What Are VA Loan Closing Costs?

Closing costs are fees for the services required to complete a home loan.

Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners.

Updated · 2 min read
Profile photo of Barbara Marquand
Written by Barbara Marquand
Senior Writer
Profile photo of Michelle Blackford
Reviewed by Michelle Blackford
Profile photo of Alice Holbrook
Edited by Alice Holbrook
Assigning Editor

A VA mortgage offers a tantalizing benefit for current and veteran military members: No down payment is required.

But you'll still owe closing costs to finalize a home loan backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Don't let these final costs scare you off from buying a home — or catch you off guard.

How much are VA loan closing costs?

Closing costs include the various fees required to settle a home loan. Generally, closing costs range from about 2% to 6% of the loan amount.

Like other mortgages, VA loan closing costs include such fees as:

  • An appraisal fee. For a VA loan, the appraisal estimates the home's value and determines whether the property meets the VA's minimum standards. The VA limits how much appraisers can charge.

  • Discount points, which are optional fees you can pay to lower the interest rate.

  • Government recording fees to update local property ownership records.

  • Loan origination charges for underwriting and processing the loan. 

  • Local and state taxes.

  • Prepaid expenses, such as home insurance and property tax.

  • Title-related costs, which may include title insurance, title search fee and others.

Mortgage loans from our partners

NBKC - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on NBKC

NBKC

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
NBKC - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on NBKC

New American Funding - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on New American Funding

New American Funding

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
New American Funding - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
500

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on New American Funding

GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

GO Mortgage

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

Mortgage loans from our partners

NBKC - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on NBKC

NBKC

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
NBKC - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on NBKC

New American Funding - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on New American Funding

New American Funding

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
New American Funding - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
500

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on New American Funding

GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

GO Mortgage

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
580

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Veterans United - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Veterans United

Veterans United

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Veterans United - PURCHASE logo

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
0%

Check Rate

on Veterans United

VA funding fee

VA loans don't include mortgage insurance. But they do include a special charge called the VA funding fee. The fee helps cover the VA's costs for guaranteeing loans. If a borrower defaults on a loan, the VA repays the lender a portion of the outstanding balance. The guarantee allows lenders to offer VA loans at competitive rates without requiring a down payment.

For purchase loans, the VA funding fee depends on the size of your down payment and whether this is your first or a subsequent VA mortgage.

The fee for a first purchase or construction loan is 2.15% of the loan amount with a down payment of less than 5%; it's 1.5% with a down payment of 5% up to 10%; and 1.25% with a down payment of 10% or more.

Funding fee for a first purchase or construction loan

Down payment

Funding fee

Less than 5%

2.15%.

5%-9.9%

1.5%.

10% or more

1.25%.

The VA funding fee for a subsequent purchase or construction loan is 3.3% of the loan amount with a down payment of less than 5%; it's 1.5% with a down payment of 5% up to 10%; and 1.25% with a down payment of 10% or more.

Funding fee for a subsequent purchase or construction loan

Down payment

Funding fee

Less than 5%

3.3%.

5%-9.9%

1.5%.

10% or more

1.25%.

Refinancing? The VA funding fee for a VA cash-out refinance is 2.15% for a first loan and 3.3% for a subsequent loan. The fee for an Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan, or IRRRL (pronounced “Earl”), is 0.5% for a first or subsequent loan.

Funding fee for VA refinance loans

Loan type

Down payment

Cash-out refinance, first use

2.15%.

Cash-out refinance, subsequent use

3.3%.

Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan, or IRRRL

0.5%.

Some borrowers are exempt from the VA funding fee, including:

  • Veterans who are eligible for compensation for service-connected disabilities.

  • Service members on active duty who have received a Purple Heart.

  • Surviving spouses who are receiving dependency and indemnity compensation.

Closing cost limits

The VA prohibits and limits some fees for borrowers.

Attorney fees: Lenders can't make you pay attorney fees, except for title work, although you can hire and pay for a real estate attorney on your own.

Loan origination charges: Lenders cannot charge more than 1% of the loan amount for purchase mortgages. For construction loans, lenders can charge up to an additional 2% of the loan amount; the allowed amount depends on how much the lender advances to the veteran or supervises the project.

Seller-paid fees: Sellers must pay these fees when you buy a house:

  • Real estate agent commissions and brokerage fees.

  • Buyer broker fee.

  • Termite report fee.

How to limit out-of-pocket VA loan closing costs

Here are some ways to lower your upfront closing costs.

  • Ask the seller to pay some of your closing costs. The VA limits the amount the seller can pay to no more than 4% of the loan amount. However, note that sellers may not be willing to pay in a competitive real estate market. Work with your real estate agent to decide how to negotiate.

  • Roll the VA funding fee into the loan. This will cut your upfront out-of-pocket costs, but it will increase your monthly mortgage payment.

Mortgage loans from our partners

NBKC - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on NBKC

NBKC

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
NBKC - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on NBKC

New American Funding - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on New American Funding

New American Funding

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
New American Funding - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
500

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on New American Funding

GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

GO Mortgage

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

Mortgage loans from our partners

NBKC - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on NBKC

NBKC

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
NBKC - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on NBKC

New American Funding - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on New American Funding

New American Funding

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
New American Funding - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
500

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on New American Funding

GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

GO Mortgage

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
580

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Veterans United - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Veterans United

Veterans United

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Veterans United - PURCHASE logo

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
0%

Check Rate

on Veterans United

Get more smart money moves – straight to your inbox
Sign up and we’ll send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money.