Many veterans believe the VA home loan is a one-time benefit — use it once and it’s gone forever. That’s one of the most common (and costly) VA loan myths.

In this episode of The Military Wallet, Ryan Guina is joined by Ryan Bell, a VA loan expert with more than 20 years of experience and a former Army National Guard member, to explain how the VA loan really works — and how veterans can use it multiple times over a lifetime.

They break down entitlement restoration, second-tier entitlement, renting out a VA-financed home, and what happens if a veteran ever defaults on a VA loan. If you’re PCS’ing, retiring, downsizing, or building a rental portfolio, this episode explains what’s possible — and what’s not — when it comes to reusing your VA benefit.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why the VA loan is a lifetime benefit, not a one-time perk
• How selling a VA-financed home fully restores your entitlement
• How many times you can use your VA loan (hint: there’s no limit)
• What second-tier entitlement is and how it works
• How to buy a new home while keeping your old VA home as a rental
• Why VA loans must always be used for a primary residence
• Common misunderstandings about vacation homes and VA loans
• What happens to your VA benefit after a foreclosure or default
• How to find lenders who understand second-tier entitlement
• When it makes sense to use VA financing vs. conventional loans

⏱️ Episode Timeline

00:00 – Introduction
Ryan welcomes VA loan expert Ryan Bell.

00:31 – Is the VA Loan a Lifetime Benefit?
Why you never “use it up” permanently.

01:13 – How Many Times Can You Use a VA Loan?
Why there’s no usage limit.

02:27 – What Is Remaining Entitlement?
How partial entitlement works.

03:26 – Second-Tier Entitlement Explained
Buying another home without selling the first.

04:32 – Why Some Lenders Say “No” (Incorrectly)
The importance of VA-experienced lenders.

04:51 – Primary Residence Rules
Why VA loans can’t be used for vacation homes.

06:18 – Turning a VA Home Into a Rental
How PCS moves make this possible.

07:06 – Snowbirds, Retirees & Dual Residences
When VA loans can still work.

08:55 – What Happens After a Default or Foreclosure
Why your benefit may not be gone forever.

10:08 – VA Loan Scenarios Recap
How veterans can safely reuse their benefit.

11:29 – Final Advice
Why every veteran should understand their entitlement.

🎯 Who This Episode Is For

• Veterans who think they already “used up” their VA loan
• Active-duty members facing a PCS
• Military retirees planning their next home
• Veterans interested in rental properties
• Anyone confused about VA loan entitlement