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What’s the average VA loan amount in WA State? How many VA loans are processed and closed in Washington each year, and how does that compare to the rest of the nation?
These are just a few questions we can answer by reviewing a recent VA loan usage report published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, summarizing the previous 12 months.
As we head into 2026, the average VA loan amount for the state of Washington is around $500,000. That’s for a home purchase loan. The average loan size across all VA mortgage products, including home refinancing, was around $477,000.
These numbers are not surprising when you consider that the median home price for Washington is hovering around $587,696 at the start of 2026.
Borrowers who use VA loan programs to buy a house can finance up to 100% of the purchase price, eliminating the need for a down payment. Because of this, the average VA home loan amount tends to track closely with median home prices.
The average VA loan size increased by more than $200,000 over the past 10 years due to rising house values in the state of Washington.
This end-of-year report from the Department of Veterans Affairs also listed the average VA loan amount for every state across the U.S., and the state of Washington ranked among the top five.
Here are the four states (and one district) with the largest average VA loan size last year:
At the bottom end of this spectrum, the five states with the lowest average VA loan amount were Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Kansas, and Arkansas (in that order). Not surprisingly, all of these states have a much lower median home price when compared to those listed above.
Last year, a total of 528,343 VA-backed home loans were originated in the US, reflecting a 26.8 % increase compared with the year before. This includes both purchase and refinance VA loans and marks a significant rebound in VA lending activity nationwide.
During a typical year, the state of Washington might chalk up more than 25,000 VA loans, including a mix of purchase and refinance.
Here’s a breakdown of VA loan originations over the past 12 months based on the most recent industry data:
This data reflects a meaningful rebound in both home purchase and refinancing activity for veterans and active-duty service members nationwide.
In 2026, we will likely see an increase in VA loan volume in Washington and nationwide. That’s because mortgage rates have declined for the past few months and are expected to continue throughout 2026.
As of this writing, the rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is currently 6.15%. That’s down 0.76% from the same time last year. And they’re expected to go down even further in 2026.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) has also predicted a slight increase in the total number of home purchase loans during 2026 compared to last year.
In a strong year with an active real estate market, there can be more than 20,000 VA loans generated across the state of Washington. And that’s a testament to this program’s popularity, which offers many compelling benefits.
Among other things, VA loans allow home buyers in Washington to finance the entire purchase price. Eligible borrowers (military members and veterans) can buy a house without a down payment while avoiding mortgage insurance.
With a conventional mortgage loan not backed by the government, a home buyer might have to put down anywhere between 3% and 20% of the purchase price. It can take years to save up for that kind of investment.
For instance, a 10% down payment on a home in Washington based on the state’s current average home price of $587,696 would come to $58,769. Saving up that much money for a down payment can significantly challenge many homebuyers.
The VA home loan guaranty program eliminates the biggest obstacle for home buyers—the down payment.
As the average price for a home continues to increase, so will the average VA loan amount in WA State. Luckily for those who apply for a VA loan, the zero down payment feature of these loans should help buyers get into the market more easily.
Sammamish Mortgage specializes in the VA loan program and serves all of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, and Colorado. We offer other mortgage programs as well, and have been since 1992. Visit our website to use our online mortgage calculator or to get an instant rate quote. Please contact us if you have any mortgage-related questions or want to get pre-approved.
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
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