--- title: "What Most Veterans Don't Know About Their VA Home Loan Benefit | Hanna Baek Blog" url: "https://www.hannabaek.com/blog/posts/what-most-veterans-dont-know-about-their-va-home-loan-benefit" markdown_url: "https://www.hannabaek.com/blog/posts/what-most-veterans-dont-know-about-their-va-home-loan-benefit/index.md" description: "Nearly half of veterans feel homeownership is out of reach — but many are closer than they think. Here are three VA loan misconceptions that may be holding you back." --- # What Most Veterans Don't Know About Their VA Home Loan Benefit May 25, 2026 · [buyer-tips](https://www.hannabaek.com/blog/tags/buyer-tips) · [affordability](https://www.hannabaek.com/blog/tags/affordability) ![Veteran family reviewing homeownership options](https://www.hannabaek.com/blog/images/va-loan-header.png) Nearly half of Veterans (49%) feel homeownership is currently out of reach, according to a recent survey from *NewDay USA*. But many are closer than they think. And you might be, too. If you’re a Veteran, you probably know the Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan benefit exists — it’s been around for over 80 years. What you might not know is what it actually covers. Three misconceptions trip up Veterans the most *(see graph below)*: ![Diagram showing common VA home loan misconceptions among veterans](https://www.hannabaek.com/blog/images/va-loan-misconceptions-graph.png) Any one of those beliefs could be holding you back. Let’s walk through all three, so you have the information you really need. ## You May Not Have To Put Any Money Down The potential to put zero money down is probably the biggest perk of a VA loan, but most homebuyers don’t even realize that’s an option. According to the *NewDay USA* survey, many respondents guessed they’d need to save somewhere between $10,000 and $19,900 before they could buy. That’s years of saving for an upfront cost that isn’t always required. ## You May Have Lower Closing Costs According to the [*Department of Veterans Affairs*](https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/loan-types/purchase-loan/), with VA loans, there can be limits on the types of closing costs buyers have to pay. That means more money stays in your pocket on closing day — and you have less to save up for before you can buy. The benefit combined with the down payment perk can speed up your buying timeline. ## Your Monthly PMI Costs Could Be $0 Unlike many other loan options, VA loans typically don’t require private mortgage insurance (PMI), even with low or no money down. If you take out a conventional loan instead, you could pay $100 to $300 a month in PMI until you hit 20% equity, according to *NewDay USA*. Over time, that’s a difference of thousands of dollars. ## Your BAH & BAS May Help You Qualify for More If you’re on active duty or if you’re a qualifying reservist, your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) may count toward income qualification on a VA loan. So, if you were running the numbers without factoring your BAH or BAS in, you could qualify for more than you thought. Both BAH and BAS are non-taxable, so they can help raise the amount you can qualify for. ## Bottom line VA home loans can put homeownership within reach, and a trusted lender can help make sure you understand the details before you move forward. If you’re active duty, you’ve served, or know someone who has, connect with a trusted lender who can walk you through whether you’d qualify and what the VA benefit offers. **You may be able to buy a home sooner than you thought.** Looking for guidance on buying in the Las Vegas area? [Let’s connect](https://www.hannabaek.com/contact/) — I can point you toward lenders who specialize in VA loans and help you explore your options. Exploring Las Vegas neighborhoods? See [Summerlin](https://www.hannabaek.com/areas/summerlin), [Henderson](https://www.hannabaek.com/areas/henderson), [Southern Highlands](https://www.hannabaek.com/areas/southern-highlands), and all [areas Hanna serves](https://www.hannabaek.com/areas). [More posts on the Hanna Baek blog](https://www.hannabaek.com/blog) · [Visit hannabaek.com](https://www.hannabaek.com/) · [Contact Hanna](https://www.hannabaek.com/contact) --- Contact Hanna Baek: (702) 570-8578 · hannabvegas@gmail.com · https://www.hannabaek.com/contact