entitlement
Figure out if you qualify and how much VA guaranty you have available.
- VA Loan Requirements – Service rules, income, occupancy, and property basics.
- VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) – What it is, how lenders pull it, and what the codes mean.
- Entitlement & COE data – Machine‑readable entitlement math and COE scenarios.
Loan limits & zero‑down room
See how full vs. partial entitlement and county limits shape your purchase power.
- VA Loan Limits (2026) – County limits, full‑entitlement rules, and partial‑entitlement math.
- Bonus / remaining entitlement – How VA sizes your second VA purchase.
- VA jumbo / high‑balance loans – When “no loan limits” still runs into lender overlays.
Funding fee, costs & seller help
Understand the VA funding fee, allowable fees, and the 4% seller‑concession rule.
- VA Funding Fee Guide – Current percentages, exemptions, and examples.
- 4% Rule on VA Loans – How seller concessions are capped and what counts.
- VA closing‑costs estimator – Estimate cash to close with credits and buydowns.
Income, credit & residual income
See how income, debts, and family size play into VA’s affordability tests.
- Residual income for VA loans – Tables by region and household size.
- Qualifying income rules – What income lenders can actually use.
- Bad credit VA loan – What’s realistic with lower scores.
Property rules & MPRs
Check whether the house itself fits VA’s safety, soundness, and sanitation rules.
- VA Minimum Property Requirements – Common issues and what’s fixable.
- VA Tidewater Initiative – When the appraiser flags a possible low value.
- Using a VA loan to buy a condo – Project approval and HOA risks.
Refinances & IRRRL
Map out streamline refis and cash‑out options under current VA rules.
- VA IRRRL (streamline refinance) – NTB tests, recoupment rules, and timing.
- VA cash‑out refinance – Equity taps, LTV, and underwriting differences.
- VA refinance overview – Compare IRRRL vs. cash‑out for your scenario.
Trust, privacy & legal
The legal, privacy, and editorial frameworks behind VA Loan Network — how your data is handled and how content is sourced and corrected.
- Legal Overview – Central hub for terms of use, privacy, advertising disclosures, and other legal content.
- Privacy Policy – How your information is collected, used for matching, and protected, including Global Privacy Control support.
- Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information – Exercise your data rights; VA Loan Network does not sell personal information for money.
- Licensing & Regulatory Disclosures – Licensing details and regulatory disclosures for VA Loan Network.
- Editorial Ethics Policy – How educational content is sourced, reviewed, and corrected when needed.
- Publishing Principles – Why VA Loan Network emphasizes clear definitions, tables, and calculators in all core guides.
- Ownership & Funding Information – Who owns VA Loan Network, how it is funded, and how that supports independence and non‑lender status.