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VA loans in San Diego are a popular mortgage financing option for home buyers. In fact, San Diego County usually has a higher VA loan volume than any other county in the U.S.
With its many Navy and Marine Corps bases and facilities, the San Diego area has a huge military population. That means there are many home buyers in the area who could benefit from using the VA loan program.
But what is a VA loan exactly? How does this program work? And what else do you need to know when using a VA loan to buy a house in San Diego? Let’s explore.
The VA home loan program is managed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Each year, the department produces a report showing VA loan usage data for every county in the United States.
San Diego County usually ranks at the top of this list, with more VA loan activity than almost every other county in the U.S.
Over the past 10 years or so, the following counties had the highest number of VA loans generated on behalf of home buyers:
These counties and their corresponding metropolitan areas have a couple of things in common. For one thing, they all host a number of military bases or installations.
The San Diego area, for example, is home to the following: Naval Base San Diego, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Naval Air Station North Island, Camp Pendleton, Naval Base Point Loma, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot.
The metro areas listed above also have large populations of military veterans, particularly the warmer “Sunbelt” states like California and Arizona.
In a typical year, upwards of 15,000 VA loans in San Diego can be generated. This number can be split between home buyers using purchase loans, and homeowners refinancing their existing mortgages.
San Diego, California has some of the highest home prices in the country. The median home price within the city of San Diego is currently north of $972,713, as per Zillow, and the median for the broader metro area is close to that.
This creates a challenge for home buyers who don’t have a lot of money saved for a down payment. Even with a 3% down payment (the minimum for some conventional mortgage loans), a buyer would need to pay more than $29,000 for a typical home purchase in San Diego.
First-time buyers, in particular, have a hard time coming up with that kind of money. And a lot of the military home buyers in the San Diego area are first-time buyers, since they skew toward a younger demographic.
The VA loan program allows home buyers in San Diego to finance up to 100% of the purchase price. This means you could buy a house with no down payment whatsoever. And that’s a big deal in a pricey real estate market like San Diego, California.
With all the benefits this program offers, it’s easy to see why thousands of San Diego VA home loans are processed each and every year!
Jumbo loans are a type of financing that exceeds the FHFA’s limits. Federal officials typically increase loan limits every year based on price appreciation.
For example, the conforming loan limit in San Diego County for 2026 is now set at $1,104,000. That means any mortgage that exceeds this amount would be considered a jumbo loan.
While loan limits also applied to VA loans in the past, they no longer apply today, except for certain demographics.
Home prices in San Diego are now $972,713, marking an 3.8% decrease year-over-year. Normally, this type of home price increase would trigger an increase in loan limits.
While this certainly happened for conforming loan limits, VA loan limits are no longer in effect, for the most part. As of 2020, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 eliminated VA loan limits.
Want to use a VA loan to buy a house in San Diego? Here’s how to get started.
The first thing you need to do is find out if you’re eligible for the program. Most active-duty military members earn eligibility after serving for at least 90 days. National Guard and Reserve members either need six years of service or 90 days of active-duty service.
(The eligibility rules for National Guard and Reserve members are a bit more complicated. So you might want to refer to the Department of Veterans Affairs website for more information.)
If you meet the basic eligibility requirements summarized above, you can apply for and receive a “Certificate of Eligibility” from the VA. You need to provide this document to your mortgage lender, so they know you’re eligible for this loan program.
After that, the process moves forward just as it would with any other type of mortgage loan:
But aside from some specific appraisal requirements and the eligibility paperwork mentioned earlier, the VA loan process in San Diego works like any other mortgage product.
If you meet the eligibility criteria of a VA home loan, then you’ll want to consider this loan option when buying a home in San Diego. The potentially lower interest rates, lack of mortgage insurance and down payment, and flexible loan criteria make VA loans San Diego a great option for Veterans, Service members, and qualifying surviving spouses.
If you’re looking to buy in San Diego, CA, we can help. Sammamish Mortgage can help. We are a local mortgage company serving the broader Pacific Northwest region, including Washington state, Idaho, Colorado, Oregon, and California. We are proud to offer a wide variety of mortgage programs and products with flexible qualification criteria. Visit our website to get an instant rate quote or to use our online mortgage calculator. Please contact us if you have any questions or are ready to get pre-approved for a mortgage.
Often no. Many VA loans offer 0% down payment options, even in higher-cost markets like San Diego.
Eligibility is based on service history, length of duty, and character of discharge; surviving spouses may also qualify.
They often have more flexible credit and income requirements, making them accessible to many buyers.
Yes, but the condo project must be VA-approved before the loan can be used.
VA loans don’t have set limits for eligible borrowers with full entitlement, but jumbo VA loan guidelines may apply based on property value.
VA loans typically eliminate private mortgage insurance and offer competitive interest rates, though a funding fee may apply.
Yes, in some cases VA loans can be paired with local down payment assistance or homebuyer programs.
Yes. A VA appraisal ensures the home meets minimum property requirements and is safe, sound, and sanitary.
Some closing costs can be financed, but certain fees must be paid by the seller or borrower per VA rules.
Start with a VA-approved lender, get pre-qualified, provide service and financial documents, and then find a home that meets VA standards.
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
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