How to use the VA Loan calculator
- Enter your numbers. Fill in home price, down payment, interest rate, loan term, VA loan use, funding fee exempt.
- Enter taxes, insurance & fees details. Fill in property tax / yr, home insurance / yr, HOA / month.
- Read your results. Results update instantly. The headline shows the estimated monthly VA payment; the breakdown and table below show the details.
How VA loans differ
VA-guaranteed loans for eligible veterans, service members and surviving spouses allow 0% down and charge no monthly mortgage insurance. Instead, most borrowers pay a one-time funding fee, which can be financed into the loan.
VA funding fee for purchase loans
Under the schedule in effect since April 7, 2023: first use with less than 5% down is 2.15%; 5% to under 10% down is 1.5%; 10% or more is 1.25%. Subsequent use with less than 5% down is 3.3%. Veterans receiving VA disability compensation, active-duty Purple Heart recipients and certain surviving spouses are exempt.
Loan limits and entitlement
Borrowers with full entitlement have no VA loan limit; lenders still set their own maximums based on income and credit. With remaining (partial) entitlement, the county conforming limit (2026 baseline $832,750) matters.
Worked example
With these inputs: home price $375,000; interest rate 6%; loan term 30y; VA loan use First use; funding fee exempt (e.g. VA disability compensation) No; property tax / yr $3,750; home insurance / yr $1,500.
The calculator gives an estimated monthly VA payment of $2,734 (no monthly mortgage insurance on VA loans). Other results: VA funding fee 2.15% = $8,063, total loan (fee financed) $383,063, monthly P&I $2,296.65, total interest $443,733.
What your results mean
The funding fee is a one-time charge added to your loan; your monthly payment includes interest on it. Because there’s no PMI, VA payments are often lower than FHA payments on the same home.
Tips
- Putting 5% down lowers the funding fee to 1.5%.
- Get your Certificate of Eligibility early.
- If you have a VA disability rating, confirm your exemption with the lender.
Frequently asked questions
What is the VA funding fee for 2026?
For purchase loans: 2.15% (first use, under 5% down), 1.5% (5%+ down), 1.25% (10%+ down), and 3.3% for subsequent use with under 5% down.
Who is exempt from the VA funding fee?
Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability, eligible surviving spouses, and active-duty Purple Heart recipients, among others.
Do VA loans have PMI?
No. VA loans never charge monthly mortgage insurance, which is a large saving compared with FHA or low-down-payment conventional loans.
Can the funding fee be refunded?
If you’re later awarded VA disability compensation effective before closing, you may be eligible for a refund.
Is there a VA loan limit in 2026?
Not for borrowers with full entitlement. Partial entitlement uses county conforming limits.
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