A VA (Veterans Affairs) loan carries many of the same advantages as an FHA home loan. However, to qualify for this loan, you must be a qualifying veteran, the unmarried widow of a veteran, a Public Health Service Officer, or an active-duty serviceman. The maximum loan amount for a VA-guaranteed loan is $240,000. However, if you can make a large down payment, VA is now considering loan amounts above $240,000. Generally, you would need to put down 25% of the value exceeding $240,00, and you can't exceed conventional loan limits. No down payment is required for most VA loans below $240,000.