VA Mortgage Calculator
Calculate VA loan payments and funding fee for veterans and active-duty service members. No PMI required — see how much you save vs a conventional loan.
Calculation Inputs
Results computed instantly — your data never leaves your device.
Live Results
Real-TimeTotal Monthly Payment
$3,082.63
Principal & Interest
$2,582.63
Property Tax
$400
Insurance
$100
VA Funding Fee (2.15%)
$8,600
Total Loan Amount
$408,600
Total Interest
$521,146.78
Total Cost
$921,146.78
Est. PMI Savings vs Conventional
$15,200
How to Use the VA Mortgage Calculator
- 1
Enter the home price and your down payment (0% is allowed for most eligible VA borrowers).
- 2
Select whether this is your first use or subsequent use of VA loan benefits — the funding fee differs.
- 3
If you have a service-connected disability rating, select "Exempt" to waive the funding fee entirely.
- 4
Choose whether to finance the funding fee into the loan or pay it at closing, then add property tax and insurance.
Formula & Mathematical Basis
Variable Key
Funding FeeOne-time VA fee in lieu of PMI; replaces conventional mortgage insurance at a lower total cost for most borrowers
First UseFirst time using VA loan benefit, or after full entitlement restoration
Subsequent UseAny use of VA loan benefit after the first, while prior VA loan is still active
ExemptVeterans with 10%+ service-connected disability rating pay $0 funding fee
Total LoanBase loan plus financed funding fee; this is the amount that accrues interest
📝 Funding fee rates are per VA Circular 26-23-24 (2024). Rates apply to purchase loans and cash-out refinances. IRRRL (Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan) has a flat 0.50% funding fee. VA loans have no PMI, no prepayment penalty, and allow seller concessions up to 4% of the loan amount.
Step-by-Step Examples
First-time VA buyer — 0% down, $400,000 home
Scenario: $400,000 home, $0 down, first use, 6.5% rate, 30-year term, funding fee financed, 1.2% tax, $1,200 insurance.
- 1.Base loan: $400,000.
- 2.Funding fee: $400,000 × 2.15% = $8,600.
- 3.Total loan (fee financed): $408,600.
- 4.Monthly P&I: $408,600 at 6.5% / 30 yr ≈ $2,584.
- 5.Monthly tax: $400/mo. Monthly insurance: $100.
- 6.Total monthly: $2,584 + $400 + $100 = $3,084.
- 7.Conventional comparison (PMI ~0.85%/yr for 0% down): $283/mo PMI for ~7 yrs = $23,772 extra.
- 8.VA funding fee ($8,600) vs. conventional PMI ($23,772): VA saves ≈ $15,172.
Disabled veteran — funding fee exempt
Scenario: $400,000 home, $0 down, 10% disability rating (exempt), 6.5% rate, 30-year term.
- 1.Funding fee: $0 (exempt).
- 2.Loan amount: $400,000.
- 3.Monthly P&I: $400,000 at 6.5% / 30 yr ≈ $2,528.
- 4.Total monthly (with tax/insurance): ~$3,028.
- 5.Savings vs non-exempt VA buyer: $8,600 funding fee eliminated.
Practical Use Cases
- Active-duty service members purchasing a home with limited savings (0% down)
- Veterans comparing VA vs. FHA vs. conventional loan total costs
- Subsequent VA loan users planning a second purchase while retaining prior home
- Veterans with disability ratings verifying their funding fee exemption status
- Military families calculating whether a larger down payment reduces fees enough to justify it
- Financial advisors helping veteran clients model first-home purchase scenarios
Common Pitfalls
- Forgetting that subsequent use of VA loan with 0% down triggers a 3.30% funding fee — significantly higher than first use.
- Not checking disability rating exemption — any rating of 10% or higher eliminates the funding fee entirely.
- Financing the funding fee without realizing it accrues 30 years of interest, raising its true cost.
- Assuming VA loans have no limits — borrowers with reduced entitlement still face county-level limits.
- Overlooking VA appraisal requirements — VA appraisers enforce minimum property condition standards (MPRs) that can delay or derail purchases of fixer-uppers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for a VA loan?
VA loans are available to: active-duty service members (after 90 days during wartime or 181 days during peacetime), veterans who meet minimum service requirements, National Guard and Reserve members (after 6 years or 90 days active duty), and surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from a service-connected disability.
What is the VA funding fee?
The VA funding fee is a one-time charge that funds the VA loan program and eliminates the need for PMI. For a first-use purchase with no down payment, the fee is 2.15% of the loan amount. It scales down with larger down payments. Veterans with a 10%+ service-connected disability rating are completely exempt.
Can I use a VA loan more than once?
Yes. VA loan benefits are reusable as long as the previous VA loan is paid off (or in some cases, the entitlement is restored). Subsequent-use funding fees are higher (3.30% for 0% down) to reflect the program's risk management.
Does a VA loan require a down payment?
No. VA loans have no minimum down payment requirement for qualified borrowers with full entitlement. However, putting at least 5% or 10% down reduces the funding fee to 1.50% or 1.25% respectively, potentially saving thousands upfront.
Are there VA loan limits?
Since 2020, there are no VA loan limits for borrowers with full entitlement. Borrowers with remaining entitlement from an active VA loan may face county-level limits based on the conforming loan limit ($766,550 in most areas for 2024).
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