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VA home loans

VA loan entitlement: basic, bonus and what is left after a first loan

Entitlement is the part of VA's guaranty you can use. If you have never used it, or have restored it, VA sets no loan limit. If some is tied up in another loan, the county limit comes into play and a down payment may be needed. VA's own method shows the math.

Reviewed November 2026 · Written for Buy Home Tips from the sources listed below

VA does not lend most of the money for a VA loan. It guarantees part of it to the lender, and that guarantee is what lets lenders offer loans with no down payment. Entitlement is the amount of guarantee available to you. Understanding it explains why some veterans have no loan limit and others need a down payment.

Remaining entitlement in VA's method25% of county limit$208,188Already charged$50,000Remaining bonus entitlement$158,188Largest no-down loan (×4)$632,750
Remaining entitlement in VA's method. $832,750 county limit and $50,000 already charged

Basic entitlement

Your Certificate of Eligibility shows a basic entitlement figure. VA's entitlement page explains that if it shows $36,000, you have full entitlement. That figure is the guaranty VA provides on loans of $144,000 or less, which VA also calls first-tier entitlement.

$36,000 is not what you can borrow. The amount you can borrow depends on what a lender approves, based on your credit, income, debts and assets. VA also caps any VA loan at the lower of the appraised value and the purchase price. VA does not set a minimum credit score, but VA notes that many lenders do.

If the COE shows $0 basic entitlement, you have no first-tier entitlement left, but you may still have bonus entitlement.

Bonus entitlement

For loans above $144,000, VA adds bonus, or second-tier, entitlement. It is not printed on the COE because it depends on the loan. VA explains two cases:

  • Full entitlement. Bonus entitlement usually covers 25 percent of whatever the lender will lend. VA sets no loan limit, so the lender's approval is the limit.
  • Partial entitlement. If some of your entitlement is still charged to another loan, your remaining bonus entitlement is based on the county loan limit minus what you have already used.

Working out what is left

VA's page lays out the method in four steps:

  1. Find the amount already used in the Entitlement Charged column of the "Prior loans charged to entitlement" table on your COE.
  2. Look up the county's one-unit conforming loan limit on FHFA's site. Use the one-unit figure even for a two- to four-unit property.
  3. Multiply that limit by 0.25.
  4. Subtract the amount from step 1. The result is your remaining bonus entitlement.

Most lenders want entitlement, down payment or both to cover at least 25 percent of the loan. Multiply the remaining entitlement by four to find roughly the largest loan most lenders will make without a down payment.

Restoring entitlement

If you sold a home bought with a VA loan and paid the loan in full, you can usually ask VA to restore your entitlement, which returns you to full entitlement. VA has rules for restoration in other situations too. Ask VA or your lender how restoration works for your situation before you apply.

Limits only matter with partial entitlement

VA's page is clear that veterans with full entitlement have no VA loan limit. County limits come into play only when entitlement is in use. Conforming limits change each year. FHFA set the 2026 baseline at $832,750, with higher limits in high-cost areas.

The bottom line

Read your COE first. If it shows $36,000 basic entitlement, your lender's approval sets the ceiling. If entitlement is in use, follow VA's four steps with the current county limit and expect to cover any shortfall with a down payment.

Mini calculator: remaining VA bonus entitlement

For a veteran who already has VA entitlement tied up in another loan. Use the county one-unit conforming limit from FHFA and the Entitlement Charged figure on your COE.

Enter your figures to see the result. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Follows the steps on VA's entitlement page. With full entitlement, VA sets no loan limit. Your lender still decides how much you can borrow.

Working out your entitlement

  • Get your Certificate of Eligibility and read the basic entitlement line.
  • Find the Entitlement Charged column under prior loans, if any.
  • Look up the county's one-unit conforming limit on FHFA's site.
  • Run the calculator, or follow VA's four steps on paper.
  • Ask your lender whether it requires the usual 25 percent coverage.
  • If you sold a home bought with a VA loan, ask whether entitlement can be restored.

Questions buyers ask

What does $36,000 on my COE mean?

VA explains it is your basic entitlement. It shows that you have full entitlement and no VA loan limit, as long as you qualify with the lender and the appraisal supports the price. It is not the amount you can borrow.

Is there a VA loan limit?

Not if you have full entitlement. If you have entitlement tied up in another loan, VA uses the county's one-unit conforming loan limit to work out how much bonus entitlement remains.

What is bonus entitlement?

VA calls it second-tier entitlement. It is what VA guarantees on loans above $144,000. With full entitlement, it usually covers 25 percent of the loan amount.

Will I need a down payment if I have used my entitlement?

Possibly. VA explains that most lenders want entitlement, down payment or a mix to cover at least 25 percent of the loan. If remaining entitlement falls short, the gap is usually covered by a down payment.

Sources checked for this page

Checked November 2026. Programs and limits change; confirm with the source before you rely on a figure.

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