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Victorville buyers choosing between FHA and VA loans are weighing two government-backed paths with very different down-payment rules. FHA requires 3.5% down minimum; VA offers zero down for eligible veterans and active duty.
Both programs price near 5.75% on a 30-year fixed, making the real difference structural rather than rate-based. San Bernardino County's median household income is $82,184, which supports purchases well into the $600,000 range on either program.
The 2026 FHA loan limit here is $690,000, while VA can go up to $832,750. For Victorville buyers, that ceiling gap matters when the home price climbs.
FHA at 5.75% works when you have modest savings and a solid credit score. The 3.5% down requirement means keeping more cash on hand than a conventional loan.
MIP (mortgage insurance premium) runs for the life of the loan if your down payment is under 10%. Upfront MIP is 1.75% of the loan amount, rolled into your mortgage. At 10% or more down, MIP cancels after 11 years.
The 2026 FHA limit of $690,000 caps what you can borrow in Victorville. Jumbo properties need a different path.
VA at 5.75% eliminates the down-payment question entirely for eligible veterans and active duty. Zero down means the full purchase price rolls into the loan, plus a funding fee that replaces traditional mortgage insurance.
No PMI, no MIP, no monthly insurance premium—just the funding fee upfront. The funding fee is 2.15% on a first-time use with zero down, lower if you put money down.
Veterans with a 10% or higher VA disability rating skip the funding fee entirely. The 2026 VA limit of $832,750 gives Victorville buyers more headroom than FHA for higher-priced homes.
Local decision guide
Use this comparison to weigh FHA Loans and VA Loans through local payment fit, eligibility, documentation, and timing before choosing a path in Victorville.
Victorville buyers choosing between FHA and VA loans are weighing two government-backed paths with very different down-payment rules. FHA requires 3.5% down minimum; VA offers zero down for eligible veterans and active duty.
Both programs price near 5.75% on a 30-year fixed, making the real difference structural rather than rate-based. San Bernardino County's median household income is $82,184, which supports purchases well into the $600,000 range on either program.
The 2026 FHA loan limit here is $690,000, while VA can go up to $832,750. For Victorville buyers, that ceiling gap matters when the home price climbs.
The down-payment gap is the first real difference: FHA requires 3.5% minimum, VA requires nothing. For a buyer with limited savings, VA's zero-down path is unbeatable.
Mortgage insurance works differently on each program. FHA charges MIP upfront (1.75%) and monthly, running for life unless you put 10% down. VA charges a one-time funding fee (2.15% at zero down) with no monthly insurance.
The loan-limit ceiling favors VA in Victorville. FHA stops at $690,000; VA goes to $832,750 in 2026. If you're buying above the FHA cap, VA is your only government-backed option.
FHA makes sense for non-veteran buyers with 3.5% to 10% saved. You're buying below $690,000 in Victorville and want to keep reserves intact.
VA is the right choice if you're a veteran or active duty with a Certificate of Eligibility. Zero down means no savings requirement, and the funding fee is a one-time cost, not a monthly drain.
No. VA loans require a Certificate of Eligibility. FHA is the alternative for non-eligible buyers.
Yes. FHA requires a minimum 3.5% down payment. That is the floor for FHA eligibility.
On a $750,000 loan at 5.75%, both show $4,377 monthly P&I. FHA adds MIP; VA adds a one-time funding fee upfront.
Yes. A 10% or higher VA disability rating exempts you from the funding fee entirely. That saves 2.15% upfront on the loan amount.
VA. The 2026 FHA limit is $690,000; VA goes to $832,750. If you're buying higher, VA is your only government-backed option.
in Victorville, CA