VA Loan Entitlement

Entitlement is the dollar amount VA guarantees on your behalf. Knowing whether you have full or remaining entitlement changes what you can buy with zero down.

What is VA loan entitlement?

Entitlement is the portion of your VA-backed loan that the Department of Veterans Affairs guarantees to your lender. It's not a cash benefit or a loan amount — it's a promise from VA that limits the lender's loss if you default.

Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) shows how much entitlement you have. Lenders use that number to decide how much you can borrow with no down payment.

Full entitlement

You have full entitlement if any of these are true:

  • You've never used your VA home loan benefit.
  • You used it before, sold the home, and paid off the VA loan in full.
  • You had a foreclosure or short sale but repaid VA in full.

What full entitlement means in practice

There is no VA loan limit for you. You can borrow any amount your lender approves based on income, credit, and the appraisal — with no required down payment from VA. A $900,000 purchase with zero down is possible if you qualify.

Remaining (partial) entitlement

Remaining entitlement means some of your benefit is still tied up in an existing VA loan. This is common after a PCS move when you keep the old home as a rental.

With remaining entitlement, county conforming loan limits matter. The basic math: VA guarantees 25% of the county limit, minus the entitlement already in use. If the remaining guaranty doesn't cover 25% of your new loan, the lender typically asks for a down payment covering the gap.

See VA Loan Limits for a deeper walkthrough of the county-limit math.

Can you have two VA loans at the same time?

Yes — if you have enough remaining entitlement for the second loan.

  • Both loans must be for primary residences.
  • The second loan is limited by your remaining entitlement and the county loan limit.
  • A down payment may be required to make the guaranty math work.
  • You cannot use a single entitlement for two properties at once.

If you're in this situation, talk to a VA-savvy lender early. The calculation is straightforward but easy to misunderstand, and the down payment number can change based on the county.

Restoring your entitlement

Standard restoration

Sell the property, pay off the VA loan in full, and apply for restoration. Once approved, your full entitlement is back.

One-time restoration

Paid off the loan but still own the home? VA allows a one-time restoration of full entitlement without selling. You can only use this once.

Restoration after assumption

If a buyer assumes your VA loan, your entitlement stays tied to it until the loan is paid off — unless the buyer is an eligible veteran who substitutes their own entitlement.

Sources and last verified

  • VA funding fee rates: VA.gov funding fee and closing costs
  • Rates effective April 7, 2023. Last verified August 31, 2026.
  • Payments use standard amortization. No lender-specific pricing is applied.

Veteran Home Calc is an independent educational site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and it does not sell leads or collect your numbers — results are estimates, not loan approvals, offers, or financial advice.

Run your own numbers