Costs
VA loan limits and entitlement in Cook County
Short answer
If you have full VA entitlement, there is no VA loan limit in 2026. You can borrow as much as a lender approves and the appraisal supports, with no down payment. If you have partial entitlement because a VA loan is still open, Cook County's 2026 conforming limit of $832,750 for a one-unit home (set by FHFA, announced Nov. 25, 2025) sets how much VA will guarantee, and a down payment may be needed above that.
Full entitlement: no limit
You have full entitlement if you have never used the benefit, or you used it and sold the home and paid the loan off, or you had a prior claim fully repaid. VA says that with full entitlement you do not have a loan limit, as long as you can afford the payment and the appraisal supports the price.
Partial entitlement: the Cook County math
VA guarantees 25% of the loan. With partial entitlement, VA uses the county’s one-unit conforming limit to work out what is left.
| Step | Cook County example |
|---|---|
| 1. 2026 one-unit conforming limit | $832,750 |
| 2. Multiply by 25% | $208,188 |
| 3. Subtract entitlement already used (from your COE) | −$60,000 |
| 4. Remaining entitlement | $148,188 |
| 5. Multiply by 4 for the zero-down maximum | $592,750 |
Above that amount, lenders typically ask for a down payment of 25% of the difference. Example figures; your COE shows the entitlement you have used. Step 2 is exactly $208,187.50, shown rounded; the zero-down maximum uses the exact figure.
Entitlement calculator
How does the entitlement calculator work?
The calculator follows the partial-entitlement method on VA's loan limits page. It ignores the funding fee and assumes the loan amount equals the purchase price.
- Remaining entitlement = county one-unit conforming limit × 25% − entitlement already used
- Largest loan with no down payment = remaining entitlement × 4
- Down payment lenders typically ask for = purchase price × 25% − remaining entitlement (never less than $0), which equals 25% of the amount above the zero-down maximum
With full entitlement checked, the calculator shows no VA limit and a $0 down payment.
| Default | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| County conforming limit (Cook County, one unit) | $832,750 | FHFA 2026 limits, announced Nov. 25, 2025 |
| VA guaranty share | 25% | VA.gov loan limits page (updated Aug. 12, 2025) |
| Purchase price | $650,000 | Example only |
| Entitlement already used | $60,000 | Example only; your COE shows the real figure |
Worked example with the defaults: $832,750 × 25% = $208,187.50. Minus $60,000 used leaves $148,187.50 of entitlement. Times 4 gives a zero-down maximum of $592,750. A $650,000 price is $57,250 above that, so lenders typically ask for 25% of $57,250, about $14,313 down.
Cook County limits side by side, 2026
| Loan | One-unit limit |
|---|---|
| VA, full entitlement | No limit |
| VA, partial entitlement (used for the guarantee math) | $832,750 |
| Conventional conforming | $832,750 |
| FHA | $541,287 |
All four rows are 2026 limits for a one-unit home in Cook County. The VA and conventional figures are FHFA's 2026 baseline conforming limit (announced Nov. 25, 2025), which applies in most U.S. counties, including Cook. The FHA figure is HUD's 2026 national floor (announced Dec. 11, 2025), the limit in counties where 115% of the median home price falls below it. FHFA usually announces the next year's limits in late November; this page will be updated when the 2027 limits are out.
Example: keeping a home and buying again
A sailor bought a Lake County home with a $300,000 VA loan, which used $75,000 of entitlement (25%). After a PCS move back to Chicago, they keep the first home as a rental and buy a $550,000 two-flat.
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cook County limit × 25% | $208,188 |
| Minus entitlement in use | −$75,000 |
| Remaining entitlement | $133,188 |
| Zero-down maximum (× 4) | $532,750 |
| Down payment on $550,000 (25% of $17,250 over) | about $4,313 |
The second purchase pays the 3.3% subsequent-use funding fee unless the buyer is exempt or puts 5% down. Example figures.
Getting entitlement back
When you sell a home bought with a VA loan and pay the loan off, you can ask VA to restore your entitlement. You can also get a one-time restoration if you paid off the loan but kept the home. A veteran who buys your home and substitutes their own entitlement in an assumption also frees yours. How assumptions work.
Common questions
What is the VA loan limit in Cook County in 2026?
There is no limit if you have full entitlement. With partial entitlement, VA uses Cook County's 2026 one-unit conforming limit of $832,750 to calculate your remaining guarantee.
Can I have two VA loans at once?
Yes, if you have remaining entitlement. The second loan uses the partial-entitlement formula, and you must plan to live in the new home.
Does a VA loan limit cap the price I can pay?
No. Limits affect how much VA guarantees without a down payment. You can buy above that with a down payment if a lender approves you.
When will the 2027 Cook County loan limit be announced?
FHFA announced the 2026 limits on Nov. 25, 2025, and usually publishes the next year's limits in late November. Until the 2027 limits take effect, VA partial-entitlement math uses the 2026 Cook County limit of $832,750.
Sources
- VA home loan limits and entitlement, VA.gov (updated Aug. 12, 2025)
- Conforming loan limit values, Federal Housing Finance Agency
- 2026 loan limits in Chicago and Cook County, Chicago First-Time Home Buyer
- FHFA announces conforming loan limit values for 2026 (Nov. 25, 2025)
- HUD's Federal Housing Administration announces 2026 loan limits (Dec. 11, 2025)
What will your VA funding fee be?
Enter a price and down payment to see the 2026 fee, or check whether you are exempt.
An independent guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and not a lender. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.