Since the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, veterans with full VA entitlement face no loan limits whatsoever — you can buy any priced home with zero down (subject to lender approval). However, if you are using remaining entitlement, county-based conforming loan limits come into play. Understanding how this works helps you maximize your VA benefit. See our full VA entitlement explainer.
What It Means
VA loan limits are technically the maximum amount the VA will guarantee without requiring a down payment on loans where the veteran has reduced entitlement. These limits follow the FHFA conforming loan limits, which change annually. In 2026, the baseline limit is $806,500 for most U.S. counties, with high-cost counties going higher.
Requirements
- Full entitlement: No limit. Zero down on any loan amount your income can support
- Remaining entitlement: Zero down up to the county conforming limit; down payment required above that threshold
- High-cost counties (CA, NY, HI, etc.): Limits can be as high as $1,209,750 in 2026
- Standard counties: $806,500 baseline limit for 2026
- For VA jumbo loans above these limits, see our VA jumbo loan guide
Examples
Full entitlement: A veteran with full entitlement buys a $1.2 million home in San Diego with zero down. No limit applies.
Remaining entitlement in standard county: A veteran has $50,000 in remaining entitlement (from a $200,000 active VA loan). In a county with a $806,500 limit, he can borrow up to ~$200,000 zero down (4x the remaining entitlement). Above that, a 25% down payment is required on the excess.
High-cost county: A veteran with remaining entitlement buys in Los Angeles, where the 2026 limit is $1,149,825. His zero-down ceiling is higher than in a standard county.
Tips
- If you have an active VA loan and want to buy again, check whether you have enough remaining entitlement for your target purchase price before ruling out a zero-down scenario.
- Restoring entitlement (by selling and paying off your existing VA loan) gives you full entitlement and removes all limit concerns. See our entitlement restoration guide.
- Use the VA's county loan limit lookup at benefits.va.gov to find your specific county's 2026 limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do VA loan limits change every year?
A: Yes — they follow FHFA conforming loan limits, which are typically updated each November for the following year.
Q: Is the VA loan limit the same as the maximum loan amount?
A: No. The limit is the threshold for zero-down eligibility under remaining entitlement. With full entitlement, there is no maximum loan amount from the VA's perspective.
Q: Where can I buy a home above the VA loan limit?
A: Everywhere — you just may need a small down payment (25% of the amount over the limit) if using remaining entitlement. Contact us to calculate your exact scenario.
