VA Mortgage Calculator

Estimate payments on a VA loan for eligible veterans and service members — including the one-time VA funding fee.

What the VA funding fee pays for

Unlike an FHA loan, a VA loan carries no ongoing mortgage insurance at all — no monthly premium, ever. In its place is a single one-time charge, the VA funding fee, which keeps the loan guarantee program self-sustaining without taxpayer subsidy. It scales with your down payment: put down less than 5% and the fee runs highest; clear 10% and it drops to its lowest tier, the same reward structure a lender's own risk pricing would use.

Why first use and later use are priced differently

A first-time VA borrower with a small down payment pays a lower fee than someone using their VA loan benefit again with the same down payment — the fee schedule treats a repeat use of the benefit as slightly higher risk, unless a larger down payment offsets it, in which case both first-time and repeat borrowers land on identical, lower tiers.

The funding fee is fully waived for veterans with a service-related disability rating of 10% or higher, and for most surviving spouses using the benefit — reflecting the same exemptions written into VA policy itself.

Financed vs. paid upfront

Most VA borrowers roll the funding fee into the loan balance rather than paying it in cash at closing, which keeps upfront costs low but means paying interest on the fee itself over the life of the loan. Paying it upfront costs more immediately but results in a smaller loan balance and slightly lower monthly payment from day one.

Common questions

Is a VA loan always cheaper than a conventional or FHA loan?

Often, especially for borrowers with little or no down payment, since VA loans skip monthly mortgage insurance entirely. But the funding fee is a real cost, and a borrower with a large down payment and strong credit might still find a conventional loan competitive.

Do all veterans pay the same funding fee?

No — it depends on your down payment, whether this is your first time using the benefit, and whether you have a qualifying service-related disability. Two veterans buying identical homes can owe very different funding fees.

Can I put 0% down on a VA loan?

Yes — VA loans are one of the few loan types that allow qualified borrowers to finance 100% of the purchase price with no down payment at all, which is one of their signature benefits.

More Financial Calculators

Pick another financial tool to jump straight to it.