Loan programs
VA loan
In short
A VA loan is backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for eligible service members, veterans, and surviving spouses, often with no down payment.
A VA loan is guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and available to eligible active-duty service members, veterans, and certain surviving spouses. For many borrowers it allows a home purchase with no down payment.
VA loans don't carry monthly mortgage insurance, though most involve a one-time VA funding fee, which some borrowers are exempt from. Eligibility runs through a Certificate of Eligibility from the VA.
For those who qualify, the no-down-payment feature and the absence of monthly mortgage insurance make the VA loan one of the strongest programs available — worth comparing carefully against the alternatives.
Related
Current as of August 2026.