VA Entitlement

How Much VA Entitlement Do I Have Left? Calculator

Your remaining VA entitlement at the 2026 county limit, worked out VA.gov’s way, plus whether it can be restored.

Updated November 2026 · Rudy Flores

Already used your VA home loan once? Enter what your Certificate of Eligibility shows, or the size of your old loan, and this works out your remaining entitlement the way VA.gov does: the county one-unit limit times 25%, minus what is in use (VA.gov loan limits page). It also tells you when the full amount can be restored instead.

Where things stand with your current or last VA loan

Have you used the one-time restoration before?

Did a Veteran buyer substitute their entitlement?

County of the home you want to buy

FHFA one-unit limits for 2026. VA uses them only when part of your entitlement is in use.

That county’s one-unit loan limit

From FHFA’s conforming loan limit list.

Entitlement charged on that loan (from your COE)

Your Certificate of Eligibility lists it under Prior Loans charged to entitlement. Leave 0 to estimate it from the loan amount.

Original amount of that loan (used only to estimate)

Used only when the COE figure is 0. The estimate is 25% of the loan, which VA applies to loans above $144,000.

Price of the home you want to buy next

Down payment you plan to make

Not sure which path fits? The Home Strategy Quiz is four quick questions about your move, and Rudy sends back a personal plan.

Take the Home Strategy Quiz

Talk to a lender. Rates, loan programs and approvals come from lenders, not from websites or real estate agents. Talk to your own mortgage broker, or use our preferred lender, Point Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #231073), at (619) 475-4095. You are always free to choose any lender you like, and you can verify any lender’s license at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

How the math works

Find the entitlement already used: your COE lists it under Prior Loans charged to entitlement (the Entitlement Charged column).
Multiply the county one-unit limit by 25% and subtract what is used. That is the remaining entitlement.
Multiply the remaining entitlement by 4. VA.gov calls the result the largest loan most lenders would be willing to make without a down payment.

VA.gov’s own example uses a $900,000 limit and $50,000 already used: $900,000 × 25% = $225,000, minus $50,000 leaves $175,000, and × 4 gives $700,000. With San Diego County’s 2026 limit of $1,104,000, the first step gives $276,000 instead.

Which situation are you in?

Selling, keeping or renting the first home — when the full amount comes back, and what stays in use if you keep it.
A buyer taking over your loan — substitution of entitlement and the assumption form.
Loan paid off, home kept — the one-time restoration and what it changes.

Common questions

Where do I find the entitlement I have used?

On your Certificate of Eligibility. VA.gov points to the table called Prior Loans charged to entitlement (the Entitlement Charged column).

Do I have a loan limit with full entitlement?

No. VA.gov says that with full entitlement you don’t have a loan limit, as long as you can afford the loan and the appraisal supports the price; your lender still approves the amount.

Why does the county matter?

When part of your entitlement is in use, VA figures what remains from the one-unit limit of the county where you buy: $1,104,000 in San Diego County and $1,249,125 in Orange County for 2026 (FHFA).

Is this my official entitlement?

No. It is an estimate from the figures you enter. Your COE and your lender confirm the real number.

Estimates for planning, not lending advice. Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. Rudy Flores is a real estate agent, not a lender; your lender and your Certificate of Eligibility confirm the real figures.

Rudy does not pay or accept referral fees, and you are always free to choose any lender, attorney, CPA or other professional you like.