VA loans in Wilmington.
The New Hanover County figure on this page is a county reference only; it is not an address-based lookup for Wilmington. Confirm the property's county before relying on it.
New Hanover County reference value. County reference, not an address-based lookup. Confirm the county of the property before using this value; city and metro boundaries can cross counties.
Source: FHFA Full County Loan Limit List for 2026 (HERA-based, final). One-unit limit; applies to mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026. Source checked 2026-09-16. · New Hanover County (FIPS 37129)
County reference, not an address-based lookup. Confirm the county of the property before using this value; city and metro boundaries can cross counties. Look the property's county up at FHFA.
What the county figure means here.
A borrower with full VA entitlement does not have a VA loan limit, subject to lender approval, ability to repay, and the appraised value or purchase price. The FHFA one-unit county conforming loan limit matters primarily when calculating remaining bonus entitlement for a borrower who does not have full entitlement, and it may affect whether a down payment is required.
New Hanover County carries a $832,750 one-unit conforming loan limit value for 2026, and that is the county figure we reference for Wilmington. County reference, not an address-based lookup. Confirm the county of the property before using this value; city and metro boundaries can cross counties. Whichever county your property is in, the value is used in remaining-entitlement calculations — including on a 2–4 unit property — and is not a cap on what a fully-entitled buyer can finance.
Planning around BAH? Rates vary by pay grade, dependency status, and ZIP-based Military Housing Area — verify yours on the official DoD BAH calculator.
This site does not publish current rates or APRs. Your rate and terms depend on your credit profile, income and assets, the property, market conditions, lock timing, points or lender credits, underwriting, and final lender approval. Request a personalized quote from Bolt Home Loans LLC.
Estimate a payment with your own rate assumptionWilmington historic districts: a COA for exterior changes, and a second permit to remove a tree
The City of Wilmington requires a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior alterations to properties in its local historic districts and historic overlays, judged against its Design Guidelines for Historic Districts and Landmarks. Minor works may be approved administratively by the historic preservation planner.
Removing any tree from a lot or right-of-way in a historic district requires both a Tree Removal Permit and a COA, starting with an application on the City's Development and Permitting Services platform. Practical step: if a tree near the house worries you or your inspector, ask about both approvals before closing rather than assuming you can remove it.
New Hanover County's elderly or disabled exclusion: proof of disability rules
New Hanover County's tax office explains the elderly or disabled homestead exclusion: a one-time initial application filed by June 1, for a North Carolina resident who is 65 or totally and permanently disabled by January 1, owns and occupies the home and meets the income limit. Proof of disability must come from a North Carolina-licensed physician or an authorized government agency.
The County warns that a Social Security disability letter is not accepted unless it meets the statutory requirements, and that proof of income, including a spouse's, is required. Practical step: if a household member may qualify, get the correct disability certification before June 1; the County decides eligibility. The County defines the residence as the dwelling, up to one acre of land and related improvements.
- FHFA — Conforming loan limit values
- City of Wilmington — Certificate of Appropriateness (Minor Works)
- New Hanover County Tax — Tax Relief & Deferment
- VA — Home loan entitlement and limits
Sources checked 2026-09-23. Educational information only, not legal, tax or underwriting advice.
VA loan programs available in NC.
$0 down in Wilmington. No PMI.
Lower your rate. Minimal paperwork.
Up to 100% LTV — conventional caps at 80%.
$0 down above conforming.
Finance repairs into your purchase.
Roll energy upgrades into the loan.
Widows and widowers of NC veterans qualify.
Zero down, no PMI, and a 100% funding-fee waiver on a home in Wilmington, subject to eligibility verification and Certificate of Eligibility issuance.
Surviving spouse guideDisabled veteran? Stack the SAH grant on your Wilmington purchase.
Up to $126,526 in FY 2026 toward a VA-approved plan to acquire, construct, or adapt a suitable home. VA approves eligibility and use; the grant is separate from your VA home loan.
SAH grant guideVA loans in Wilmington — answered.
FHFA sets conforming loan limit values by county, not by city, and there is no single published figure for a city as such. The county we reference for Wilmington is New Hanover County (FIPS 37129), whose official 2026 one-unit value is $832,750 per the FHFA Full County Loan Limit List. County reference, not an address-based lookup. Confirm the county of the property before using this value; city and metro boundaries can cross counties. The figure only matters for remaining-entitlement calculations — with full entitlement there is no VA loan limit, subject to lender approval, ability to repay and appraised value.
BAH varies by pay grade, dependency status, and ZIP-based Military Housing Area, and DoD updates rates annually. Check your exact rate on the official DoD BAH calculator. Lenders may count BAH as qualifying income, subject to underwriting.
A VA-eligible borrower with full entitlement may be able to pursue a primary-residence purchase in Wilmington with no down payment and no monthly PMI. Eligibility, credit, income, the VA appraisal, and final lender approval all apply, and closing costs and prepaids are still due.
An unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died in service or from a service-connected disability may qualify for the full VA benefit in Wilmington — zero down, no PMI, and a 100% funding-fee waiver, subject to eligibility verification.