North Dakota VA Loan Requirements 2026
How VA entitlement works in North Dakota and why full entitlement carries no county loan cap, the 2026 funding fee tables and exemptions, Minot and Grand Forks Air Force Bases, and how a VA loan pairs with North Dakota Housing Finance Agency programs.
VA Loan Eligibility in North Dakota
VA eligibility is federal and does not vary by state. Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) shows the entitlement your lender will use.
| Category | Minimum Service |
|---|---|
| Active-duty service members | At least 90 continuous days |
| Veterans | Depends on when you served |
| National Guard | 90 days of non-training Title 10 active duty, or 6 creditable years |
| Reserve | 90 days of non-training active duty, or 6 creditable years in the Selected Reserve |
| Surviving spouses | Receiving or eligible for certain DIC, or spouse of a service member missing in action or held as a prisoner of war |
Full service rules, discharge exceptions and COE requests are on the VA home loan eligibility page.
North Dakota Military Installations
North Dakota has two Air Force bases. Minot Air Force Base is home to the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing, and Grand Forks Air Force Base is home to the 319th Reconnaissance Wing. Active-duty members qualify for VA loans under the service rules above.
| Installation | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minot Air Force Base | 5th Bomb Wing | B-52H Stratofortress bombers; about 5,470 military members and 722 civilian employees |
| Minot Air Force Base | 91st Missile Wing | One of the Air Force’s three ICBM wings; Minuteman III missile complex covers about 8,500 square miles |
| Grand Forks Air Force Base | 319th Reconnaissance Wing | About 2,200 Total Force Airmen; supports the RQ-4 Global Hawk mission and Cavalier Space Force Station |
Sources: the 5th Bomb Wing fact sheet, the 91st Missile Wing fact sheet and the 319th Reconnaissance Wing fact sheet.
How VA Entitlement Works in North Dakota
A VA guaranty lets most eligible buyers purchase with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. With full entitlement, VA’s bonus entitlement usually covers 25% of the amount a lender is willing to lend, so the county limit does not cap your loan — your lender’s approval does. If part of your entitlement is already in use, your remaining entitlement is based on the county loan limit where you buy.
| Entitlement Status | Does a County Limit Apply? | Down Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Full entitlement | No — the lender’s approval sets the amount | Usually none |
| Partial entitlement | Yes — remaining entitlement is based on the county loan limit | May be required above what your remaining entitlement covers |
| County Group | Conforming Limit (partial entitlement reference) |
|---|---|
| All 53 North Dakota counties | $832,750 |
VA says its home loan limits are the same as FHFA’s conforming loan limits and that you use the one-unit limit even for a multi-unit property. See VA’s home loan entitlement and limits page. The maximum VA loan on a property is the lower of the appraised value or the purchase price.
North Dakota VA Loan Requirements
| Requirement | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Down payment | Usually none with full entitlement | The lender determines the loan amount |
| Credit score | 580–620 (lender overlay) | VA does not require a minimum score |
| Seller concessions | Up to 4% of reasonable value | Seller credits for closing costs are not limited |
| Funding fee | Varies — see below | Waived for exempt borrowers |
| Mortgage insurance | None | No private or monthly mortgage insurance |
2026 VA Funding Fee
The funding fee is a one-time charge on a VA-backed loan. It falls as your down payment rises.
| Down Payment | First Use | Subsequent Use |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 5% | 2.15% | 3.3% |
| 5% or more | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| 10% or more | 1.25% | 1.25% |
| Refinance Type | First Use | Subsequent Use |
|---|---|---|
| Cash-out refinance | 2.15% | 3.3% |
| Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) | 0.5% | 0.5% |
Who is exempt
- Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability
- Veterans eligible for that compensation but receiving retirement or active-duty pay instead
- Surviving spouses receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
- Service members with a proposed or memorandum rating before closing based on a pre-discharge claim
- Active-duty members who provide evidence of a Purple Heart on or before closing
Veterans with VA disability ratings, surviving spouses receiving DIC, and active-duty Purple Heart recipients are exempt from the funding fee. Cash-out refinance funding fees are 2.15% for first use and 3.30% for subsequent use; IRRRLs carry a 0.5% fee. Confirm current rates at the VA’s official funding fee page.
Pairing a VA Loan with NDHFA
A VA loan and the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s programs are not mutually exclusive. NDHFA’s loans can sit on a VA base loan, and its HomeAccess program is open to veterans who are not first-time buyers.
| NDHFA Program | How It Works with VA |
|---|---|
| FirstHome | VA base loan for buyers who have not owned a principal residence in 3 years, within NDHFA’s income and purchase price limits |
| HomeAccess | Open to a borrower or spouse who served in the active military, naval or air service and was discharged other than dishonorably; same rate as FirstHome Standard |
| Start or DCA assistance | 3% of the first mortgage toward the down payment and closing costs |
On FirstHome, NDHFA counts the full VA loan amount — including a financed funding fee — against its area acquisition cost limit, so paying part of the fee in cash can keep a loan eligible. Check current terms with the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency.
