Veteran Benefits
Housing Assistance
VA-backed home loans to buy, build, improve, or refinance a home - plus adapted-housing grants (SAH, SHA, and HISA) that pay for ramps, roll-in showers, and wider doorways so you can age safely in place.
There’s a free calculator on this page - estimate your VA home-loan payment. No sign-up, no cost.
Who this is for
Whether you are buying a home, refinancing, or need changes so you can stay safely in the one you have, your service can open doors - often with no down payment, or grants that pay for ramps and roll-in showers.
In plain language
What Housing Assistance covers
- VA-backed loans often require no down payment and no private mortgage insurance
- Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grants for accessibility changes
- Help managing your loan and avoiding foreclosure
- Reusable benefit - it is not a one-time-only program
VA's Specially Adapted Housing Grant in Action (Part 1)Official video - Veterans Benefits Administration
$0 down
VA-backed loans typically need no down payment and no PMI
$117,000
Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant, per fiscal year
Reusable
Entitlement can be restored after a prior VA loan is paid off
See what your home loan benefit can do
VA home loan estimator
The VA home loan is one of the most valuable benefits a veteran can use at any age - $0 down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and a one-time funding fee that is waived entirely if you receive VA disability compensation. Enter a home price and rate to estimate your monthly payment and see exactly what the funding fee would (or would not) cost you.
The home and your down payment
VA loans allow $0 down.
Most veterans put nothing down and still pay no monthly mortgage insurance (PMI) - a saving of hundreds a month that conventional buyers cannot avoid.
Your rate and loan length
A recent estimate - your rate depends on the market and lender.
Loan length
Your funding fee
Do you receive VA disability compensation?
If yes, the funding fee is waived entirely - even at $0 down.
Estimated monthly payment
$2,022.62
Principal & interest - no PMI on a VA loan
- Down payment
- $0.00 (0.0%)
- Funding fee
- Waived
- Loan amount
- $320,000.00
- Interest over 30 yrs
- $408,142.36
Because you receive VA disability compensation, your funding fee is waived - keeping thousands in your pocket at closing.
See the official VA funding fee chartEstimate only. Property taxes, homeowners & hazard insurance, and HOA dues are not included. Confirm rates and fees with a VA-approved lender.
This calculator is free. No sign-up, no catch.
Most people in this business hide tools like this behind a paywall or a sign-up form. We don’t. Use it as much as you need. And if you want a real accredited agent to look at your actual claim, we’re one call away — it’s free to talk, and free to file your claim.
Albert L. Thombs Jr. — VA-accredited claims agent (#45147), a disabled veteran with a team of advocates who do this every day.
The full picture
Everything you need to know
Nothing hidden behind a click. Here is the whole story in plain language, so you can decide what fits your situation.
Key facts & current figures
- VA-backed loans typically need no down payment and no private mortgage insurance.
- It is a reusable benefit, not one-time; entitlement can be restored after a prior VA loan is paid off.
- Adapted-housing grants let you stay in your own home safely: SAH up to about $117,000, SHA up to about $23,000, plus HISA for smaller changes like ramps and roll-in showers.
- Start by requesting a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), which is often issued instantly online.
General figures, current as of December 2025 and reviewed each year. Your exact amount depends on your situation - always confirm on va.gov.
What the VA-backed home loan is
- It is a home loan from a private lender (a bank or mortgage company) that the VA guarantees. The guarantee lets lenders offer better terms.
- You can use it to buy a home, build a home, improve a home, or refinance an existing loan.
Key advantages
- Usually no down payment is required.
- No private mortgage insurance (PMI), which saves money every month.
- Competitive interest rates and limits on the fees a lender can charge.
- It is a reusable benefit, not a one-time deal. Your entitlement can be restored after a prior VA loan is paid off.
Who is eligible
- Most veterans, and many surviving spouses, qualify based on the length and character of their service.
- Seniors are fully eligible. There is no age limit on this benefit.
- You will need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to show the lender.
Step by step: how to use it (applying is free)
- Step 1: Request your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). You can get it online at va.gov, through your lender, or by mail with VA Form 26-1880.
- Step 2: Choose a VA-approved lender and get pre-approved.
- Step 3: Find your home and complete the purchase. The VA charges a one-time funding fee, but many disabled veterans are exempt from it.
Adapted-housing grants to age safely at home
- The Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant is the largest, up to about $117,000 per fiscal year, to build, buy, or remodel a home for wheelchair access - widened doorways, roll-in showers, and lowered counters.
- The Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant, up to about $23,000 per fiscal year, helps with adaptations tied to certain conditions such as blindness or the loss of use of both hands.
- The Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant covers smaller changes - ramps, grab bars, and accessible bathrooms - and is available even if you do not qualify for SAH or SHA.
- Apply for the SAH or SHA grant with VA Form 26-4555. These grants are especially valuable for senior veterans who want to remain in their own home instead of moving to a facility.
Your complete benefit picture
$117,000
the Specially Adapted Housing grant that can pay to widen doorways, add a roll-in shower, and lower counters - so you can stay safely in your own home.
Age safely at home
Grants that pay to adapt your home
Beyond the loan, three grants help you stay in the home you have. SAH (up to about $117,000) funds wheelchair access, SHA (up to about $23,000) helps with conditions like blindness, and HISA covers smaller changes like ramps and grab bars.
HISA is available even if you do not qualify for SAH or SHA - a simple way to fund a safer bathroom or entrance.
No age limit
Seniors are fully eligible - there is no age cap on the home-loan benefit.
Funding fee waived
Many veterans who receive VA disability compensation pay no funding fee at all.
A clear path forward
Your step-by-step action plan
No rush and no pressure - but a little order helps. Applying is always free.
First
Request your COE
Get your Certificate of Eligibility online at va.gov, through a lender, or by mail with VA Form 26-1880.
Then
Choose a VA-approved lender
Get pre-approved so you know your budget and terms before you shop.
For home changes
Apply for an adaptation grant
Use VA Form 26-4555 for SAH or SHA; ask your VA about HISA for smaller changes like ramps and grab bars.
Who to call & where to go
These are free, official VA lines. Have your Social Security number handy when you call.
VA Home Loans & Housing Grants
Home loan guaranty and adapted-housing grants (SAH/SHA).
VA Benefits Hotline
Compensation, pension, and general claim questions.
Rather have us handle it?
No phone tag, no hold music. Call our office and a real, VA-accredited person walks you through it - start to finish.
702-992-4883Not sure where to start?
Request a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) online or through a lender, then work with a VA-approved lender. For adaptation grants, apply with VA Form 26-4555.
More benefits for veterans
These often go hand in hand - tap any card to learn more.
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