Full entitlement
You generally have full entitlement if you've never used your VA benefit, you used it and paid the loan off and sold the home, or you had a prior VA-loan foreclosure or compromise claim that's been repaid. With full entitlement there's no loan limit — the only cap is what you qualify for.
Remaining (partial) entitlement
If you still own a home with a VA loan, part of your entitlement is in use. Your remaining entitlement is figured from your county's loan limit:
- Take 25% of the county loan limit.
- Subtract the entitlement used on your current VA loan (usually 25% of that loan's amount).
- What's left is your remaining entitlement. VA guarantees up to that amount, and lenders usually allow a loan of up to 4× it with $0 down.
If the home you want costs more, you can still buy it — you'd typically put down 25% of the difference.
2026 Southern California county limits
| County | 2026 limit (1 unit) |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $1,249,125 |
| Orange | $1,249,125 |
| San Diego | $1,104,000 |
| Riverside | $832,750 |
| San Bernardino | $832,750 |
| Kern | $832,750 |
2026 conforming limits set by FHFA; the national baseline is $832,750.
Restoring your entitlement
Selling your VA-financed home and paying off the loan restores your entitlement. You can also get a one-time restoration if you pay off the loan but keep the home.
Common questions
Is there a VA loan limit in 2026?
Not if you have full entitlement. With remaining entitlement, your county's conforming limit is used to figure how much you can borrow with $0 down.
Can I have two VA loans at the same time?
Yes, if you have enough remaining entitlement and qualify for both payments. It's common when service members PCS and keep their first home as a rental.
How do I check my entitlement?
Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) shows it. We can pull your COE for you in minutes when you start your application.
See your real numbers
Our free calculator uses 2026 pay tables, BAH by ZIP and VA residual income standards. About 2 minutes, no credit pull.
Educational information only, not a commitment to lend or a loan approval. VA guidelines and lender requirements change; your eligibility and terms depend on your full application, credit, income and VA entitlement.