VA Loans
Understanding VA Loan Entitlement
Entitlement is the part of your VA benefit that makes $0 down possible — but the terms (basic, bonus, full, partial, restored) trip a lot of people up. Here's how it actually works, plus a calculator to run your own numbers.
VA entitlement is the dollar amount the Department of Veterans Affairs will guarantee to your lender on your behalf. That guaranty — not a cash down payment — is what lets eligible Veterans buy or build with nothing down.
The VA guarantees 25% of the loan. Because the lender is protected on that quarter, they don't require the 20% down a conventional loan would — or any down payment at all when you have enough entitlement. Understanding how much entitlement you have is the key to knowing how much you can borrow with $0 down.
$36,000
Basic entitlement
guarantees 25% of a loan up to $144,000
25%
VA guaranty
the VA backs a quarter of the loan — the reason $0 down works
No loan limit
Full entitlement
county limits don't cap your $0-down amount
Basic vs. bonus (Tier 2) entitlement
Your basic entitlement is $36,000 — 25% of $144,000, a figure set decades ago. On its own it only covers smaller loans, so the VA adds bonus entitlement (also called secondary or Tier 2) for loan amounts above $144,000, tied to 25% of the conforming loan limit.
In practice, almost every modern VA loan uses both together, and you never have to think about the split — unless you already have a VA loan and want to use what's left. That's where the difference starts to matter.
Full, partial & restored entitlement
Full entitlement
You've never used your VA benefit, or you've paid off a prior VA loan in full and sold the home (or had it restored). With full entitlement, there is no county loan limit on your $0-down amount — the VA guarantees 25% of whatever you qualify for.
Partial (remaining) entitlement
You currently have an active VA loan, or had a prior VA loss (foreclosure/short sale). Only your remaining entitlement is available, and the county loan limit comes back into play — you can still buy above it, usually with a down payment on the difference. This is common for PCS moves and second-home purchases using "second-tier" entitlement.
Restored entitlement
Sell the home and pay the VA loan in full and your entitlement is restored — repeatable as many times as you like. There's also a one-time restoration that restores entitlement without selling, once the prior loan is paid off. We help borrowers request restoration through the VA.
Building instead of buying? Entitlement works the same way on a VA construction loan, but there are a few extra wrinkles worth understanding before you break ground — read our guide to VA entitlement for construction loans.
Calculate your entitlement & max loan
Pick your county, enter any entitlement you're already using, and see your remaining entitlement, your max $0-down loan, and an estimated payment.
Estimated monthly payment
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Required down payment
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- County limit
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- Entitlement used
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- Available entitlement
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- Max loan with $0 down
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- VA loan amount
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- Principal & interest
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- Property tax
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- Home insurance
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- HOA
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- VA funding fee (financed)
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Estimates only, for a single-veteran purchase, and not an official determination of entitlement, eligibility, or loan terms. Only the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can confirm entitlement via a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). County limits effective 2026. Let's verify your numbers — talk to our VA team.
Estimates only — your exact entitlement is confirmed by the VA on your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Not sure you're eligible? Take the quick check →
Put your entitlement to work
Whether you're buying, refinancing, or building, we'll pull your COE, confirm your exact entitlement, and structure the loan around it.
VA entitlement FAQs
How much is my VA entitlement?
Your basic entitlement is $36,000, which lets the VA guarantee 25% of a loan up to $144,000. Above that, "bonus" (secondary) entitlement kicks in. If you have full entitlement, there is no VA-imposed cap on your $0-down loan amount — the VA still guarantees 25%, and your max is driven by what you can qualify for. Use the calculator on this page to estimate your specific numbers by county.
What's the difference between basic and bonus entitlement?
Basic entitlement is the first $36,000 (25% of $144,000). Bonus entitlement — also called secondary or Tier 2 — is the additional guaranty the VA provides on loans above $144,000, tied to 25% of the conforming loan limit. Most modern VA loans use both together; you rarely think about them separately unless you already have a VA loan in place.
What does full vs. partial entitlement mean?
You have full entitlement if you have never used your VA loan benefit, or if you previously used it but have since paid the loan in full and sold the property (or had entitlement restored). With full entitlement there is no county loan limit on your $0-down amount. Partial (reduced) entitlement applies when you currently have an active VA loan or had a prior VA loss — then only your remaining entitlement is available, and county loan limits come back into play for a second VA loan.
Can I have two VA loans at the same time?
Often, yes — using your remaining ("second-tier") entitlement. Common scenarios include PCS moves or buying a new primary residence while keeping the first home. Your remaining entitlement and the county loan limit determine how much you can borrow with $0 down on the second loan; you may need a down payment if your remaining entitlement is limited. This is exactly the kind of scenario we map out for borrowers.
How do I restore my VA entitlement?
The most common path is to sell the home and pay off the VA loan in full, which restores your entitlement and can be done repeatedly. There is also a one-time restoration that lets you restore entitlement without selling if the prior VA loan has been paid off. Restoration is requested through the VA (often with your lender's help) using the appropriate documentation.
Does my entitlement limit how much house I can buy with $0 down?
With full entitlement, the VA does not cap your no-down loan amount — you can borrow as much as you qualify for (individual lenders may set their own limits). With partial entitlement, your $0-down ceiling is tied to the county loan limit and how much entitlement you have left; above that you can still buy, typically with a down payment on the difference.
Ready to get started?
Let's talk through your options. No pressure, no obligation — just straight answers from a team that does this every day.
