Compare Today's VA Mortgage Rates

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About These Rates: The lenders whose rates appear on this table are NerdWallet’s advertising partners. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a lender’s site. The terms advertised here are not offers and do not bind any lender. The rates shown here are retrieved via the Mortech rate engine and are subject to change. These rates do not include taxes, fees, and insurance. Your actual rate and loan terms will be determined by the partner’s assessment of your creditworthiness and other factors. Any potential savings figures are estimates based on the information provided by you and our advertising partners.

Trends and Insights

Mortgage rate trends (APR)

30-year fixed
15-year fixed
5-year ARM

NerdWallet’s mortgage rate insight

6.817%

30-year fixed-rate

“

On Saturday, July 5, 2025, the average APR on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage remained at 6.817%. The average APR on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage remained at 5.822% and the average APR for a 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) fell 6 basis points to 7.305%, according to rates provided to NerdWallet by Zillow. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 5 basis points higher than one week ago and 19 basis points lower than one year ago.

A basis point is one one-hundredth of one percent. Rates are expressed as annual percentage rate, or APR.

Current mortgage and refinance rates

Accurate as of 07/05/2025

Product	Interest Rate	APR
30-year fixed-rate	6.812%	6.817%
20-year fixed-rate	6.563%	6.569%
15-year fixed-rate	5.812%	5.822%
10-year fixed-rate	5.841%	5.876%
7-year ARM	7.458%	7.309%
5-year ARM	7.206%	7.305%
3-year ARM	6.500%	7.182%
30-year fixed-rate FHA	6.801%	7.551%
30-year fixed-rate VA	6.180%	6.508%

Data source: ©Zillow, Inc. 2006 - 2021. Use is subject to the Terms of Use

A Beginner's Guide to VA Loans

Last updated on September 19, 2024

Written by

Lead Writer & Content Strategist

Reviewed by

Edited by

Head of Content, Home Loans

Fact Checked

Written by

Lead Writer & Content Strategist

Reviewed by

Edited by

Head of Content, Home Loans

Fact Checked

Current VA mortgage rates

NerdWallet’s mortgage rate tool can help you find competitive, customized VA mortgage rates. In the “Refine results” section, enter a few details, and in moments you’ll get a rate quote tailored to meet your needs, without having to provide any personal information. From there, you can start the process of getting approved for your VA home loan.

VA loan eligibility requirements

Active-duty service members who served 90 continuous days.
Veterans who have met length-of-service requirements (generally 90 days in wartime and 181 days in peacetime).
Service members or veterans who have completed 90 days of active-duty service or six creditable years in the Selected Reserve or National Guard.
Surviving spouses of veterans who died while in service, died from a service-connected disability, went missing in action or were a prisoner of war. Surviving spouses who have remarried are only eligible if the marriage was after age 57 or after Dec. 16, 2003.

Select members of other organizations may also be eligible, such as Public Health Service Officers or Officers of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

What determines my VA loan interest rate?

Many factors influence the mortgage rate you’re offered, including the economy, your financial details and the lender. The best way to find out if you’re being quoted a good VA mortgage rate is to apply with multiple lenders.

With a Loan Estimate from each lender compared side-by-side, you’ll be able to see which lender is giving you a good mortgage rate combined with the lowest origination fees.

Personal details that will influence your rate offers include your:

Credit score: Generally speaking, higher scores come with lower rates. While the VA doesn’t set a specific minimum credit score, lenders will generally want to see a score of at least 620.
Existing debt: Ideally, your total amount of monthly debt obligations (including your mortgage and other loans) should not account for more than 41% of your monthly pre-tax income.
Loan term: While shorter mortgage terms will have a higher monthly payment (say, a 15-year loan vs. a 30-year loan), they also come with lower rates.
Down payment: While this isn’t required for a VA loan, a down payment will lower your loan-to-value ratio, which can result in a lower rate.
Overall market conditions: Average mortgage rates fluctuate daily and are influenced by many economic factors, as well as the actions of the Federal Reserve.
Lender: Interest rates can vary by lender, which is why it’s important to shop around with at least three. NerdWallet’s experts have curated a list of our top picks for VA lending.

How VA loans compare with conventional mortgages

For home shoppers who qualify, VA loans have unique benefits over conventional loans.

Factors to consider	VA loans	Conventional loans
Lenders	See NerdWallet’s picks for the best VA loan lenders	See NerdWallet’s picks for the best conventional loan lenders
Interest rates	See today’s VA loan rates	See today’s conventional mortgage rates
Property type	Primary home only	Primary or second home, investment properties
Minimum down payment	Zero, most instances	Usually at least 3%. Some lenders offer special zero-down loans.
Mortgage insurance	No mortgage insurance. One-time VA funding fee of 1.25% to 3.3% of loan amount for purchase mortgages.	Private mortgage insurance usually required if down payment is less than 20%.
Minimum credit score	No minimum set by VA, but a 580-620 FICO score is a common lender requirement.	A 620 FICO score is typical.
Maximum debt-to-income ratio	Lenders will give more scrutiny if DTI is over 41%.	Ideally under 36%, but higher ratios can be accepted.

On average, VA home loans tend to have better mortgage rates than conventional loans. The rate you’re offered will depend on your credit score and other personal financial details, as well as the lender.

» MORE: VA loans vs. conventional loans

Pros and cons of VA loans

VA loans are often a good deal for borrowers who qualify — especially if they want to buy without making a down payment. Here are some benefits and one drawback to VA loans.

Pros

Buy with zero down: Qualified VA borrowers may buy without making a down payment.
No mortgage insurance: Even with a 0% down payment, VA borrowers don’t pay mortgage insurance. Instead, they pay a one-time funding fee.
Flexible loan qualifying standards: The VA has no minimum credit score requirement, although lenders often require credit scores of 620 or higher. When assessing affordability, the VA looks at how much money is left over after the borrower’s monthly expenses.

Cons

Funding fee: Although VA loans don’t have mortgage insurance, they do require a funding fee paid at closing. The funding fee varies from 1.25% to 3.3% of your loan amount, depending on down payment size and whether it’s your first or a subsequent VA loan. Note that veterans who are receiving (or eligible for) VA disability benefits may be exempt from paying the funding fee — check with your lender to confirm your status.

» MORE: Get your credit score for free

» MORE: What is APR and how does it affect your mortgage?

Learn more about VA loans:

Frequently asked questions

Will VA loan rates go up or down?
Average mortgage rates fluctuate daily and are influenced by the economy’s overall rate of growth, the inflation rate and the health of the job market. See NerdWallet’s mortgage interest rates forecast to get our take.
How much does a VA loan cost?
Most borrowers will pay a VA funding fee. For purchase loans with a zero-down payment, the VA funding fee is 2.15% of the loan amount if this is your first VA loan. It can be lower for some refinances and can be waived for disabled veterans and some surviving spouses. Active-duty service members who have received a Purple Heart are exempt from the funding fee. You’ll also be responsible for other closing costs, such as appraisals and inspections.
What’s the difference between a VA interest rate and APR?
The interest rate is the percentage that the lender charges for borrowing the money. The APR, or annual percentage rate, can reflect a more accurate cost of borrowing. The APR calculation includes fees and discount points, along with the interest rate.
APR is a tool used to compare loan offers, even if they have different interest rates, fees and discount points.

About the author: Taylor Getler is a home and mortgages writer for NerdWallet. Her work has been featured in outlets such as MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, MSN and Nasdaq. Taylor is enthusiastic about financial literacy and helping consumers make smart, informed choices with their money. Email: [email protected].