The VA Funding Fee, Decoded: Who Pays $0, Who Pays 3.3%, and the Refund Most Veterans Never Claim

The VA Funding Fee, Decoded: Who Pays $0, Who Pays 3.3%, and the Refund Most Veterans Never Claim

Douglas Wilkerson
Published on: 11/10/2026

The VA funding fee runs 1.25% to 3.3% of your loan — but thousands of veterans qualify to pay $0 and never find out. The 2026 fee chart, the five exemptions, and the refund worth checking:

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VA Loans in a 7% World: The 2026 Playbook for Veterans Who Want to Win on Rate, Cost, and Terms

VA Loans in a 7% World: The 2026 Playbook for Veterans Who Want to Win on Rate, Cost, and Terms

Douglas Wilkerson
Published on: 27/09/2026

Mortgage rates just crossed 7% — but VA buyers are still closing near 6.94%. The 2026 VA loan playbook: funding fee math, the no-PMI advantage, zero down up to $832,750, and the actual VA guidelines.

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