All first-time VA borrowers have full entitlement. Additionally, all borrowers who’ve used a VA loan to finance a home, and have since completely restored entitlement, also have full entitlement. You may also have full entitlement if you plan to sell a home financed with a VA loan to buy another one, in which case, full entitlement can be restored before closing. If you have full entitlement, then loan limits do not apply to you.

If part of your entitlement is occupied with another VA loan, and you plan to keep it there, then you have partial entitlement. Partial entitlement means loan limits apply. If you have partial entitlement, the maximum VA guaranty on your combined VA loans cannot exceed 25% of the loan limit for your area. You can still enjoy a zero-down-payment VA loan as long as your available entitlement is at least 25% of your loan.

VA loan limits determine how much a veteran with reduced entitlement can borrow before needing to factor in a down payment. VA loan limits vary by county and currently range from $548,250 to $822,375.

While qualified veterans with their full entitlement can borrow as much as a lender is willing to extend, those with reduced or diminished entitlement are bound to VA loan limits. Less-than-full entitlement is typically due to having one or more existing VA loans or because of default on prior VA loan.