Doug Hoven on Why VA Loans Are One of the Strongest Homebuying Tools in 2026

Douglas Hoven spent eight years aboard U.S. Navy submarines. These days, he helps families buy and sell homes across Hampton Roads as a REALTOR with RE/MAX Prime’s Ron Sawyer Team. But his military background still shapes how he approaches the job, especially when it comes to one of the most underused advantages in real estate: the VA home loan.

“A lot of veterans don’t fully understand how powerful this benefit is. And in a market where rates are sitting near seven percent and buyers are looking for every possible edge, the VA loan is one of the best tools available.”

The VA loan program allows eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and certain surviving spouses to purchase a home with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. For 2026, the maximum entitlement supports loans up to $832,750 in many parts of Virginia without requiring a single dollar down. In a year when conventional buyers are scraping together five to twenty percent for a down payment, that gap is significant.

“Think about what that means in real terms. On a $400,000 home, a conventional buyer might need $20,000 to $80,000 just to get in the door. A VA-eligible buyer can keep that money in reserves, use it for moving costs, or invest it. That flexibility changes the entire equation.”

The absence of private mortgage insurance is another advantage that compounds over time. Conventional borrowers who put down less than twenty percent typically pay PMI, which can add $150 to $300 per month depending on the loan amount and credit profile. VA borrowers skip that cost entirely.

There is a funding fee, which for first-time VA loan users in 2026 sits at 2.15 percent of the loan amount. But veterans with service-connected disabilities are exempt from the fee altogether. And recent legislative efforts, including the VALOR Act introduced in Congress earlier this year, aim to reimburse veterans who pay the funding fee and later receive a disability rating, closing a gap that has cost transitioning service members money for years.

Hoven says the VA loan also carries weight in negotiations, despite a persistent myth that sellers avoid VA offers. “That stigma has faded significantly,” he says. “VA appraisals have gotten more streamlined, and in a market where buyers are being more deliberate, a strong VA offer with full preapproval is competitive. Sellers want certainty, and a well-prepared VA buyer provides that.”

For veterans in the Hampton Roads region, where military installations drive a large share of the local economy, the VA loan is especially relevant. Naval Station Norfolk, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, and other installations mean a steady stream of service members and veterans cycling through the housing market. Hoven sees many of them underestimate the benefit or assume it comes with too many strings attached.

“The biggest misconception is that VA loans are complicated or slow. With the right lender and a knowledgeable agent, the process moves just as fast as a conventional loan. I’ve closed VA transactions in under 30 days with no issues.”

He also points out that the VA loan is not a one-time benefit. Veterans can reuse it multiple times, whether they sell a previous home or pay off an existing VA loan. For those building long-term wealth through real estate, that reusability opens doors that many buyers don’t realize exist.

“I talk to veterans all the time who assume they’ve already used their benefit and can’t use it again,” Hoven says. “That’s just not the case. You can restore your entitlement and use it to buy your next home. It’s a lifetime benefit, and it’s one of the few financial tools that actually gets better the more you understand it.”

In a 2026 market defined by elevated rates, limited inventory, and cautious buyers, the VA loan stands out as one of the strongest positions a buyer can hold. For Hoven, helping fellow veterans understand and use that advantage is personal.

“I served on submarines for eight years. I know what it means to prepare before you act. The VA loan is part of that preparation. If you’ve earned it, you should use it.”

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