This is a question that comes up often, and the Department of Veterans Affairs addresses such issues in the VA Lenders’ Handbook, VA Pamphlet 26-7.
Chapter Two of the handbook addresses issues related to VA loan entitlement and reusing that entitlement to buy another property.
There are some basic issues you need to understand about VA mortgages that can help the rules in this section make sense, the first being that when you purchase a home using a VA mortgage, you are using some or all of your VA loan entitlement and you must be purchasing a home you intend to use as your primary residence.
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VA Loan Entitlement Rules
Those who serve enough time in uniform are eligible to apply for VA home loan benefits. The VA agrees to back a portion of the mortgage loan (not the entire loan) for up to a basic entitlement amount ($36,000 in FY 2020, though the Department of Veterans Affairs may revise these numbers at any time if conditions warrant).
That does NOT mean the borrower is limited to a home loan of $36,000. That is simply the amount of VA loan entitlement available to the borrower as backed by the VA. Furthermore, for VA loans that are in excess of $144,000, there is an option for “bonus entitlement” which is essentially 25% of the loan.
Entitlement previously used for a VA home loan may be restored, but the borrower must request it. It is never automatic even if you have paid off the property in full. In general, restoration of previously used entitlement is possible in cases where: