VA Loans in Savannah, GA
Hunter Army Airfield sits inside Savannah, and Fort Stewart is a commute away in Hinesville, so VA loans are part of everyday life in this market. Buyers stationed at either post often compare southside Savannah, Pooler, and Richmond Hill, each with its own county, tax rate, and insurance picture. Savannah's prices keep VA payments within reach, and coastal flood rules are the main thing to plan around.
Rather talk now? Call (480) 636-6573 or text Keith. Reviewed by Keith Lopez, NMLS #2814077 · Updated September 2026
Quick answer
Can I use a VA loan near Hunter Army Airfield or Fort Stewart?
Yes, if you are eligible. VA offers $0 down and no monthly mortgage insurance on a primary residence, with no loan limit if you have full entitlement. On Savannah's roughly $350,000 median, the first-use funding fee is about $7,525 with $0 down, and it is waived for veterans receiving VA disability compensation.
VA in Savannah, by the numbers.
Last reviewed: September 2026
- VA loan limit with full entitlement
- None
- You still need to qualify for the payment.
- 2026 conforming limit, Chatham County
- $832,750
- Shapes your $0 down maximum if part of your entitlement is in use.
- Savannah median sale price
- About $350,000
- Redfin estimate, August 2026.
- First-use funding fee, under 5% down
- 2.15%
- About $7,525 on a $350,000 loan. Waived with VA disability compensation.
- Georgia Dream PEN (active military)
- 6% or $12,500
- Whichever is less, as a 0% deferred second mortgage, through participating lenders.
Limits, fees, and market figures come from the sources listed below as of the date shown and change over time. Down payment figures are estimates, not a loan offer.
What is different about VA in Savannah.
Hunter, Fort Stewart, and where buyers look
Hunter Army Airfield is inside Savannah, and Fort Stewart is in Hinesville. Buyers tied to Hunter often look at southside Savannah, Midtown, and Pooler in Chatham County. Buyers tied to Fort Stewart often weigh Richmond Hill in Bryan County or Hinesville in Liberty County against a longer drive from Savannah.
Each county has its own tax rate, homestead exemption process, and insurance market, so the same price can mean a different monthly payment. I compare the full payment across the addresses you are considering, not just the list price.
VA math at Savannah prices
On the roughly $350,000 median, FHA's 3.5% would be about $12,250 and a 3% conventional loan about $10,500. VA can be $0 down with no monthly mortgage insurance. The funding fee is 2.15% on first use with less than 5% down, 3.3% after first use, and it can be financed or waived if you receive VA disability compensation.
If you still own a VA-financed home from a previous station, the $832,750 conforming limit helps set your $0 down maximum. Georgia's intangible recording tax also shows up on your side of closing: $1.50 per $500 of the loan, so a $350,000 loan carries $1,050.
Flood zones and older homes
Island, marsh, and river-adjacent homes, from Wilmington Island to Thunderbolt, are the most common flood zone cases in the Savannah area. A home in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area needs flood insurance with a mortgage, and VA counts that premium in your payment and residual income.
Historic District and older Midtown homes need to meet VA minimum property requirements, and exterior changes in the Historic District go through the city's preservation review. I flag likely appraisal questions early so they do not surprise you mid-contract.
Help that can pair with VA in Savannah
VA is already $0 down for most eligible buyers, so Georgia assistance usually goes toward closing costs. Georgia has two options aimed at military buyers, offered only through DCA's participating lenders, and they cannot both be used on the same loan.
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Chenoa Fund (FHA down payment assistance)
The Chenoa Fund, from CBC Mortgage Agency, is the down payment assistance I can place, but it pairs only with an FHA 30-year fixed first mortgage, so it applies here only if FHA ends up fitting you better than VA. It covers 3.5% or 5% of the sales price or appraised value, whichever is less, with no income limits, and its forgivable option is forgiven after three years of on-time payments. Program terms and availability change with market conditions, so I confirm current terms for your file before you count on it.
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Georgia Dream PEN (Georgia DCA)
Georgia Dream works with VA loans, and its PEN track includes active military, with assistance of 6% of the price or $12,500, whichever is less, as a 0% deferred second mortgage (repaid when you sell, refinance, or move out, not forgiven). Chatham County falls under DCA's statewide limits: a $475,000 price limit and household income up to $101,700 for one or two people or $116,955 for three or more. First-time buyer or three-year rules and an asset limit apply. It is offered only through participating lenders, so I confirm whether one of my wholesale lenders participates before recommending it.
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Georgia Dream Peach Select (Georgia DCA)
A DCA program for qualified military veterans with a first mortgage rate DCA describes as typically lower than market. It cannot be combined with the Georgia Dream second mortgage, but DCA says it can be stacked with another eligible assistance program, so compare it with a standard VA loan. It is offered only through participating lenders, so I confirm whether one of my wholesale lenders participates before recommending it.
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Seller-paid costs under VA rules
VA allows sellers to pay normal closing costs without a cap, plus concessions such as the funding fee or prepaid insurance up to 4% of the home's reasonable value.
Learn more →
Assistance programs are run by state agencies, local governments, and program sponsors like CBC Mortgage Agency (the Chenoa Fund), and their amounts, limits, and funding can change or pause without notice. State agency programs are offered only through participating lenders, and I confirm participation for your file before recommending one. See the full Georgia down payment assistance guide .
How I help Savannah buyers with VA.
I request your COE, confirm funding fee status, and compare a straight VA loan with Georgia Dream PEN and Peach Select when a participating lender is available, because the right choice depends on your cash, your timeline, and whether you might sell within a few years. Deferred assistance is repaid when you sell, which matters on a military timeline.
Then I get flood and insurance details for the specific addresses, coordinate with your agent and Georgia closing attorney, and plan the contract around your report date. Access to 300+ lenders through NEXA Mortgage means I can shop VA pricing rather than rely on one bank.
Keith Lopez, NMLS #2814077
VA Loans in Savannah, answered straight.
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Can I use a VA loan near Hunter Army Airfield or Fort Stewart?
Yes, if you are eligible. Many buyers stationed at Hunter or Fort Stewart compare southside Savannah, Pooler, Richmond Hill, and Hinesville. VA offers $0 down with no monthly mortgage insurance on a primary residence.
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How much is the VA funding fee on a Savannah home?
Per VA.gov, 2.15% on first use with less than 5% down, 3.3% after first use, 1.5% with 5% or more down, and 1.25% with 10% or more. On a $350,000 first-use loan with $0 down, that is about $7,525. Veterans receiving VA disability compensation are exempt.
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Can active-duty buyers get Georgia Dream help with a VA loan?
Often, yes. Georgia Dream's PEN track includes active military and offers 6% of the price or $12,500, whichever is less, as a 0% deferred second mortgage. In Chatham County the price limit is $475,000, and income, asset, and first-time buyer rules apply. Georgia Dream is offered only through participating lenders, so I confirm whether one of my wholesale lenders participates before recommending it.
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Is there a VA loan limit in Chatham County?
Not with full entitlement. If part of your entitlement is in use, the 2026 conforming limit of $832,750 helps determine your $0 down maximum.
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Do I need flood insurance with a VA loan in Savannah?
Yes, if the home is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. Island, marsh, and river-adjacent homes are the most common cases. The premium counts in your VA payment and residual income, so get a quote before you write an offer.
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Do disabled veterans get a property tax break in Georgia?
Georgia offers an additional homestead exemption for qualifying disabled veterans on top of the standard homestead exemption, and the amount is adjusted periodically. You apply with the county tax assessor after you buy, so confirm eligibility and deadlines with Chatham, Bryan, or Liberty County.
Official sources
- VA.gov: VA funding fee and loan closing costs (funding fee chart, exemptions, 4% seller concession cap)
- FHFA: Conforming loan limits (2026 conforming limit)
- Chenoa Fund (CBC Mortgage Agency) (official program site; I confirm current terms for your file)
- Georgia DCA: Georgia Dream (assistance amounts, PEN eligibility, price and income limits by area)
- Georgia DCA: Lender FAQs (Peach Select for veterans)
- Redfin: Savannah housing market (median sale price, August 2026)
Related guides and tools
Articles on VA for Savannah buyers
- Loan Programs Modular Home Loans in South Carolina: FHA, USDA, VA, and Conventional Options Explained Modular homes in South Carolina are built to state building code and financed like site-built homes. Here is how FHA, USDA, VA, and conventional programs approach modular construction, from completed homes to construction-to-permanent loans.
- Loan Programs Manufactured Home Loans in NC and SC: FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventional Financing Explained Financing a manufactured home in North Carolina or South Carolina involves specific rules around foundations, HUD tags, and property titling. Here is how FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional programs approach manufactured housing.
- Loan Programs VA Loan Entitlement in South Carolina: What First-Time Buyers Need to Know VA loan entitlement lets eligible South Carolina veterans buy a home with no down payment and no VA-imposed loan limit. Here is how it works for first-time buyers in Charleston and Greenville.
Ready to talk through VA for your Savannah purchase?
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Call (480) 636-6573 · Text Keith
Program eligibility, guidelines, and pricing are set by the applicable investor, agency, or program and are subject to change without notice. Not all applicants will qualify. This information is for educational purposes only and is not a commitment to lend.
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Keith Lopez, NMLS #2814077 | NEXA Mortgage, LLC, NMLS #1660690 | Licensed in NC, SC & GA | Equal Housing Opportunity