VA condo approval · Greater Seattle
How VA condo approval works.
A VA loan can buy a condo only when the building's condominium project is VA-approved. What approval covers, how to check a building, what happens when one is not approved and what VA reviews, sourced from the VA Lenders Handbook and explained by Brian Huie, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Principal Broker and Realtor at Compass.
At a glance
Four rules that decide a VA condo purchase
- The building, not the unitVA approves the condominium project. Until it does, no unit in it is eligible for a VA loan.
- Only condos need itHouses and homes in planned unit developments (PUDs) skip project approval, though HOA rules still apply.
- FHA approval helpsProjects approved by HUD (FHA) or USDA generally need no further VA review. VA adds them to its list.
- HOA dues come secondIn any HOA, the lender confirms dues and assessments are subordinate to the VA mortgage.
How to check a building
Look it up in VA's condo search
Open the search
Go to VA's condo search, pick Washington as the state and add the city or part of the building's name.
Open the building's record
Each record shows a status, the date VA received the request and the date its review was completed. A clean approval reads "Accepted Without Conditions."
Match the name carefully
Projects are listed under their registered name, often the association's name or a street address, each with a six-character ID. Try part of the name if the marketing name finds nothing.
Confirm with the lender
Any other status, or any listed condition, goes to the lender before an offer. Brian checks a building's status before a tour, not after an offer.
Not approved yet
When the building isn't on the list
A building missing from VA's list has not necessarily been turned down; it may never have been submitted. A lender or the project's sponsor can request approval by sending VA a written request and a copy of the condominium's organizational documents. VA reviews them against its regulations and replies in writing.
| Already FHA or USDA approved | Evidence of HUD or USDA approval, such as the approval letter or a copy of the approved list, generally lets VA add the project without a separate review. |
|---|---|
| Attorney's opinion | An attorney's opinion on the condominium's documents, in the format the VA handbook sets out. VA calls it highly recommended for projects without HUD or USDA approval. |
| Previously approved documents | When the documents are essentially the same as a set VA already approved, a certification from the declarant or its attorney identifies that set and any changes. |
VA's written decision does one of three things: approves the project, sometimes with conditions such as recording documents, a pre-sale requirement or finishing common areas; asks for missing documents and pauses until they arrive; or explains why the project is unacceptable. Approval takes time and is not guaranteed, so Brian weighs it against the contract timeline, and the lender can compare other loan options in parallel.
What VA reviews
The rules behind an approval
| Title | The estate must be fee simple, with limited exceptions, and free of unreasonable restrictions on use and occupancy. |
|---|---|
| Lien priority | Mandatory HOA assessments must be subordinate to the VA-guaranteed mortgage. The lender is responsible for confirming it. |
| Appraisal | Condos are appraised on the Individual Condominium Unit Appraisal Report (Fannie Mae Form 1073), and any commercial space in the building is included with its effect on value. |
| New construction and conversions | A pre-sale requirement and warranty requirements for the unit and common elements apply. In developer conversions, the appraiser describes the renovation work. |
| Amendments | While the developer controls the association, VA must approve amendments to the declaration, bylaws or other governing documents. |
VA approval covers the documents, not the building's finances. Brian also reads the resale certificate with each buyer: reserves, special assessments, litigation and rental rules. How Brian reads a condo resale certificate.
FAQ
VA condo questions
Does VA approve individual condo units?
No. VA approves the condominium project as a whole. Until the project is approved, no unit in it is eligible for a VA loan.
Is an FHA-approved condo also VA-approved?
Generally, projects approved by HUD (FHA) or USDA need no further VA review, and VA adds them to its list once it receives evidence of that approval. In rare cases VA finds that such a project does not meet VA rules and will not guarantee loans there.
Who can ask VA to approve a building?
A lender or the project's sponsor submits the request with the condominium's organizational documents. Buyers work through their lender.
Do townhomes need VA condo approval?
Only when the townhome is legally a condominium unit. A townhome on its own lot or in a planned unit development does not need project approval. The VA townhome and HOA guide explains how to tell.
Found a condo you love?
Brian checks the building's VA status before the tour and reads the HOA documents with you.
Sources
- VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 16: Common Interest Communities, Condominiums and Planned Unit Developments, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, page updated Aug. 2026.
- Condo Report (VA condo search), VA Loan Guaranty.
- 38 CFR 36.4354, Estate of veteran in real property, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
General information as of October 2026, not legal or lending advice. VA and the lender decide project approval and loan eligibility.
Brian Huie
U.S. Air Force veteran
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