PR Newswire·Nov 10, 2026, 6:00 AM ET

Less Cash, More Flexibility: VA Loans Can Help Veterans Become Homeowners About Four Years Sooner

Realtor.com survey data identifies insufficient down payment funds & low credit scores as primary barriers to homeownership for first-time buyers.
A Veterans United survey reveals only 30% of veterans are aware that VA loans allow for a zero-down payment purchase.
Eligible veterans can achieve homeownership approximately four years sooner with a 0% down VA loan compared to the four years required to save for a typical 10% down conforming loan.
In the past 12 months, 75.7% of VA loan sales involved 0% down payments & 86.1% involved less than 10%, whereas only 41.1% of conforming loan sales were below 10%.
The average down payment for VA loans was 4.3% compared to 19.1% for conforming loans.
On a typical $419,250 home, a 0% down VA borrower avoids bringing $41,925 to closing compared to a 10% down conforming loan buyer.
Average 30-year fixed mortgage rates for VA loans (5.81%) were lower than conforming loans (6.22%) between October 2025 & September 2026.
VA loans do not require private mortgage insurance, though borrowers may pay a VA funding fee that can be rolled into the loan balance.
24.3% of recent VA borrowers had fair credit scores (580-669), compared to just 4.8% of conforming loan borrowers.
The Mission Zero campaign, launched by Realtor.com & Veterans United Home Loans, aims to close the education gap regarding VA loan benefits & launches on November 11, 2026.