Washington, D.C. Mortgage Guides

Washington, D.C. VA Loan Requirements 2026

This guide covers Washington, D.C. VA loan requirements for 2026 — eligibility, the District’s military installations, VA loan benefits, entitlement and the $1,249,125 limit that applies with partial entitlement, the VA funding fee, and how VA financing pairs with D.C. down payment programs.

📖 8 min readUpdated October 2026Washington, D.C. · VA Loans

0%Down payment required

$0Private mortgage insurance

No capVA loan limit with full entitlement

2.15%Funding fee, first use, under 5% down

In This Guide

VA loan eligibility in Washington, D.C.
D.C. military installations
VA loan benefits in D.C.
D.C. VA loan requirements overview
VA funding fee
Pairing VA with D.C. assistance programs
Washington, D.C. VA loan requirements FAQs

VA Loan Eligibility

Service Category	Minimum Service Requirement
Current service members	90 continuous days of active duty
Veterans	Depends on when you served — see VA’s service-period tables
National Guard	90 days of non-training active-duty Title 10 service, or 6 creditable years (still serving, or discharged honorably / retired)
Selected Reserve	90 days of non-training active duty, or 6 creditable years (still serving, or discharged honorably / retired)
Surviving spouse	Eligible for or receiving certain VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), or spouse of a service member who is MIA or a POW

Start with your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). You can request a COE online or ask your lender to request it for you. Full rules, including service periods and discharge exceptions: VA home loan eligibility.

Washington, D.C. Military Installations

The District hosts several military installations, listed below with each note linked to its official source.

Installation	Location	Notes
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB)	Southeast Washington, D.C., along I-295	Air Force-led joint base (11th Wing) supporting 70 mission-partner units (militaryonesource.mil)
Fort McNair	Southwest D.C., on the Anacostia River	Part of Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall; site of historic Grant Hall (home.army.mil)
Washington Navy Yard	Along the Anacostia River, 9th and M Streets SE	Part of Naval Support Activity Washington; the Navy’s oldest shore establishment (militaryonesource.mil)

VA Loan Benefits in Washington, D.C.

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Fort McNair and the Washington Navy Yard are listed above. VA loans are available throughout the District to eligible borrowers.

No down payment required — in most cases the VA guaranty lets you buy with no down payment
No private mortgage insurance (PMI) — VA loans don’t require monthly mortgage insurance
No VA county limit with full entitlement — your lender decides how much you qualify for; the loan can’t exceed the appraised value or price, whichever is lower
Seller concessions capped at 4% of reasonable value — useful against D.C.’s recordation tax and other closing costs

Washington, D.C. VA Loan Requirements Overview

Requirement	VA Standard	Notes
Certificate of Eligibility (COE)	Required	Lender can request it for you
Credit score	No VA minimum	Lenders set their own, commonly 580–620 (lender overlay)
Down payment	0% with full entitlement	With partial entitlement, VA uses the FHFA one-unit limit — $1,249,125 in D.C.
Loan size	Approved by your lender	Based on credit, income, debts and assets
Primary residence	Required	Owner-occupied only
Property value	VA appraisal required	Maximum loan is the lower of appraised value or price

VA Funding Fee

Down Payment	First Use	Subsequent Use
Less than 5%	2.15%	3.30%
5% or more	1.50%	1.50%
10% or more	1.25%	1.25%

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 VA with D.C. Assistance Programs

The District does not run a veteran-only home loan program, but veterans can combine VA financing with D.C. tax benefits and, where they qualify, District assistance.

Scenario	How It Works
VA + first-time recordation rate	An eligible first-time D.C. buyer pays 0.725% recordation tax instead of 1.1% or 1.45%
VA + HPAP	First-time buyers within DHCD income limits may receive HPAP gap financing and up to $4,000 for closing costs
Disabled veterans’ homestead deduction	Qualifying disabled veterans can deduct $445,000 from assessed value (tax year 2026; household income under $163,500)

Ask your lender which combination fits your situation. Tax relief details: OTR reliefs, credits and deductions.

Washington, D.C. VA Loan Requirements FAQs

Is there a VA loan limit in Washington, D.C.?

With full entitlement, VA does not apply a county loan limit — your lender decides how much you qualify for, and the loan cannot exceed the lower of the appraised value or price. With partial entitlement, VA uses the FHFA one-unit limit, which is $1,249,125 in the District for 2026.

What is the VA funding fee?

For a first-use VA purchase loan with less than 5% down, the funding fee is 2.15% of the loan amount; for subsequent use it is 3.3%. Putting 5% down lowers it to 1.5%, and 10% down to 1.25%. Veterans with a VA disability rating, surviving spouses receiving DIC, and active-duty Purple Heart recipients are exempt.

Are there property tax benefits for disabled veterans in D.C.?

Yes. D.C.’s Disabled Veterans’ Homestead Deduction reduces assessed value by $445,000 for tax year 2026 for qualifying disabled veterans with household federal adjusted gross income under $163,500. Confirm eligibility with the Office of Tax and Revenue.

Which military installations are in Washington, D.C.?

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is in Southeast D.C., Fort McNair (part of Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall) is in Southwest D.C. on the Anacostia River, and the Washington Navy Yard, part of Naval Support Activity Washington, sits along the Anacostia River.