More than 1,200 veterans and service members surveyed as spring homebuying season gets underway; 68% call homeownership a major life milestone
April 20, 2026 – WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – NewDay USA, a national mortgage lender serving the veteran community, today released findings from its 2026 Military Homebuyer Readiness Survey as the spring homebuying season gets underway. The survey found strong demand for homeownership, high satisfaction with the VA home loan benefit and that affordability remains top of mind for aspiring military homebuyers.
Among respondents who do not own a home, more than two-thirds (68%) said buying a home is a major milestone or one of the most important milestones in their lives. “Homeownership, to me, means finally being able to have something of my own after years of working for the country,” one respondent wrote.
Of those who have used a VA home loan, nearly half (47%) said they would not have been able to buy a home without it, and 98% said they were satisfied with their experience using the VA home loan.
Affordability Remains a Challenge for Aspiring Homebuyers
Among respondents who do not currently own a home, only 7% consider themselves completely ready to buy a home in 2026, and nearly half (49%) said homeownership feels out of reach. Respondents cited rising home prices (62%), lack of income (55%) and saving for upfront costs (49%) as the biggest barriers.
The VA home loan requires no down payment, and NewDay Home helps veterans cover upfront closing costs. The survey findings show why that matters. Forty percent of respondents said they would be more likely to buy a home if down payment and closing costs were removed, 45% said they do not have enough savings to cover closing costs and 52% carry more than $5,000 in high-interest debt. That figure jumps among active-duty respondents, half of whom said they carry more than $10,000.
Opportunity to Strengthen Homebuyer Education
Many respondents demonstrated a strong understanding of their benefits. A majority said they are aware of the VA home loan, and 60% identified that it typically carries a lower interest rate than conventional mortgages. Among service members, 71% know that Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) can count toward mortgage qualifying income.
At the same time, 55% of respondents held at least one misconception about the VA home loan, including 30% who were not yet aware that the VA home loan requires no down payment. Through NewDay Home, veterans and service members are connected with Admiral-Certified real estate agents who are trained to advocate for military homebuyers and guide them through every step of the VA loan process.
“Having spent my housing career working to expand responsible access to homeownership at the federal level, I can say that the VA home loan is one of the most effective housing finance tools ever created,” said Brian D. Montgomery, Vice Chairman of NewDay USA and former Federal Housing Administration Commissioner. “These survey results reinforce that there is a real opportunity to reach more veterans with clear information about what the VA benefit offers. Ensuring every eligible veteran understands this benefit is one of the most impactful things we can do to help military families build long-term financial security.”
“My mission is to help one million veterans achieve homeownership, and that work has never been more important,” said Rear Adm. Thomas Lynch (USN Ret.), executive chairman of NewDay USA. “Every veteran and service member has earned the right to a clear path to homeownership, and we are committed to making sure they have the information, guidance and real solutions to get there. Homeownership changes lives, and no one deserves that opportunity more than those who have served.”
About the Survey
The results are based on an online survey of 1,238 current and former U.S. service members conducted by Researchscape from Feb. 18 to March 7, 2026. Additional survey findings are available here.
About NewDay USA
For 25 years, NewDay USA has been a leading mortgage lender serving the veteran community and has helped more than 100,000 veteran families nationwide. From buying a new home to refinancing, NewDay USA’s goal is to ensure veteran families strengthen their credit and get back on the road to savings to live the lives they always imagined and deserved. NewDay USA has an industry-leading Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) record of loan performance with a delinquency rate that is two times lower than the industry average. Today, 95% of NewDay USA’s clients are enlisted Veterans. For additional information, visit newdayusa.com.