You Can Use Your VA Loan More Than Once—Here’s How
If you’re moving from one base to another and already own a home with a VA loan, you might wonder if that benefit is off the table. Spoiler alert: It’s not. The VA loan doesn’t disappear after one use—and it can often be used simultaneously on different houses at the same time.
Let’s break this down so you can feel confident moving forward, especially if you’re heading into a higher-cost market like Northern Virginia.
What Are VA Loan Limits in 2025?
The VA guarantees 25% payment of your loan in the event of a default. That protects the lender and helps you skip the down payment and private mortgage insurance (PMI). But this benefit isn’t a one-time deal. You receive a set amount of entitlement, and each time you use it, the VA tracks how much you’ve tapped into. What’s left determines how much home you can finance next—either with full coverage or a small down payment to fill in the gap.
In most cases, full entitlement allows you to buy a home with no money down up to the local VA county loan limit. For 2025, that limit sits at $806,500 in most U.S. counties, but in high-cost areas—like Prince William County near Quantico—it jumps to $1,209,750.
How to Use a VA Loan on a Second Home
Let’s say you bought a home near Camp Lejeune a few years ago for $250,000 using your VA loan. Now you’re headed to Quantico, where homes typically cost more. In Prince William County, the 2025 VA loan limit sits at $1,209,750.
You don’t need to worry about the exact entitlement formula. Just think of the loan limit as a rough ceiling. If you already used your VA loan for a $250,000 home, subtract that from the loan limit in your new location. In this case, you’d have about $960,000 of room left for another VA loan with no money down. That’s usually more than enough—even in a high-cost market like Northern Virginia.
VA Loans Are for Primary Residences
One important rule to keep in mind—VA loans must be used to purchase a primary residence, not an investment property or second home. That means:
- You must intend to live in the new home full-time, typically within 60 days of closing.
- If you still own your previous VA-financed home, you can often keep it as a rental or second property—but your new VA loan must be for the home you’ll primarily occupy.
This is especially relevant for service members receiving PCS orders. The VA recognizes these moves as legitimate reasons to buy a new primary residence, even if your previous home is still under a VA loan.
Common Myths About Using a VA Loan Multiple Times
Let’s clear up a few things that confuse even seasoned homeowners:
- Myth: “You can’t buy another house with a VA loan if you already have one.”
Truth: You can reuse it as long as you have entitlement left—or restore it after a sale. - Myth: “You always need a down payment the second time around.”
Truth: Not always. It depends on the cost of the new home and how much entitlement you’ve still got available. - Myth: “I can’t rent out my VA-financed home, so I have to sell it.”
Truth: You can rent out a home you bought with a VA loan—as long as it was your primary residence when you purchased it. The VA doesn’t prohibit you from turning that home into a rental later, especially if you’re relocating due to PCS orders.
Why This Matters in High-Cost Areas Like Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia counts as a high-cost area, meaning the VA loan limit stretches higher. That gives you more wiggle room to use second-tier entitlement without putting extra cash down.
If you’re moving from somewhere like Camp Lejeune—where homes tend to cost less—you might have used a smaller portion of your entitlement. That difference could help you buy again, even in a pricier market. Knowing your local loan cap can help you plan smarter—especially if you’ve already used part of your VA loan entitlement.
- High-cost Marine Corps counties limits include:
- The National Capital Region, MCB Quantico, MCAS Miramar, Camp Pendleton, MCRD San Diego, and MCB Hawaii
- Standard Marine Corps counties limits include:
- Camp Lejeune, MCAS New River, MCAS Cherry Point, MCRD Parris Island, MCAS Beaufort, MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, MCB Barstow, MCAS Yuma, and MCB Albany
Next Steps: Understand Your Entitlement Before You Move
Before you assume you’re stuck with renting—or scramble for a big down payment—talk through your entitlement situation with someone who gets it. Combat Properties works with military families relocating to Virginia all the time, including folks navigating their second (and sometimes third) VA loan. We can help you see what’s possible, connect you with a VA-savvy lender, and build a smart game plan for your next chapter.
Not Virginia-bound? No problem. We’ll still get you set up with a vetted Century 21 agent who understands the military lifestyle and knows the ins and outs of VA loan strategy.
Additional Resources:
How much entitlement do I have left?