VA Loan Limits 2026: Full Entitlement, County Limits and Your Entitlement
Whether a VA loan limit applies to you in 2026, the county limits that apply when part of your entitlement is in use, how to work out your remaining entitlement, and what the VA home loan benefit includes.
There is no VA loan limit in 2026 for a veteran with full entitlement: since 2020 VA guarantees 25% of the loan with no cap (38 U.S.C. 3703). If entitlement is still tied up in an earlier VA loan, the county limit applies: FHFA’s 2026 one-unit conforming limit of $832,750 in most counties and up to $1,249,125 in high-cost areas (FHFA). Remaining entitlement is 25% of that limit minus what you used, and four times it is what most lenders lend with no down payment (VA).
Official County limits are FHFA’s 2026 values for every county (FHFA list, announced November 25, 2025), which VA uses for entitlement (VA). They apply through December 31, 2026; FHFA had not published 2027 values when this page was checked on November 4, 2026.
- No limit with full entitlement
- 2026 county loan limits by state
- Entitlement and county limit calculator
- How entitlement works
- VA home loan benefits explained
No loan limit with full entitlement
Since January 1, 2020 a veteran with full entitlement has no VA loan limit: VA guarantees 25% of any loan over $144,000, with no dollar ceiling (38 U.S.C. 3703(a)(1)(C), as amended by the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019). VA’s words: with full entitlement “you don’t have a loan limit (as long as you can afford the loan amount and the property appraisal supports the purchase price of the home)” (VA). Your Certificate of Eligibility shows basic entitlement of $36,000 when your entitlement is full; that is not what you can borrow but what VA pays the lender on a loan of $144,000 or less (same page). The lender still decides what you can afford from your credit, income, debts and assets, and the loan cannot exceed the lower of the price and the appraised value (same page).
2026 county loan limits (partial entitlement)
If part of your entitlement is still tied up in a VA loan you have not paid off, the county loan limit matters. VA uses FHFA’s conforming loan limit, the One-Unit Limit even for a two- to four-unit home (VA). For 2026 that is $832,750 in most of the country and up to $1,249,125 in high-cost areas, announced November 25, 2025 (FHFA). Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands start at $1,249,125; two Hawaii counties are at $1,299,500 (FHFA county list). Of 3,235 counties and equivalents, 160 are above the baseline and 75 at $1,249,125.
| State | Counties | Above baseline | Highest limit | Highest-limit counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK | 30 | 30 | $1,249,125 | ALEUTIANS EAST BOROUGH, ALEUTIANS WEST CENSUS AREA, ANCHORAGE MUNICIPALITY and 27 more |
| AL | 67 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| AR | 75 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| AS | 5 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| AZ | 15 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| CA | 58 | 17 | $1,249,125 | ALAMEDA COUNTY, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, LOS ANGELES COUNTY and 7 more |
| CO | 64 | 20 | $1,249,125 | EAGLE COUNTY |
| CT | 9 | 3 | $977,500 | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Western Connecticut Planning Region |
| DC | 1 | 1 | $1,249,125 | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA |
| DE | 3 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| FL | 67 | 1 | $990,150 | MONROE COUNTY |
| GA | 159 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| GU | 1 | 1 | $1,249,125 | GUAM |
| HI | 5 | 5 | $1,299,500 | KALAWAO COUNTY, MAUI COUNTY |
| IA | 99 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| ID | 44 | 1 | $1,249,125 | TETON COUNTY |
| IL | 102 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| IN | 92 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| KS | 105 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| KY | 120 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| LA | 64 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| MA | 14 | 7 | $1,249,125 | DUKES COUNTY, NANTUCKET COUNTY |
| MD | 24 | 5 | $1,249,125 | CHARLES COUNTY, FREDERICK COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY and 1 more |
| ME | 16 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| MI | 83 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| MN | 87 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| MO | 115 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| MP | 4 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| MS | 82 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| MT | 56 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| NC | 100 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| ND | 53 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| NE | 93 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| NH | 10 | 2 | $962,550 | ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, STRAFFORD COUNTY |
| NJ | 21 | 12 | $1,209,750 | BERGEN COUNTY, ESSEX COUNTY, HUDSON COUNTY and 9 more |
| NM | 33 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| NV | 17 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| NY | 62 | 10 | $1,209,750 | BRONX COUNTY, KINGS COUNTY, NASSAU COUNTY and 7 more |
| OH | 88 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| OK | 77 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| OR | 36 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| PA | 67 | 1 | $1,209,750 | PIKE COUNTY |
| PR | 78 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| RI | 5 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| SC | 46 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| SD | 66 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| TN | 95 | 14 | $1,029,250 | CANNON COUNTY, CHEATHAM COUNTY, DAVIDSON COUNTY and 11 more |
| TX | 254 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| UT | 29 | 4 | $1,150,000 | SUMMIT COUNTY, WASATCH COUNTY |
| VA | 133 | 18 | $1,249,125 | ARLINGTON COUNTY, CLARKE COUNTY, CULPEPER COUNTY and 14 more |
| VI | 3 | 3 | $1,249,125 | ST. CROIX ISLAND, ST. JOHN ISLAND, ST. THOMAS ISLAND |
| VT | 14 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| WA | 39 | 3 | $1,063,750 | KING COUNTY, PIERCE COUNTY, SNOHOMISH COUNTY |
| WI | 72 | 0 | $832,750 | all counties at the baseline |
| WV | 55 | 1 | $1,249,125 | JEFFERSON COUNTY |
| WY | 23 | 1 | $1,249,125 | TETON COUNTY |
VA entitlement and county limit calculator
Remaining entitlement = 25% of the county’s one-unit limit minus the entitlement used; four times it is “the maximum amount most lenders would be willing to loan you without your needing to make a down payment” (VA). Above that, lenders want your entitlement and down payment together to cover 25% of the loan (same page); the down payment shown is the least that does, given that it also lowers the loan. Funding fee: VA funding fee chart, exemptions not applied.
How VA entitlement works, with VA’s example
VA’s four steps for remaining (bonus) entitlement: find the entitlement charged on your COE; find the county’s One-Unit Limit; multiply it by 25%; subtract what you used (VA). VA’s example: $900,000 limit × 25% = $225,000, less $50,000 used = $175,000 remaining, and $175,000 × 4 = $700,000 is the most most lenders would lend with no down payment. At the 2026 baseline the same $50,000 leaves $158,187.50 ($832,750 × 25% − $50,000), so up to $632,750.00 with nothing down; a $650,000 home would need about $3,450 down by the 25% rule.
VA home loan benefits explained
What VA lists for a VA-backed purchase loan (VA purchase loan page):
- No down payment as long as the sales price isn’t higher than the appraised value.
- No private mortgage insurance (PMI) or mortgage insurance premium (MIP).
- Fewer closing costs, which the seller may pay, and no penalty for paying the loan off early.
- Borrowing up to the conforming loan limit with no down payment in most areas, and more with a down payment.
- Use for a single-family home up to 4 units, a condo in a VA-approved project, a manufactured home or lot, building or improving a home; the benefit can be used again after you sell or refinance.
The cost is the VA funding fee, a one-time percentage of the loan unless you are exempt (VA). On a first-use purchase with no down payment it is 2.15%: $8,600 on a $400,000 loan. Funding fee chart and calculator →
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What is the VA loan limit for 2026?
There is none for a veteran with full entitlement (38 U.S.C. 3703; VA). With entitlement still in use, the county limit is FHFA’s 2026 one-unit conforming limit: $832,750 in most counties, up to $1,249,125 in high-cost areas (FHFA).
Why was the VA loan limit removed?
The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 removed the cap for veterans with full entitlement on loans from January 1, 2020; VA guarantees 25% of the loan with no dollar ceiling (Pub. L. 116-23, 38 U.S.C. 3703(a)(1)(C)).
How do I calculate my remaining VA entitlement?
Take 25% of your county’s one-unit limit and subtract the entitlement charged on your COE; four times the result is the most most lenders lend with no down payment (VA). At the $832,750 baseline with $50,000 used: $158,187.50, so $632,750.00.
Can I have two VA loans at once?
Yes, if you have remaining entitlement: it is figured from the county limit minus what the first loan still uses (VA), and you can put money down to borrow more.
What are the VA home loan benefits?
No down payment if the price is not above the appraised value, no PMI or MIP, fewer closing costs and no prepayment penalty; the main cost is the funding fee (VA, funding fee).
Sources
- VA: VA home loan entitlement and limits
- VA: VA-backed purchase loan
- 38 U.S.C. 3703 (loan guaranty amounts)
- Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, Pub. L. 116-23, sec. 6
- FHFA: Conforming loan limit values for 2026 (Nov. 25, 2025)
- FHFA: 2026 loan limits for every county (xlsx)
- VA: Funding fee and closing costs
Every county’s 2026 limit: JSON. QuantCalc is calculation software, not legal, tax or benefits advice. Last updated November 4, 2026.
Related
VA funding fee 2026 → 2026 VA disability rates → Military retiree and VA COLA 2027 → Military retirement pay calculator →