Helena VA Loan Rates, Closing Costs & Stats

Helena-West Helena, AR

A VA loan is a mortgage loan that’s backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for those who have served or are presently serving in the U.S. military. The VA does not directly lend, it guarantees the loans made by private lenders to veterans, active military personnel, and qualifying military spouses.

The most obvious benefit of VA loans is that no downpayment is necessary to purchase a home. They will also typically have significantly lower fees-- meaning that if you're eligible to receive a VA loan, it will likely be the most favorable option. VA loans come in 3 varities: purchase, refinance and cash out refis.

For additional benefits of VA loans, click here.

Helena's 5 lenders originated 6 VA loans during 2023. The total origination value was $1,320,000, with an average VA loan value of $220,000.

Helena VA Loans, 30 Year Fixed Rates

30 Year VA mortgages in Helena averaged 5.88% for the week of 2024-12-13, compared to the national average (all VA variants) of 6.077% for the same period.

Helena's average VA mortgage closing costs are $3,227.

The average rate for the prior week (2024-12-06) was 6.31% and one month ago for the week of 2024-11-08, the average rate was 6.51%.

The average rate one year ago was 6.76%.

For refis of the same type during the week of 2024-12-13, the average rate was 6.18%.

Click on whitespace and scroll within the chart to zoom in/out. Larger bubbles equate with more originations.

Helena VA Loan Lenders by Rates & Fees

The below table looks at the average fees/closing costs and rates for VA 30 Year Fixed Rate (purchase, first lien) mortgages originated by each lender at the Helena level.

Name # of Loans 2023 Avg. 30yFix Rate 2023 Avg. Closing Costs
Mortgage Research Center, LLC 2 7.13% $2,635
ACADEMY MORTGAGE CORPORATION 1 7.25% $2,307
Equity Prime Mortgage LLC 1 7.75% $0
Mid-Continent Funding, Inc. 1 6.38% $5,482
PILGRIM MORTGAGE LLC 1 6.75% $2,844

The top Helena VA lender as defined by loan originations is Mortgage Research Center, LLC, with 2 VA loans originated. Their average total fees are $2,635, which is $328 higher than the next largest lender, ACADEMY MORTGAGE CORPORATION.

The lowest fee Helena VA lenders (with over 10 loans originated) are .

The lowest rate Helena VA lenders (with over 10 loans originated) are .


Market Conditions (Median, Average Prices & Listing Count)

Realtor.com - Helena (CBSA) retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Date Median Listing Price (YoY Change) Average Listing Price (YoY) MSA/US Median Price Ratio Active Listings
2018-01-01 $44,700 (-35.1%) $58,658 (-25.2%) 0.00 16
2018-02-01 $42,450 (-19.1%) $55,389 (-22.0%) 0.00 18
2018-03-01 $42,450 (-26.1%) $51,518 (-28.3%) 0.00 19
2018-04-01 $51,280 (-16.6%) $50,923 (-40.3%) 0.00 20
2018-05-01 $50,080 (-36.6%) $48,568 (-51.8%) 0.00 18
2018-06-01 $47,500 (-41.4%) $51,647 (-54.7%) 0.00 16
2018-07-01 $41,325 (-47.9%) $49,235 (-50.9%) 0.00 19
2018-08-01 $26,175 (-58.3%) $39,611 (-54.6%) 0.00 21
2018-09-01 $25,000 (-57.6%) $33,098 (-56.2%) 0.00 19
2018-10-01 $23,500 (-52.5%) $29,222 (-52.8%) 0.00 15
2018-11-01 $24,900 (-52.3%) $36,393 (-42.6%) 0.00 14
2018-12-01 $30,000 (-39.4%) $54,810 (-7.0%) 0.00 15
2019-01-01 $28,950 (-35.2%) $49,746 (-15.2%) 0.00 16
2019-02-01 $36,225 (-14.7%) $50,141 (-9.5%) 0.00 14
2019-03-01 $47,121 (11.0%) $57,813 (12.2%) 0.00 17
2019-04-01 $58,430 (13.9%) $65,646 (28.9%) 0.00 19
2019-05-01 $50,930 (1.7%) $96,440 (98.6%) 0.00 15
2019-06-01 $49,900 (5.1%) $89,535 (73.4%) 0.00 14
2019-07-01 $49,650 (20.2%) $92,671 (88.2%) 0.00 13
2019-08-01 $60,000 (129.2%) $110,197 (178.2%) 0.00 12
2019-09-01 $60,000 (140.0%) $114,785 (246.8%) 0.00 12
2019-10-01 $60,000 (155.3%) $117,844 (303.3%) 0.00 11
2019-11-01 $53,000 (112.9%) $55,403 (52.2%) 0.00 16
2019-12-01 $62,500 (108.3%) $60,979 (11.3%) 0.00 14
2020-01-01 $60,625 (109.4%) $64,665 (30.0%) 0.00 14
2020-02-01 $58,900 (62.6%) $115,578 (130.5%) 0.00 15
2020-03-01 $48,975 (3.9%) $72,316 (25.1%) 0.00 13
2020-04-01 $79,000 (35.2%) $118,704 (80.8%) 0.00 12
2020-05-01 $79,000 (55.1%) $124,700 (29.3%) 0.00 9
2020-06-01 $79,000 (58.3%) $121,968 (36.2%) 0.00 11
2020-07-01 $48,475 (-2.4%) $91,650 (-1.1%) 0.00 17
2020-08-01 $27,250 (-54.6%) $55,600 (-49.5%) 0.00 22
2020-09-01 $58,000 (-3.3%) $58,976 (-48.6%) 0.00 26
2020-10-01 $25,000 (-58.3%) $54,537 (-53.7%) 0.00 24
2020-11-01 $39,000 (-26.4%) $59,801 (7.9%) 0.00 24
2020-12-01 $40,750 (-34.8%) $58,255 (-4.5%) 0.00 22
2021-01-01 $50,200 (-17.2%) $59,886 (-7.4%) 0.00 21
2021-02-01 $44,675 (-24.2%) $60,727 (-47.5%) 0.00 20
2021-03-01 $35,000 (-28.5%) $66,051 (-8.7%) 0.00 21
2021-04-01 $34,000 (-57.0%) $66,311 (-44.1%) 0.00 18
2021-05-01 $30,000 (-62.0%) $68,233 (-45.3%) 0.00 19
2021-06-01 $30,000 (-62.0%) $66,685 (-45.3%) 0.00 19
2021-07-01 $27,500 (-43.3%) $75,606 (-17.5%) 0.00 18
2021-08-01 $28,675 (5.2%) $77,425 (39.3%) 0.00 18
2021-09-01 $29,975 (-48.3%) $73,673 (24.9%) 0.00 21
2021-10-01 $36,500 (46.0%) $75,169 (37.8%) 0.00 28
2021-11-01 $38,000 (-2.6%) $78,383 (31.1%) 0.00 31
2021-12-01 $48,000 (17.8%) $100,792 (73.0%) 0.00 28
2022-01-01 $48,000 (-4.4%) $98,814 (65.0%) 0.00 28
2022-02-01 $48,000 (7.4%) $110,911 (82.6%) 0.00 30
2022-03-01 $40,000 (14.3%) $110,457 (67.2%) 0.00 28
2022-04-01 $53,313 (56.8%) $119,267 (79.9%) 0.00 20
2022-05-01 $42,250 (40.8%) $96,545 (41.5%) 0.00 22
2022-06-01 $70,000 (133.3%) $122,144 (83.2%) 0.00 30
2022-07-01 $65,000 (136.4%) $130,665 (72.8%) 0.00 29
2022-08-01 $65,000 (126.7%) $123,194 (59.1%) 0.00 29
2022-09-01 $62,225 (107.6%) $118,828 (61.3%) 0.00 29
2022-10-01 $64,500 (76.7%) $102,375 (36.2%) 0.00 31
2022-11-01 $64,500 (69.7%) $103,303 (31.8%) 0.00 29
2022-12-01 $119,950 (149.9%) $136,250 (35.2%) 0.00 19
2023-01-01 $144,925 (201.9%) $158,591 (60.5%) 0.00 19
2023-02-01 $149,900 (212.3%) $155,441 (40.2%) 0.00 23
2023-03-01 $139,675 (249.2%) $143,671 (30.1%) 0.00 22
2023-04-01 $119,500 (124.2%) $145,100 (21.7%) 0.00 16
2023-05-01 $132,500 (213.6%) $155,660 (61.2%) 0.00 21
2023-06-01 $103,863 (48.4%) $134,442 (10.1%) 0.00 25
2023-07-01 $116,403 (79.1%) $157,870 (20.8%) 0.00 26
2023-08-01 $114,425 (76.0%) $126,956 (3.1%) 0.00 28
2023-09-01 $119,000 (91.2%) $126,380 (6.4%) 0.00 28
2023-10-01 $128,000 (98.5%) $161,163 (57.4%) 0.00 28
2023-11-01 $108,750 (68.6%) $124,938 (20.9%) 0.00 24
2023-12-01 $119,000 (-0.8%) $128,480 (-5.7%) 0.00 25
2024-01-01 $89,125 (-38.5%) $143,751 (-9.4%) 0.00 20
2024-02-01 $94,450 (-37.0%) $155,022 (-0.3%) 0.00 16
2024-03-01 $145,000 (3.8%) $215,256 (49.8%) 0.00 15
2024-04-01 $147,450 (23.4%) $209,674 (44.5%) 0.00 16
2024-05-01 $136,175 (2.8%) $188,246 (20.9%) 0.00 19
2024-06-01 $152,450 (46.8%) $198,667 (47.8%) 0.00 21
2024-07-01 $147,000 (26.3%) $183,704 (16.4%) 0.00 24
2024-08-01 $125,000 (9.2%) $154,181 (21.4%) 0.00 31
2024-09-01 $119,000 (0.0%) $155,811 (23.3%) 0.00 31
2024-10-01 $121,750 (-4.9%) $176,802 (9.7%) 0.00 31
2024-11-01 $125,000 (14.9%) $176,071 (40.9%) 0.00 33
Helena's median listing price for 2024-11-01 was $125,000, a difference of $16,250 (14.9%) versus the prior year and $3,250 versus the prior month.

Helena's median listing price comes in at 0% of the national average.

Helena's average listing price for 2024-11-01 was $176,071, a difference of $51,133 (40.9%) versus the prior year and $-731 versus the prior month.

For the 2024-11-01 period, Helena had 33 MLS listings, a difference of 2 listings (6%) versus the prior month and 9 listings (38%) versus the prior year.

Median Listing Time on Market & Square Footage

Realtor.com - Helena (CBSA) retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Date Median Listing Time on Market Median Square Footage
2018-01-01 0 days 1,844 sqft
2018-02-01 0 days 1,768 sqft
2018-03-01 0 days 1,790 sqft
2018-04-01 0 days 1,844 sqft
2018-05-01 0 days 1,824 sqft
2018-06-01 0 days 1,756 sqft
2018-07-01 0 days 1,749 sqft
2018-08-01 0 days 1,776 sqft
2018-09-01 0 days 1,675 sqft
2018-10-01 0 days 1,550 sqft
2018-11-01 0 days 1,711 sqft
2018-12-01 0 days 1,715 sqft
2019-01-01 0 days 1,715 sqft
2019-02-01 0 days 1,612 sqft
2019-03-01 0 days 1,718 sqft
2019-04-01 0 days 1,827 sqft
2019-05-01 0 days 1,783 sqft
2019-06-01 0 days 1,798 sqft
2019-07-01 0 days 1,740 sqft
2019-08-01 0 days 1,751 sqft
2019-09-01 0 days 1,781 sqft
2019-10-01 0 days 1,786 sqft
2019-11-01 0 days 1,760 sqft
2019-12-01 0 days 1,761 sqft
2020-01-01 0 days 1,763 sqft
2020-02-01 0 days 1,666 sqft
2020-03-01 0 days 1,874 sqft
2020-04-01 0 days 1,975 sqft
2020-05-01 0 days 2,086 sqft
2020-06-01 0 days 2,191 sqft
2020-07-01 0 days 1,754 sqft
2020-08-01 0 days 1,581 sqft
2020-09-01 0 days 1,594 sqft
2020-10-01 0 days 1,564 sqft
2020-11-01 0 days 1,564 sqft
2020-12-01 0 days 1,536 sqft
2021-01-01 0 days 1,579 sqft
2021-02-01 0 days 1,550 sqft
2021-03-01 0 days 1,536 sqft
2021-04-01 0 days 1,508 sqft
2021-05-01 0 days 1,457 sqft
2021-06-01 0 days 1,444 sqft
2021-07-01 0 days 1,508 sqft
2021-08-01 0 days 1,536 sqft
2021-09-01 0 days 1,508 sqft
2021-10-01 0 days 1,508 sqft
2021-11-01 0 days 1,508 sqft
2021-12-01 0 days 1,558 sqft
2022-01-01 0 days 1,558 sqft
2022-02-01 0 days 1,552 sqft
2022-03-01 0 days 1,508 sqft
2022-04-01 0 days 1,536 sqft
2022-05-01 0 days 1,564 sqft
2022-06-01 0 days 1,594 sqft
2022-07-01 0 days 1,594 sqft
2022-08-01 0 days 1,672 sqft
2022-09-01 0 days 1,731 sqft
2022-10-01 0 days 1,594 sqft
2022-11-01 0 days 1,594 sqft
2022-12-01 0 days 1,899 sqft
2023-01-01 0 days 2,294 sqft
2023-02-01 0 days 2,178 sqft
2023-03-01 0 days 1,953 sqft
2023-04-01 0 days 1,747 sqft
2023-05-01 0 days 1,820 sqft
2023-06-01 0 days 1,805 sqft
2023-07-01 0 days 1,802 sqft
2023-08-01 0 days 1,845 sqft
2023-09-01 0 days 1,780 sqft
2023-10-01 0 days 1,900 sqft
2023-11-01 0 days 1,683 sqft
2023-12-01 0 days 1,673 sqft
2024-01-01 0 days 1,667 sqft
2024-02-01 0 days 1,712 sqft
2024-03-01 0 days 1,957 sqft
2024-04-01 0 days 2,043 sqft
2024-05-01 0 days 2,476 sqft
2024-06-01 0 days 2,624 sqft
2024-07-01 0 days 2,603 sqft
2024-08-01 0 days 2,175 sqft
2024-09-01 0 days 2,782 sqft
2024-10-01 0 days 2,564 sqft
2024-11-01 0 days 2,782 sqft
Helena's median listing age (time on market) for 2024-11-01 was 0 days.

Helena's median square footage for active listings during the 2024-11-01 period was 2,782 sqft. One year prior, the average listing was 1,683 sqft.

VA Loan Features

  • No down payment required
  • Negotiable and competitive interest rate.
  • Ability to finance the VA funding fee (plus reduced funding fees with a down payment of at least 5 percent and exemption for veterans receiving VA compensation).
  • VA rules limit the amount you can be charged for closing costs.
  • Closing costs are comparable with other financing types (and may be lower).
  • Closing costs may be paid by the seller.
  • No private mortgage insurance premiums are required.
  • An assumable mortgage.
  • Right to prepay your mortgage without penalty.
  • For homes inspected by VA during construction, a warranty from builder and assistance from VA to obtain cooperation of builder.
  • VA assistance to veteran borrowers in default due to temporary financial difficulty.