Published: October 18, 2026 · By the Chicago Condo Loans Editorial Team
Quick answer No. An FHA-approved condo is not automatically VA-approved. Since December 7, 2009, VA has not accepted HUD/FHA condo approvals in place of its own review, and VA’s regulation requires VA to approve a condo project’s legal documentation before it guarantees a loan there. FHA also allows single-unit approval in some unapproved buildings; VA has no single-unit approval. Check both lists separately before you make an offer.
This is part of our guide to VA condo loans in Chicago.
How do FHA and VA condo approvals differ?
| Detail | FHA | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Who approves the building | HUD, or a lender with DELRAP authority | VA (lenders submit the request through VA’s systems) |
| Approval for one unit in an unapproved building | Single-unit approval, in projects of 5 or more units (capped at 10% of units in 10+ unit buildings, or 2 units below 10) | Not available |
| Site condominiums | Can qualify without project approval | No equivalent rule found |
| Does the other agency’s approval count? | FHA approval comes only from HUD or a DELRAP lender | No, since Dec. 7, 2009; projects approved by both before then kept their status |
| Where to check | HUD’s FHA-approved condominium list | VA’s Condo Report on the LGY Hub |
| How long approval lasts | 3 years | Shown by status in the Condo Report |
Why did VA stop accepting FHA approvals?
VA Circular 26-09-19 (November 30, 2009) announced that from December 7, 2009, VA would no longer accept HUD/FHA condominium approvals in lieu of its own review. Projects that had both approvals before then kept their status, which is why some buildings show “HUD Accepted” as a status in VA’s Condo Report. Under 38 CFR 36.4360(c), the legal documentation establishing a condo project must be approved by VA before VA guarantees a loan on a unit there.
What should a veteran buying in Chicago do?
- Look up the building in VA’s Condo Report before you write an offer. Statuses include Accepted Without Conditions, Accepted With Conditions, Pending, Rejected, Suspended and Unknown.
- If it isn’t VA-approved, ask your lender whether it will request approval. Lenders upload the declaration, bylaws, amendments, plat, rules, minutes, budget and letters on special assessments, litigation and presales.
- Keep a backup plan. If VA approval isn’t realistic before closing, FHA (if the building is FHA-approved or the unit qualifies for single-unit approval) or a conventional loan may work. Compare costs in FHA condo approval in Chicago.
- Remember that a townhome that is legally a PUD, not a condo, isn’t covered by VA’s condo approval rule; see condo vs. townhome (PUD) financing.
Frequently asked questions
Is an FHA-approved condo also VA-approved?
No. VA has not accepted HUD/FHA condo approvals in place of its own review since December 7, 2009, so a building can be on FHA’s list and not VA’s. Check VA’s Condo Report separately.
Does VA have single-unit approval like FHA?
No. VA requires the condo project’s legal documentation to be approved by VA. FHA allows single-unit approval in some projects of five or more units that are not FHA-approved.
What does HUD Accepted mean in VA’s Condo Report?
It is one of the statuses in VA’s Condo Report. VA kept the status of projects approved by both HUD and VA before December 7, 2009, when it stopped accepting HUD approvals in lieu of its own.
Can my lender get a building VA-approved?
A lender can request VA approval by submitting the project’s documents, such as the declaration, bylaws, budget, and letters on special assessments, litigation and presales. Approval isn’t guaranteed and takes time.
Sources
- 38 CFR 36.4360, VA condominium project approval
- 24 CFR 203.43b, FHA eligibility of condominium units
- HUD, FHA Condominiums
- VA LGY Hub, Condo Report
- VA.gov, VA-backed purchase loan (updated Jan. 7, 2026)
Educational content only. We are not a lender or broker, and this is not lending, legal or financial advice. Rules change; confirm details with your lender and attorney.