$0 Down · No PMI · Veteran-Owned
VA Loans in Michigan
Michigan's 550,000 veterans make it one of the largest veteran states in the country, anchored by Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County — a century-old airfield flying A-10s and KC-135s — plus Fort Custer's training center in Battle Creek and Camp Grayling, the largest National Guard training facility in the nation.
500K
Michigan Veterans
3
Military Installations
$0
Down Payment
$832,750
2026 Baseline Limit
Why Michigan
A VA team that knows Michigan’s military markets
Michigan's affordability is a standout: Metro Detroit, Battle Creek, and Grand Rapids all offer quality housing below the national median, where the $0-down VA loan turns typical rents into equity-building payments.
Selfridge anchors Harrison Township, Mount Clemens, Macomb, and Chesterfield in Macomb County, with a large Guard, Reserve, and retiree community. Battle Creek pairs Fort Custer with the VA's massive Battle Creek Medical Center and the federal Hart–Dole–Inouye center. Grayling's ranges pull Guard members from every corner of the state.
Beyond the Loan
More Michigan benefits you earned
The VA loan is one piece of what Michigan owes its veterans. Here’s the rest of the stack — worth real money every year:
Income Tax
Retirement untaxed
Michigan exempts military retirement pay from state income tax.
Education
Children of Veterans Tuition Grant
Undergraduate tuition help for children of qualifying disabled or deceased Michigan veterans.
Vehicle
Free DV plate
Free disabled-veteran plate for qualifying Michigan veterans.
Recreation
Licenses
Free hunting/fishing licenses for qualifying 100% disabled resident veterans.
Benefit rules and amounts change with each legislative session — confirm current details with the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. When you work with us, we walk through which of these apply to your purchase and your budget.
Official VA Data
Michigan VA lending, by the numbers
10,498
VA Loans Closed (FY2025)
$3.1B
VA Dollars Guaranteed (FY2025)
$293K
Average VA Loan
499,734
Veterans in MI
Michigan veterans closed 10,498 VA loans in fiscal year 2025 — 5,367 of them home purchases — and the VA paid $3.1 billion in disability compensation and pension to Michigan veterans in FY2024. Every veteran receiving that compensation is exempt from the VA funding fee.
Sources: VA Loan Guaranty loans-by-state report, FY2025 · VetPop2023 state projections (NCVAS) · VA Geographic Distribution of Expenditures, FY2024.
Bases We Serve
Military installations in Michigan
Every installation below anchors a housing market our team lends in — PCS moves, first purchases on BAH, and buy-then-rent strategies included.
2026 BAH Rates
Compare BAH across Michigan’s installations
BAH is set per housing area, not per state — and it counts as qualifying income on a VA loan. Here’s how Michigan’s duty stations compare at key pay grades.
| Installation | E-4 | E-5 | E-6 | E-7 | O-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selfridge Air National Guard Base | $2,034 | $2,361 | $2,583 | $2,652 | $2,778 |
| Fort Custer Training Center | $1,698 | $1,959 | $2,370 | $2,424 | $2,514 |
| Camp Grayling | $1,365 | $1,470 | $1,773 | $1,842 | $1,968 |
2026 monthly BAH, with dependents, from official DoD (DTMO) rate data. Click any installation for all 24 pay grades, without-dependents rates, and a payment-vs-BAH estimator for that housing area.
2026 Program Facts
What the VA loan gets you in Michigan
$0 Down Payment
Buy with no down payment on loans within your entitlement — the signature VA benefit.
No PMI
VA loans never charge monthly private mortgage insurance, keeping payments lower than FHA or low-down conventional.
Competitive Rates
The VA guaranty lets lenders price VA loans below comparable conventional rates for most borrowers.
Flexible Credit
The VA sets no minimum credit score — guidelines focus on residual income and the whole picture.
Limited Closing Costs
The VA restricts which fees veterans can be charged, and sellers may pay all of them plus concessions.
Reusable for Life
VA entitlement is a lifetime benefit — it can be restored and reused, and you can hold more than one VA loan at once.
VA loan vs. conventional in Michigan
| Feature | VA Loan | Conventional |
|---|---|---|
| Down payment | $0 required | 3–20% (20% to avoid PMI) |
| Monthly mortgage insurance | Never | Required under 20% down |
| Minimum credit score | None set by VA | Typically 620+ |
| Interest rates | Typically below conventional | Higher without large down payment |
| Upfront fee | Funding fee 2.15% first use (waived with disability rating) | None |
| Prepayment penalty | Never | Rare, but possible |
| Loan limit | None with full entitlement | $832,750 baseline (2026) |
| Assumable by a buyer | Yes — VA loans are assumable | Generally not |
2026 VA loan limits in Michigan
With full entitlement, the VA does not cap your loan amount — county loan limits only apply when you have reduced entitlement (an existing VA loan or a prior default). For reduced-entitlement borrowers, the 2026 baseline county limit is $832,750, and designated high-cost counties range up to $1,873,675.
The VA funding fee, plainly
- First use, under 5% down: 2.15%
- Subsequent use, under 5% down: 3.30%
- With 5% down: 1.50% · with 10% down: 1.25%
- Streamline refinance (IRRRL): 0.50%
Veterans receiving VA disability compensation at any rating are fully exempt from the funding fee, as are eligible surviving spouses and Purple Heart recipients on active duty.
Where We Lend
Michigan cities we serve
From base-gate communities to the metros veterans choose after service, these are the Michigan markets where our VA lending is most active.
- Mount Clemens~$180K
- Macomb~$435K
- Chesterfield~$332K
- Detroit~$77K
- Battle Creek~$185K
- Grand Rapids~$314K
Typical home values: Zillow Home Value Index, 2026-06.
Straight Answers
Michigan VA loan questions, answered
Is there a VA loan limit in Michigan?
Not with full entitlement. With reduced entitlement, every Michigan county uses the 2026 baseline of $832,750 — several times the typical Michigan purchase price.
Does Michigan Guard service at Selfridge or Grayling qualify for a VA loan?
Six creditable years of Guard service — or any 90-day federal activation — establishes eligibility. Michigan's huge Guard community includes thousands of eligible members who've never used the benefit.
Where do Selfridge families buy?
Harrison Township and Chesterfield for proximity to the base, Macomb Township for newer construction, Mount Clemens for value. All are routine VA markets in one of Metro Detroit's steadiest corridors.
Is Michigan good for military retirees?
Yes — Michigan exempts military retirement pay from state income tax, 100% disabled vets pay zero property tax, and the price-to-quality ratio of Michigan housing is among the best in the nation.
Do VA loans work on Michigan's older housing stock?
Yes — VA appraisals focus on safety and soundness, not age. Functional furnaces, sound roofs, and intact paint on pre-1978 homes are the usual checklist items, and sellers cure flagged items routinely.
Ready When You Are
Start your Michigan VA loan with a team that’s worn the uniform
Get a clear pre-approval, honest numbers, and a VA process handled by people who understand PCS timelines and military life firsthand.