Should You Put Money Down on a VA Loan? The Real 2026 Math
Posted by Luke Martin on
Just because your VA loan doesn't require a down payment doesn't mean skipping one is always the right call. For some buyers — especially repeat VA users — a small down payment actually produces a stronger financial outcome than going to zero. Here's how to think through the decision instead of defaulting to it.
The Case for Zero Down
The case for zero down is straightforward: it preserves cash. On a typical $430,000 home, a conventional buyer putting down even 12% — the median for first-time conventional buyers — needs roughly $51,600 upfront. A VA buyer going zero down needs essentially nothing beyond closing costs. Nationally, about 74% of first-time VA loan users choose zero down, and the data backs up why: saving for a down payment at a typical…
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