Your VA loan entitlement is the amount the VA guarantees to a lender — not the loan amount itself. The VA guarantees up to 25% of the county conforming loan limit, which determines how much you can borrow with $0 down.
Full vs. Partial Entitlement
Since the Blue Water Navy Act (2020), veterans with full entitlement (no active VA loans) have no loan limit — you can purchase at any price with $0 down.
If you have partial entitlement (an existing VA loan on another property), your remaining entitlement is tied to the county conforming loan limit set by FHFA. Use the calculator below to see what you have left.
Calculator
How the Math Works
The VA guarantees 25% of the county loan limit. This guarantee is your entitlement.
| Term | Formula | Example ($832,750 county) |
|---|---|---|
| Max Guaranty | County Limit × 25% | $208,187 |
| Remaining Entitlement | Max Guaranty − Already Charged | $208,187 − $36,000 = $172,187 |
| Max $0-Down Loan | Remaining × 4 | $172,187 × 4 = $688,750 |
| Down Payment | 25% of amount over max $0-down | If buying $750,000: ($750,000 − $688,750) × 25% = $15,312 |
Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
Your COE shows your total entitlement and any amount already charged. You can get your COE through:
- VA.gov — Request your COE online
- Your lender (most can pull it electronically)
- By mail using VA Form 26-1880
Basic entitlement is $36,000 (covers loans up to $144,000). Bonus entitlement is the additional amount based on your county's conforming loan limit. Together they form your total available guaranty.