VA Entitlement Calculator
Find your remaining VA entitlement for a PCS purchase — and see exactly how the math works.
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How VA entitlement is calculated
VA entitlement is the dollar amount the VA guarantees on your behalf, which determines how much you can borrow with no down payment. Every eligible veteran starts with a basic entitlement of $36,000 and a bonus entitlement that brings the total to 25% of the conforming loan limit in most counties. When you have full entitlement — no active VA loans outstanding — there is no county loan limit and no down payment required.
If you currently have a VA loan or have had one in the past that was not fully restored, you have reduced entitlement. This calculator takes your prior VA loan balance and county loan limit as inputs, then computes your remaining entitlement using the formula: remaining entitlement = (county loan limit × 25%) minus entitlement already used. The result is your zero-down ceiling on the next purchase — if your target purchase price exceeds it, a down payment will be required.
Entitlement can be fully restored after a prior VA loan is paid off and the property is sold, or in certain other circumstances described in M26-7 Ch. 3. Restoration requires a separate application to the VA and is not automatic.
Source: VA Lender's Handbook M26-7, Ch. 3 — The VA Loan and Guaranty