Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Underutilization of VA loans delays homeownership, especially in high-cost markets, co-op-heavy cities, and areas where Veterans may not know about their benefits Across U.S. metro areas, VA loans give first-time buyers a head start, cutting years off the path to a home. Assuming the same 0% down payment for VA loans versus 12% for conventional loans, and a 15% household saving rate for first-time buyers making the local median income and purchasing a home at the local ...