Disability comp
Most common
You're receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability — the single most common reason a Nevada veteran's fee is waived.
VA loan costs · Nevada · 2026
VA funding fee in 2026:what Nevada veterans pay.
First use with $0 down is 2.15% — and it's waived entirely for many disabled veterans.
A plain-English guide to the 2026 VA funding fee for Las Vegas and Nevada veterans — the full first-use and subsequent-use schedule, who is exempt, how the fee is financed, and what it looks like on a real Las Vegas home — from a local mortgage company that serves the Nellis AFB community.
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Quick answer — The VA funding fee is a one-time charge that helps keep the VA loan program self-funding. In 2026, a first-use purchase with no down payment is 2.15% of the loan amount; it falls to 1.5% with at least 5% down and 1.25% with at least 10% down. Subsequent-use buyers with less than 5% down pay 3.3%. The fee can be financed into the loan, and it is waived entirely for veterans receiving service-connected disability compensation, Purple Heart recipients, and certain surviving spouses. Figures are illustrative — not a quote, offer, or commitment to lend.
Led by Vatche Saatdjian · Las Vegas mortgage expert since 2004 · NMLS #65506 · Updated June 2026
Valley West Mortgage is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or any government agency. The VA does not endorse any particular lender, product, or service. VA loans are government-backed loans made by private lenders; they are not issued by the government. Valley West Mortgage, NMLS #65506.
The basics · quick answer
What is the VA funding fee?
The VA funding fee is a one-time charge the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs adds to most VA-backed purchase and refinance loans. It replaces the monthly mortgage insurance other loan types charge, and it keeps the VA loan program running at no cost to taxpayers. In 2026, a first-use purchase with no down payment is 2.15% of the loan amount — and many Nevada veterans pay nothing at all.
Key takeaways
- First use, $0 down = 2.15% of the loan amount in 2026 — the most common scenario for Las Vegas VA buyers.
- A down payment lowers the fee: 1.5% at 5% down, 1.25% at 10% or more down.
- Subsequent use with under 5% down is 3.3% — using the benefit a second time costs more unless you put money down.
- It's waived entirely for veterans receiving service-connected disability compensation, Purple Heart recipients, and certain surviving spouses.
- The fee can be financed into the loan — you don't have to bring it in cash at closing.
Two things decide your exact percentage: whether this is your first time using the VA benefit or a subsequent use, and how much you put down. That's it — no credit-score tiers, no county adjustments. Below is the full 2026 schedule straight from VA.gov, then a real Las Vegas dollar example. Start with the VA loan requirements for Nevada and how $0 down works in 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA.gov). Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.
The schedule
The 2026 VA funding-fee rate schedule.
For VA purchase loans, the fee depends on your down payment and whether it's first or subsequent use of the benefit. These are the current published VA percentages for 2026.
| Down payment | First use | Subsequent use |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 5% (incl. $0 down) | 2.15% | 3.3% |
| 5% to less than 10% | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| 10% or more | 1.25% | 1.25% |
| Service-connected disability (and other exempt) | $0 | $0 |
These percentages are the published VA 2026 purchase-loan rates and are shown for information — they are illustrative, not a rate quote or offer. Notice the pattern: at 5% down or more, first and subsequent use cost the same. The only place using the benefit again costs extra is the under-5%-down tier, where subsequent use jumps to 3.3%. Cash-out and IRRRL refinances use a different schedule — confirm your exact figure against your file. Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, "VA funding fee and closing costs" (VA.gov). Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.
Valley West take
In Las Vegas, almost every VA buyer we work with is first use with $0 down, so 2.15% is the number that matters. The single biggest swing isn't the down payment — it's your exempt status. We've sat with veterans who didn't realize their disability rating waived the fee outright, turning a five-figure line item into $0. Before you budget for the fee, let us confirm your status from your COE first.
Not sure if your fee is waived? We'll confirm it.
Start a no-pressure VA review and we'll pull your Certificate of Eligibility, confirm your exact funding-fee percentage or exemption, and map your $0-down path here in Las Vegas.
Soft credit check to start — no impact to your score. Figures are illustrative — not a quote, offer, or commitment to lend. Not affiliated with the VA.
A real example
What the fee looks like on a Las Vegas home.
To make it concrete, here's the funding fee at three down-payment tiers on an illustrative $478,000 Las Vegas home (near the 2026 Clark County median), bought on first use.
| Scenario ($478,000 home · first use) | Fee rate | Funding fee |
|---|---|---|
| $0 down (loan ≈ $478,000) | 2.15% | ≈ $10,277 |
| 5% down (loan ≈ $454,100) | 1.5% | ≈ $6,812 |
| 10% down (loan ≈ $430,200) | 1.25% | ≈ $5,378 |
| Service-connected disability exemption | $0 | $0 |
These are illustrative examples — confirmed from your COE; not a quote, offer, or commitment to lend. The fee is calculated on the loan amount, not the purchase price, so a down payment shrinks both the loan and the fee. On a $0-down first-use loan of about $478,000, the 2.15% fee comes to roughly $10,277 — and that amount can be financed into the loan rather than paid in cash at closing. If you qualify for an exemption, the entire line disappears. Your true numbers depend on your final loan amount, occupancy, and VA determination. Want to model it yourself? Use the VA loan calculator. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.
See your real funding-fee status in 2026 — confirmed from your COE.
Check eligibilityWho pays nothing
Who is exempt from the VA funding fee?
A large share of Nevada veterans pay no funding fee at all. The VA confirms exempt status from your Certificate of Eligibility — you generally qualify if any of the following apply.
Eligible for comp
Offset pay
You're eligible for disability compensation but receive retirement or active-duty pay instead — you still qualify for the waiver.
Surviving spouse
DIC
You're a surviving spouse receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) on a qualifying veteran's behalf.
Pre-discharge
Before closing
You hold a proposed or memorandum rating dated before your loan closes, confirming eligibility from a pre-discharge claim.
Purple Heart
Active duty
You're an active-duty service member with evidence of a Purple Heart received on or before your loan closing date.
Nevada bonus
Stackable
Disabled Nevada veterans may also claim a state property-tax exemption (NRS 361.0905) — a separate benefit on top of the waived fee.
Exemption eligibility is determined by the VA from your Certificate of Eligibility and supporting documentation; categories above summarize current VA guidance and are not a determination of your status. Figures are illustrative — not a quote, offer, or commitment to lend. Valley West Mortgage NMLS #65506. Equal Housing Lender. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.
How you pay it
Finance the fee, or pay it at closing?
Unlike a down payment, the funding fee doesn't have to come out of pocket. You choose how to handle it.
Financing it rolls the fee into your loan balance, so you pay it off gradually over the life of the mortgage. That keeps cash in your pocket on closing day — important for many Las Vegas buyers managing a move or a PCS. The trade-off is a slightly higher loan balance and monthly payment, plus a little interest on the financed amount over time.
Paying it upfront means writing a larger check at closing but keeping your loan balance — and your monthly payment — as low as possible. There's no single right answer; it depends on your cash on hand and how long you plan to stay in the home. If your fee is waived, this decision is moot.
Valley West take
Most of our Las Vegas first-use buyers finance the fee — the goal of the VA benefit is to get into the home with cash intact, and a $0-down buyer rarely has a spare five figures sitting around. On a $478,000 example loan, financing the ~$10,277 fee adds only a modest amount to the monthly payment. We'll show you both ways side by side before you decide — no pressure either direction.
Either way, the fee is a one-time cost. There's no recurring monthly mortgage insurance on a VA loan, which is a meaningful edge over FHA and low-down conventional financing in 2026. Compare the full picture in the VA Home Loans Las Vegas guide, or see how to request your Certificate of Eligibility in Nevada. Figures are illustrative — not a quote, offer, or commitment to lend.
Common confusion
Funding fee vs. monthly PMI.
Borrowers often assume the funding fee is just VA's version of mortgage insurance. It isn't — and the difference can save you real money over time.
| Feature | VA funding fee | Conventional / FHA mortgage insurance |
|---|---|---|
| How often | One time | Every month |
| Can be financed | Yes | Upfront FHA portion only |
| Waived for disabled veterans | Yes | No |
| Ends when you build equity | Already one-time | Conventional PMI can be removed; FHA often for the life of the loan |
A VA buyer pays the funding fee once (if at all) and never carries monthly mortgage insurance. A comparable FHA or low-down conventional buyer pays an insurance premium every month — which, over a few years in a Las Vegas home, frequently adds up to more than a single VA funding fee. That's a core reason the VA loan stays the strongest option for eligible buyers. See how it stacks up against $0-down financing in 2026. Figures are illustrative — not a quote, offer, or commitment to lend. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.
Ready to see your own number? Get pre-approved with a local mortgage company and we'll confirm your funding-fee status from your COE. Figures shown are illustrative examples only — not a quote, offer, or commitment to lend.
Common questions
VA funding fee, answered.
The VA funding fee is a one-time charge that helps keep the VA loan program running. For a first-use purchase with no down payment, it is 2.15% of the loan amount in 2026. It drops to 1.5% with at least 5% down and 1.25% with at least 10% down. Subsequent-use buyers with less than 5% down pay 3.3%. The fee can be financed into the loan, and many veterans are exempt entirely.
You generally pay no VA funding fee if you receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability, are eligible for that compensation but receive retirement or active-duty pay instead, receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation as a surviving spouse, hold a proposed or memorandum rating before closing, or are an active-duty member with evidence of a Purple Heart received on or before closing. The VA confirms exempt status from your Certificate of Eligibility.
Yes. The VA funding fee can be added to your loan amount and paid off over the life of the mortgage instead of in cash at closing. Financing it raises your loan balance and monthly payment slightly, but it keeps cash in your pocket on closing day. You can also pay it upfront if you prefer.
On a 478,000 dollar Las Vegas home bought with no down payment on first use, the 2.15% funding fee is about 10,277 dollars in 2026. That amount can be financed into the loan rather than paid in cash. This is an illustrative example confirmed from your Certificate of Eligibility — not a quote, offer, or commitment to lend.
Yes. Subsequent use of the VA benefit carries a higher fee when you put little or nothing down: 3.3% with less than 5% down, versus 2.15% on first use. At 5% or more down the fee is 1.5%, and at 10% or more it is 1.25% — the same as first use at those tiers. A larger down payment is the main way to lower a subsequent-use fee.
No. The VA funding fee is a one-time charge, while private mortgage insurance (PMI) is a recurring monthly cost on many low-down conventional and FHA loans. VA loans never carry monthly mortgage insurance. Over several years, paying one VA funding fee often costs less than years of monthly PMI.
Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability are generally exempt from the VA funding fee anywhere, including Nevada. Disabled veterans in Nevada may also qualify for a state property-tax exemption under NRS 361.0905, which is a separate benefit. Confirm both with your Certificate of Eligibility and the Clark County Assessor.
The bottom line
Know your fee before you budget your closing.
In 2026 the VA funding fee is 2.15% on a first-use, $0-down purchase, less with a down payment, and $0 for many disabled veterans and surviving spouses — financeable either way. The single most valuable step is confirming your exempt status from your COE before you plan your cash to close. Start a no-pressure review and we'll pull it for you.
Start my VA reviewNo obligation. Secure online start. Figures are illustrative — not a quote, offer, or commitment to lend. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sources
Where these numbers come from.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA funding fee and closing costs (2026 fee schedule; first-use and subsequent-use rates and exemptions).
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA-backed home loans overview.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — Owning a Home: closing costs and loan comparison.
- Nevada Revised Statutes — NRS 361.0905, disabled-veteran property-tax exemption (Clark County Assessor administers).
Confirm your fee
and your $0-down path.
One application. One local team, your Certificate of Eligibility pulled, and your exact funding-fee status confirmed — priced in-house.