Lenders who provide VA home loans often offer better terms than a borrower might get with a conventional mortgage. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) isn’t required, interest rates may be lower than with other types of mortgages, and most VA-backed loans (90%) are made with no down payment.
Still, when you’re shopping for any type of mortgage, it can be helpful to have a good idea of where you stand and what your monthly payments might be. And that’s why a VA loan calculator table can be instrumental. By plugging in a few key numbers, you can feel better informed, whether you’re planning to buy a home or considering refinancing your current mortgage.
Why Use a VA Home Loan Mortgage Calculator Table?
If you’re a veteran, service member, or eligible survivor interested in learning about a VA loan — which is one of the different types of mortgage loans available — a VA home loan calculator can help you estimate what your monthly payments might be based on data you provide.
You can see how a 15-year mortgage might differ from a 30-year mortgage, for example, or what different interest rates might mean for your monthly payments. You also can get an idea of how much you might pay in interest over the life of your VA home loan.
💡 Quick Tip: Buying a home shouldn’t be aggravating. SoFi’s online mortgage application is quick and simple, with dedicated Mortgage Loan Officers to guide you throughout the process.
First-time homebuyers can
prequalify for a SoFi mortgage loan,
with as little as 3% down.
How to Calculate Your VA Home Mortgage Loan Payment
To calculate your monthly VA mortgage payment with a VA loan calculator table, you’ll need to gather up a few key pieces of information, including:
Home Purchase Price
This can be the actual cost of a home you hope to buy, or what you’ve budgeted for your home purchase.
Down Payment Amount
For most eligible veterans and service members, this amount will be $0.
Loan Term
This is the expected length of your loan, usually 15 or 30 years.
Interest Rate
You won’t know your exact interest rate until you lock it in with your lender, so this will be an estimate. Lenders base their rates on current market rates, a borrower’s credit profile, and other factors.)
Property Tax Rate
If you have a particular home in mind to purchase, the tax rate may appear on the listing. You also can look for property tax rates on county websites.
The formula used to calculate a mortgage payment can be complicated, so it may be easier to use a VA home loan calculator to check how changing various numbers might affect your loan. Our VA Loan Mortgage Calculator Table, with averages used below in various fields, also can help you see what your payments might look like.
|
2024 VA Home Loan Mortgage Calculator Table |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $210,000 | $375,000 | $675,000 |
| Down Payment | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Avg. Property Tax Rate* | 1.45% (St. Louis) | 1.15% (Tampa) | .82% (Los Angeles) |
| PMI: | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Interest Rate | 9% | 7% | 5% |
| Loan Term | 15-year/30-year | 15-year/30-year | 15-year/30-year |
| Estimated Payment | $2,384/$1,943 | $3,730/$2,854 | $5,799/$4,085 |
| Principal & Interest Monthly | $2,130/$1,690 | $3,370/$2,495 | $5,338/$3,624 |
| Taxes Monthly | $254 | $359 | $461 |
| Total Interest Paid | $173,393/$398,290 | $231,709/$523,162 | $285,814/$629,475 |
*Property tax exemptions and special tax districts may apply
Examples from the VA Home Mortgage Calculator Table
Because VA-backed loans don’t require mortgage insurance, and most don’t require a down payment, the main factors that will influence your monthly mortgage payment are the amount of the loan, the interest rate you pay, and the length of the loan.
As you can see from the VA loan affordability calculator table above, borrowers can get a smaller, more manageable monthly payment if they opt for a longer loan term. But they’ll pay more in interest than they would if they had a shorter term. Using the Tampa home as an example, the estimated monthly payment would be $2,854 with a 30-year term, vs. $3,730 with a 15-year loan. But the total amount of interest paid for the 30-year loan could end up being more than twice as much: $523,162 vs. $231,709.
And, of course, the cost of the home you choose to buy can also be an important factor. As shown in the table, even with a much higher interest rate, both the monthly payment and total interest paid for the home in St. Louis would be lower than for the home in Los Angeles — simply because the cost of living in California is high and the St. Louis home is less expensive.
It can be helpful to check the cost of living by state if you’re deliberating between two different locations for your next home.
💡 Quick Tip: Active duty service members who have served for at least 90 consecutive days are eligible for a VA loan. But so are many veterans, surviving spouses, and National Guard and Reserves members. It’s worth exploring with an online VA loan application because the low interest rates and other advantages of this loan can’t be beat.†
Other Costs to Consider
Most VA loan mortgage calculators stick to the basics, but there are other costs you may want to consider when you’re trying to determine the monthly loan payment you can afford, including:
VA Funding Fee
Though borrowers don’t pay mortgage insurance on a VA loan, most will pay a one-time funding fee. (Some borrowers are exempt.) The fee, which can be paid upfront or rolled into the loan, is a percentage of the loan, and is based on the type of loan and other factors.
Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance can help protect your home and property in case of expensive damage and other potential costs. Your lender will likely require that you buy homeowners insurance before you close on your home purchase.
HOA Fees
If the home you purchase is part of a homeowner’s association (HOA), you may have to pay a monthly or annual fee. The HOA may use this money to cover maintenance costs and amenities.
VA Home Loan Limits
Typically, the VA guarantees that it will repay the lender up to 25% of your loan amount if you should fail to make your payments. But if you’re still paying off another VA loan, your VA guarantee may be limited, and the lender may ask you for a down payment to make up the difference. Your lender can help you determine how VA home loan limits might affect your new loan.
Recommended: 2024 Home Loan Help Center
Reasons to Calculate Your VA Home Mortgage Loan First
You may want to calculate the monthly payment and interest costs for your VA loan first, then compare those numbers to other types of loans – especially if you’re a first-time buyer who’s struggling to come up with a down payment. Your VA loan may come with a lower interest rate, and you won’t have to pay private mortgage insurance, which can keep your payments lower. Your lender also may accept a lower credit score if you’re applying for a VA loan vs. a conventional loan.
Still, it can be a good idea to compare all the different types of mortgage loans for which you might be eligible. If you can afford to make a 20% down payment on a conventional loan, for example, you can avoid the VA funding fee, and you’ll have some equity in your home right away. It doesn’t hurt to keep your options open, whether you’re buying a home or refinancing your mortgage.
Tips on How to Save on Your VA Home Mortgage Loan
To get the best VA loan payment, these are a few strategies that could help you save money.
Work on Your Credit
There isn’t a required minimum credit score for VA loans. Instead, the VA asks approved lenders to review the borrower’s “entire loan profile,” which could include your credit history, debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, employment history, and assets.
Individual lenders also may have their own approval criteria you should be aware of when you’re ready to apply for a loan. The more you can do to improve your financial health, the better the chances that you’ll get the loan terms you want.
Consider Making a Down Payment
Most borrowers don’t have to make a down payment on their VA home loan, but that doesn’t mean you can’t. Putting a down payment on your loan could show the lender that you’re a serious buyer, which may help you get a lower interest rate or reduce the VA funding fee on your loan.
Roll Your VA Funding Fee into Your Loan
If you’re a first-time homebuyer or low on cash for closing, the VA’s one-time funding fee may seem like a daunting amount. But you don’t have to pay the entire fee upfront. You can ask your lender to include that amount in your loan, and it will be added to your monthly payments. Your payments will be a bit more, but it may make the difference in being able to buy a home of your own.
Recommended: Tips to Qualify for a Mortgage
The Takeaway
Because VA home loans have some different requirements and benefits than other mortgages, it can be helpful to get an idea of what those differences might mean for your monthly payment and overall loan by using a VA loan calculator table.
If you’re preparing to buy or refinance a home, a VA mortgage loan calculator table can give you a useful estimate of what your new loan might look like, depending on your loan amount, length, interest rate and other factors.
SoFi offers VA loans with competitive interest rates, no private mortgage insurance, and down payments as low as 0%. Eligible service members, veterans, and survivors may use the benefit multiple times.
Our Mortgage Loan Officers are ready to guide you through the process step by step.
FAQ
Will VA home loan limits increase in 2023?
Yes, VA home loan limits increased significantly in 2023. The baseline limit for VA loans in 2023 is $726,200, compared to $647,200 in 2022.
How much do I need to make to buy a $300,000 house with a VA loan?
Your income is only one factor that goes into deciding how much you can afford to borrow. Lenders also will look at your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, which is the amount of your monthly debt payments compared to your monthly gross income. The VA doesn’t have a required DTI ratio for borrowers, but a maximum DTI of 41% is preferred.
What is the VA benefit increase for 2023?
Military retirees and disabled veterans got an 8.7% increase in their monthly checks in 2023, thanks to the annual adjustment to the federal cost of living allowance.
Photo credit: iStock/joel-t
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†Veterans, Service members, and members of the National Guard or Reserve may be eligible for a loan guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA loans are subject to unique terms and conditions established by VA and SoFi. Ask your SoFi loan officer for details about eligibility, documentation, and other requirements. VA loans typically require a one-time funding fee except as may be exempted by VA guidelines. The fee may be financed or paid at closing. The amount of the fee depends on the type of loan, the total amount of the loan, and, depending on loan type, prior use of VA eligibility and down payment amount. The VA funding fee is typically non-refundable. SoFi is not affiliated with any government agency.
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