VA.gov | Veterans Affairs (2024)

About Home Loans

VA helps Veterans, Servicemembers, and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. As part of our mission to serve you, we provide a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs to help you buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for your own personal occupancy.

VA Home Loans are provided by private lenders, such as banks and mortgage companies. VA guarantees a portion of the loan, enabling the lender to provide you with more favorable terms.

Read our guide for buying a home

Before you buy, be sure to read the VA Home Loan Buyer's Guide. Thisguide can help you under the homebuying process and how to make the most of your VA loan benefit.Download the Buyer's Guide here.

Main pillars of the VA home loan benefit

No downpaymentrequired
(*Note: Lenders may require downpayments for some borrowers using the VA home loan guaranty, but VA does not require a downpayment)
Competitively low interest rates
Limited closing costs
No need for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
The VA home loan is a lifetime benefit:you can use the guaranty multiple times

Benefits

Purchase Loans Help you purchase a home at a competitive interest rate often without requiring a downpayment or private mortgage insurance. Cash Out Refinance loans allow you to take cash out of your home equity to take care of concerns like paying off debt, funding school, or making home improvements. Learn More

Eligibility Requirements

Your length of service or service commitment, duty status and character of service determine your eligibility for specific home loan benefits.

*Eligibility now includes National Guard members with at least 90 days of active service including at least 30 consecutive days under Title 32, Sections 316, 502, 503, 504 or 505.

Purchase Loans and Cash-Out Refinance: VA-guaranteed loans are available for homes for your occupancy or a spouse and/or dependent (for active duty service members). To be eligible, you must have satisfactory credit, sufficient income to meet the expected monthly obligations, and a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Learn More

Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL): The IRRRL is a "VA to VA" loan, meaning it can only be done if you have an existing VA guaranteed loan on the property. The IRRRL is generally performed to lower the interest and reduce the monthly payment on the existing VA guaranteed loan. Learn More

Native American Direct Loan (NADL) Program: The NADL program helps Native American Veterans purchase, construct, improve, or re-finance a home on Native American trust lands. Your tribal organization must participate in the VA direct loan program. You must have a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Learn More

Adapted Housing Grants: VA helps Veterans with certain total and permanent disabilities related to your military service obtain suitable housing with either a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) or Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant. Learn More

How to Apply

Purchase Loan & Cash-Out Refinance: VA loans are obtained through a lender of your choice once you obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). You can obtain a COE through your lender,VA.gov, or by mail. Learn More

Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan: A new Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is not required. You may take your Certificate of Eligibility to show the prior use of your entitlement or your lender may use our e-mail confirmation procedure in lieu of a COE. Learn More

Native American Direct Loan (NADL) Program: First, confirm that your tribal organization participates in the VA direct loan program. NADL loans are obtained through a lender of your choice once you obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). You can obtain a COE through VA.gov, or by mail. Learn More

Adapted Housing Grants: You can apply for an SAH or SHA grant by either downloading and completing VA Form 26-4555 (PDF) and submitting it to your nearest Regional Loan Center, or completing the online application. Learn More

FAQs

What is the most common 100% VA disability? ›

What is the most common 100% VA disability? The most common VA disability claims are awards for Tinnitus, Hearing Loss, PTSD, Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain, Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve, Scars (General) and Limited Range of Motion for the Knee and Ankle.

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When a husband dies, does the wife get his VA disability? ›

Unfortunately, your spouse cannot receive your VA disability compensation after you die. However, they may get a monthly allowance if they qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. If you lived in government housing, VA might also allow them to stay in residence for up to a year.

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What is the 70-40 rule for VA disability? ›

The VA 70/40 rule for TDIU requires veterans to have a combined disability rating of 70% or higher and at least one service-related disability rated at 40% or higher to be eligible for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) benefits.

How much does the widow of a 100% disabled veteran receive? ›

If your spouse dies with a 100% disability rating, you may be entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). For 2024, the base rate of compensation for a surviving spouse is $1,612.75/month. Under certain circ*mstances, the spouse may be entitled to additional compensation.

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What is the easiest disability to get from the VA? ›

What are the easiest VA disability claims to win?

Tinnitus. Tinnitus is characterized by hearing a humming, buzzing, hissing, or clicking in the ears when no external sound is present. ...
Musculoskeletal Conditions. ...
Mental Health Conditions. ...
Scars. ...
Presumptive Disorders. ...
Do You Need to Speak With a Veterans Benefits Lawyer?

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What is the VA 10 year rule? ›

10-Year Rule:

The VA's 10-year rule ensures that the VA cannot terminate service connection for a disability that has been in place for ten years. The VA may still reduce the rating for the service connected condition but the VA cannot sever service connection.

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Will I lose my VA disability when I turn 65? ›

After veterans reach Social Security's full retirement age, VA's disability payments continue at the same level. By contrast, the income that people receive from Social Security or private pensions after they retire usually is less than their earnings from wages and salary before retirement.

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What are the three new VA presumptive conditions? ›

VA extends presumptions of service connection for three new cancer types

Male breast cancer.
Urethral cancer.
Cancer of the paraurethral glands.

Jun 14, 2024

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What conditions automatically qualify you for VA disability? ›

What conditions are covered by these benefits?

Chronic (long-lasting) back pain resulting in a current diagnosed back disability.
Breathing problems resulting from a current lung condition or lung disease.
Severe hearing loss.
Scar tissue.
Loss of range of motion (problems moving your body)
Ulcers.

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Aug 15, 2023

Can you work if you are 100% VA disabled? ›

Bottom line, if you are rated 100% using the Schedule of Ratings (whether it is for one condition or multiple conditions) then you can work as much or as little as you want.

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Do I get my husband's VA disability if he dies? ›

A surviving spouse can sometimes qualify for disability compensation through the VA. This type of benefit is called Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC).

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Who pays for the funeral when a veteran dies? ›

Under the current regulations, VA pays for burial and funeral expenses on a reimbursem*nt basis, which requires survivors to submit receipts for relatively small one-time payments that VA generally pays at the maximum amount permitted by law.

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When a veteran dies, is there a death benefit? ›

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pays a benefit called Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to your surviving spouse and dependent children if you die of service-connected causes.

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What is the easiest way to get 100% VA disability? ›

The most direct and easiest way to get 100 VA disability is to have one service-connected disability that is 100 percent disabling. Examples of injuries that can qualify you for a 100 percent disability rating by themselves include the total loss of use of both feet, or of both hands, or of one hand and one foot.

What is the difference between 100 and 100 P&T? ›

The primary difference between a 100% rating and a 100% P&T rating lies in the permanence and security of the benefits.

What is the number one disability among veterans? ›

Tinnitus is among the most common service-connected disabilities. It manifests as a persistent ringing, buzzing, or other noise in the ears, not caused by external sounds. Veterans often report it following exposure to loud noises during service.

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