Native American Direct Loan (NADL) Guide
Updated September 2026 · Checked against VA.gov and 38 CFR · Sources below
On this page
- What the NADL program is and why it exists (trust land and conventional lending)
- NADL benefits at a glance: rate, down payment, PMI, funding fee, term
- Who is eligible: veteran status, Native American or spouse, Hawaiian, Alaska Native and Pacific Island eligibility
- The tribal MOU requirement and how to check if your tribe has one
- What you can use a NADL for: buy, build, improve, refinance
- NADL funding fee and closing costs (who is exempt)
- How to apply step by step (COE, NADL coordinator, appraisal, closing)
- NADL vs VA-guaranteed loan vs HUD Section 184
- What your state adds (state veteran housing programs and tribal housing authorities)
- Common questions about the Native American Direct Loan
- Common questions
What the NADL program is and why it exists (trust land and conventional lending)
This section is being written. See the short answer above and the sources below for what is already confirmed.
NADL benefits at a glance: rate, down payment, PMI, funding fee, term
This section is being written. See the short answer above and the sources below for what is already confirmed.
Who is eligible: veteran status, Native American or spouse, Hawaiian, Alaska Native and Pacific Island eligibility
This section is being written. See the short answer above and the sources below for what is already confirmed.
The tribal MOU requirement and how to check if your tribe has one
This section is being written. See the short answer above and the sources below for what is already confirmed.
What you can use a NADL for: buy, build, improve, refinance
This section is being written. See the short answer above and the sources below for what is already confirmed.
NADL funding fee and closing costs (who is exempt)
This section is being written. See the short answer above and the sources below for what is already confirmed.
How to apply step by step (COE, NADL coordinator, appraisal, closing)
This section is being written. See the short answer above and the sources below for what is already confirmed.
NADL vs VA-guaranteed loan vs HUD Section 184
This section is being written. See the short answer above and the sources below for what is already confirmed.
Common questions about the Native American Direct Loan
This section is being written. See the short answer above and the sources below for what is already confirmed.
Common questions
- What is the current NADL interest rate?
- VA sets the NADL rate directly; as of 2026 it starts at 2.5% on a 30-year fixed loan. VA lowered it from 6% in 2023 to make the program more affordable.
- Who qualifies for a Native American Direct Loan?
- You must be a veteran or service member eligible for VA home loan benefits who is Native American (including Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native and Pacific Islander) or married to a Native American, plan to live in a home on federal trust land, meet VA credit and income standards, and your tribe must have an MOU with VA.
- Is there a funding fee on a NADL?
- Yes in most cases: 1.25% for purchase or construction and 0.5% for a NADL refinance. Veterans receiving VA disability compensation and certain others are exempt.
- What if my tribe does not have an MOU with the VA?
- You cannot get a NADL until the tribal government signs one. Ask your tribal housing authority to contact the VA NADL team; VA actively seeks new MOUs and has agreements with more than 100 tribes.
- How do I apply for a NADL?
- There is no online application. Get your Certificate of Eligibility, then call the NADL coordinator at 888-349-7541 or email NADL@va.gov to start the process.
Sources
- The current VA interest rate for NADLs starts at 2.5% and the loan is a 30-year fixed mortgage.
- Eligibility requires that the tribal government has a Memorandum of Understanding with VA, a valid COE, VA credit and income standards, and that the veteran will live in the home on federal trust land.
- As of October 2024, 114 tribes had signed NADL agreements and VA had made 1,258 NADLs totalling about $180 million since Congress created the program in 1992.
- NADL funding fee is 1.25% for purchase or construction loans and 0.5% for NADL refinance loans, with exemptions for veterans receiving disability compensation.
- The NADL program is authorized by 38 U.S.C. 3761-3765 and implemented at 38 CFR 36.4500 et seq.
Related guides
Home Loans & Housing
Every guide in this section
The full Home Loans & Housing guide
Start-to-finish overview
Trust Land Requirements for the VA Native American Direct Loan
Home Loans & Housing
VA Certificate of Eligibility Guide: How to Get Your COE
Home Loans & Housing
The Complete VA Home Loan Guide (2026)
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SAH and SHA Grants: VA Adapted Housing Grants Explained
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VA Housing Grants and Assistance Guide (FY2026 Amounts)
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VA Home Loan Eligibility Wizard
Home Loans & Housing
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice, and Veterans Alliance is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change; the linked VA.gov pages are always the authoritative source.