How Many Times Can You Use a VA Loan?

Veterans and servicemembers can use the VA loan to purchase a home without a down payment, but this benefit isn’t limited to a one-time use. In fact, it’s possible to use your VA loan benefit unlimited times!

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established the VA loan benefit to ensure all service members can access affordable home financing options. Therefore, as long as the property meets the eligibility requirements determined by the VA and your chosen lender, you can continue using your VA loan benefits to purchase the home.

You can use this benefit to buy, refinance, or even build homes throughout your lifetime. To maintain this benefit, you must meet the service requirements.

How Many VA Loans Can You Have at Once? 

Can you have more than one VA loan at a time? The answer is “Yes.” Many service members and veterans can simultaneously qualify for multiple VA loans, provided they meet certain conditions.

The VA loan program’s primary purpose is to help servicemembers purchase homes for their use as primary residences. However, it’s not uncommon for active-duty service members or veterans to buy a house at one duty station and later purchase another at their next assignment, especially if they rent out the first property.

To qualify for a second VA loan, you’ll need to meet two key requirements:

1. Affordability – You must demonstrate to the lender that you can afford both mortgages.
2. Remaining Entitlement – You’ll need sufficient VA loan entitlement to cover the second purchase.

For example, if you’re reassigned to a new duty station, the VA allows you to keep your current VA loan and secure a second one for your new home. This is a common scenario among active-duty personnel who use their VA benefits strategically to build long-term wealth.

VA Loan Entitlement Impacts Your Zero Down Benefit 

Being approved for two VA loans at the same time also depends on your remaining entitlement. Each time you use a VA loan, a part of your entitlement is used.

You need enough remaining entitlement to cover the new loan to get a second VA loan without paying off the first one. Read our in-depth guide on VA loan entitlement to learn more specifics.

Your VA loan entitlement also significantly affects how often you can purchase a home with no down payment. The VA provides a specific amount of entitlement that serves as a guarantee for your loan. This is a promise to the lender that the VA will cover a portion of the amount in case the service member can’t make their loan payment.

So, each time you use a VA loan, a part of your entitlement is used. To qualify for a second VA loan without paying off the first one, you must have sufficient remaining entitlement to cover the new loan (along with the other requirements discussed in this article).

Bonus vs. Basic Entitlement

The VA provides two layers of loan guarantee to help service members achieve homeownership: the “basic” entitlement and the “bonus” entitlement.

• Basic Entitlement: This foundational benefit offers up to $36,000 of loan backing from the VA for loans up to $144,000. This guarantee represents 25% of the loan amount, aligning with the VA’s policy to back 25% of a borrower’s loan to protect lenders. However, this amount may be insufficient in today’s housing market, where home prices often exceed this threshold. For example, the Zillow Home Value Index reports the median of the typical home value in the U.S. as $237,978 as of June 2024, meaning many homes surpass the basic entitlement’s reach.
• Bonus Entitlement: To address higher loan amounts, the VA created the “bonus” entitlement, which extends the VA’s loan guarantee above the basic entitlement. The bonus entitlement, tied to the county’s conforming loan limit, ensures that service members can secure loans for homes priced well above $144,000 without needing a down payment. Like the basic entitlement, this bonus entitlement guarantees 25% of the loan amount up to the conforming loan limit in your area. These county-specific limits are reviewed annually and can increase year to year.

It’s worth noting the difference in how bonus entitlement and second-tier entitlement are applied:

1. Bonus Entitlement generally refers to the VA’s expanded backing for homes exceeding $144,000, based on conforming loan limits. It ensures service members can access higher-value loans without a down payment.
2. Second-Tier Entitlement specifically applies when a service member uses VA financing to purchase an additional home without selling or refinancing their current property. This entitlement allows service members to hold multiple VA loans simultaneously.

How Two VA Loans at Once Works

Let’s say you are a borrower who first used your VA loan benefit to purchase a home in Missouri. That first loan uses part of your basic entitlement. Then, after a few years of being stationed in Missouri, you receive orders for a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) to Hawaii.

You want to buy a home in Hawaii while keeping your house in Missouri as a rental. To make this work, you’ll need to use your remaining entitlement for the new VA loan in Hawaii.

Here’s how this might look in practice:

• The basic entitlement provides $36,000 of coverage, representing 25% of a loan up to $144,000.
• You purchased a home in Missouri for $200,000, exceeding the basic entitlement. In this case, the VA likely applied part of your bonus entitlement, reducing your remaining available entitlement.
• Let’s assume the VA guaranteed $50,000 of entitlement for the Missouri property.

Now, you’re looking at a home in Hawaii with higher housing prices. The conforming loan limit in Hawaii is $1,209,750 as of 2025. Since bonus entitlement allows for 25% coverage of the conforming loan limit, your total entitlement for a second property could cover up to $302,437 in VA guarantees. Subtracting the $50,000 used for the Missouri property leaves $252,437 in remaining entitlement.

Using this remaining entitlement, you could buy a home in Hawaii worth up to $957,313 with no down payment. If the home price exceeds that amount, you would need to make a down payment for the difference.

For example:

• You want to purchase a home in Hawaii for $1,050,000.
• The VA guarantees 25% of $1,050,000, which is $262,500.
• Your remaining entitlement ($252,437) falls short by $10,063, meaning you would need to cover that difference with a down payment.

Speaking to a trusted VA-approved lender about your benefits and entitlement is a great first step to making informed decisions and purchasing a home with confidence.

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