New Hampshire VA Loan Requirements 2026
How VA entitlement works in New Hampshire and why full entitlement carries no county loan cap, the 2026 funding fee tables and exemptions, Pease Air National Guard Base, and how a VA loan pairs with New Hampshire Housing programs.
VA Loan Eligibility in New Hampshire
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.
New Hampshire Military Installations
Pease Air National Guard Base is home to the 157th Air Refueling Wing and is New Hampshire’s only Air National Guard base. National Guard members can qualify for VA loans under the service rules above.
| Installation | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pease Air National Guard Base | 157th Air Refueling Wing | New Hampshire’s only Air National Guard base; operates 12 KC-46A Pegasus aircraft |
Source: the 157th Air Refueling Wing fact sheet.
How VA Entitlement Works in New Hampshire
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) |
|---|---|
| Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Sullivan | $832,750 |
| Rockingham, Strafford | $962,550 |
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.
New Hampshire 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 NH Housing
A VA loan and New Hampshire Housing’s programs are not mutually exclusive. Home First can use a VA-guaranteed mortgage, and NH Housing waives the Home First first-time homebuyer requirement for qualified veterans.
| NH Housing Program | How It Works with VA |
|---|---|
| Home First / First Plus | VA-guaranteed mortgage through an NH Housing approved lender, within town income and purchase price limits; first-time buyer rule waived for qualified veterans |
| Down payment assistance | Up to $15,000 toward the down payment and closing costs, 0% second mortgage with no monthly payments |
Because a VA loan usually requires no down payment with full entitlement, the assistance is most useful for closing costs — and it is repaid in full when you sell or refinance. Check current terms with New Hampshire Housing.
