To get an unfinished condo building FHA-approved, the developer must submit:
- An application for environment review, using HUD Form 92250
- A document describing the type of condominium structure, number of proposed units, and common facilities
- A location map
- A preliminary site plan
- An Equal Opportunity Employment certificate, using HUD Form 92010
- An Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan
- A letter from the state Historic Preservation Office stating that the project is “acceptable”
Full Answer
What are the benefits of having a FHA approved condo?
FHA Condo Approval dramatically increases the pool of potential buyers. First and foremost, FHA Condo Approval opens up a sea of buyers. Statistics show that approximately 60% of new homebuyers intend to use an FHA Loan. If your community does not have FHA condo approval, you potentially limit the buying pool to only 40% of homebuyers.
Should we make our condo FHA approved?
If a mortgage loan that will be sold to one of those agencies is secured by a condo unit, the condo project must be approved by the agency purchasing the loan. If a condo is FHA approved, a unit in the condo can be sold to a borrower who needs the low down payment available on an FHA mortgage to make the purchase.
How to find out if a property is FHA approved?
- Windows and doors are cracked or off their hinges
- Handrails and stairs are broken or missing
- The roof is leaky, has more than three layers, or will not last much longer
- Close proximity to a hazardous waste site, oil and gas well, or petroleum line
- Close proximity to a transmission tower or high-voltage power lines
Can you buy a condo with a FHA loan?
The answer to whether or not you can buy a condo with an FHA loan is yes! FHA loans are a great option for those looking to buy a condo. There are some restrictions on what condos you can buy with an FHA loan, but most condos are eligible. If you're interested in buying a condo with an FHA loan, keep reading for more information.

Can a condo be VA approved but not FHA?
In the past, VA and FHA approvals were reciprocal, meaning if the VA approved a condo complex, then the FHA would automatically approve it as well, but this is no longer the case. Your real estate agent will be a good resource for assistance in navigating the VA condo HOA approvals.
What makes something FHA-approved?
FHA-approved simply means that the property met the set guidelines and passed the FHA approval process. FHA-approved condos meet the property requirements of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and can be purchased using an FHA loan.
How long does an FHA Pre Approval take?
How Long Does it Take to get Pre Approved for an FHA Loan? The FHA pre-approval can be done in one day if you provide the lender with the documentation that he or she needs quickly. Providing only some of the documentation that the lender needs will only delay your pre-approval.
What is a spot approval FHA?
The FHA Single Unit Approval program, formerly known as Spot Approval, allows an FHA mortgage to fund in an association, without the project having to obtain FHA certification.
Why do Hoa not want FHA loans?
FHA requires HOAs overseeing condo communities, for instance, to limit the number of units that can be rented out. The effort needed to be certified for FHA mortgages, in other words, might be too great for some HOAs and their homeowner-members.
Why would a home not be FHA approved?
Loan Limits A house that is too expensive cannot qualify for an FHA loan. HUD sets loan limits annually, which vary by area and number of units . The FHA can only insure an amount up to this limit. A high-end home, with the standard FHA down payment of 3.5 percent, might have a loan amount that exceeds the limit.
What is the downside of an FHA loan?
A major drawback of FHA loans is the high cost of FHA mortgage insurance, which must be paid for the life of the loan if you make the minimum 3.5% down payment. FHA county loan limits also curtail your buying power, since they're set at 35% below conforming conventional loan limits in most counties across the U.S.
How often is FHA underwriting denied?
Federal Housing Administration loans: 14.1% denial rate. Jumbo loans: 11% denial rate. Conventional conforming loans: 7.6% denial rate. Refinance loans: 13.2% denial rate.
Do FHA loans take longer to close?
It takes around 47 days to close on an FHA mortgage loan. FHA refinances are faster and take around 32 days to close on average. FHA loans generally close in a very similar timeframe to conventional loans but may require additional time at specific points in the process.
How do I know if a condo is Fannie Mae approved?
Quickly and easily determine if a condo project meets Fannie Mae's requirements. Fannie Mae's Condo Project Manager™ (CPM™) is a free, web-based tool that enables lenders to quickly and easily certify a condominium project (or a legal phase of a project). The project must be eligible under the Full Review requirements.
What is a single unit approval?
In October 2019, FHA (Federal Housing Administration) introduced the Single Unit Approval (SUA). This allows us to approve individual condominium units within a condominium that doesn't have an existing approval for the condo association as a whole.
What does FHA concentration mean?
Only 10% of the condos in a project can have active FHA loans (for projects with less than ten units, only two FHA units are permitted). The “FHA concentration” column will show the current percentage in a project. Expiration date.
What happens after FHA pre-approval?
They will dispatch an appraiser to go look at the house come up with a value. FHA Underwriting: At this point, if everything looks good, they will send the loan to underwriting. This is like a final check to make sure that the loan is acceptable.
What happens after pre-approval for FHA loan?
If you get pre-approved for an FHA loan, you can prove a mortgage lender has screened you, and you can share this pre-approval letter with sellers when you make an offer on a home. A seller will be more likely to accept your offer when you have a pre-approval letter.
Why would an underwriter deny an FHA loan?
Reasons for an FHA Rejection There are three popular reasons you have been denied for an FHA loan–bad credit, high debt-to-income ratio, and overall insufficient money to cover the down payment and closing costs.
What happens after FHA loan approval?
FHA Loan Approval. Once the underwriter is satisfied that you meet all of the lender's guidelines, as well as the Federal Housing Administration's guidelines, you will be “clear to close.” This means you can move forward to the closing process and receive financing.
How can a Development Become FHA Approved?
Today, however, the entire development needs approval in order for any borrower to secure FHA financing.
Why do you need to get FHA approval?
There are many reasons why you should consider seeking FHA approval and keeping that approval upon expiration including the fact that it helps not only potential buyers find a home, but it also helps keep the value of your condos up because the ability to sell to a wider market makes it easier to sell.
How often do you need to get a recertification for FHA?
Even if your development obtained approval from the FHA when they first opened, you need recertification every 2 years in order to stay eligible. Get Matched with a Lender, Click Here.
What is the FHA down payment?
The FHA allows down payments as low as 3.5% of the sales price and offers assistance with closing costs , both of which are attractive for first-time homebuyers. Without approval to allow FHA financing in your development, you could lose a significant portion of your targeted audience.
What does approval mean for FHA?
The approval certifies that the development meets the specific guidelines that the FHA requires . It also means that the banks loaning the money can feel secure in the fact that the risk of default decreases as a result of the development meeting the specific criteria. There are two ways that you can secure approval:
How many units are required for FHA approval?
There are certain requirements that your development must meet in order for the FHA to consider it for approval. They are as follows: – There must be two or more units in the property. – One owner cannot own more than 50% of the units. – The number of homeowners late on their association dues cannot exceed 15%.
What is condo association?
A condo association has many jobs aside from overseeing the development and caring for the common areas. As condo units turn over and people want to purchase them, they need access to various forms of financing. Most government-backed financing options require approval from the appropriate entity in order for the financing to go through.
What is the FHA?
The Federal Housing Administration is a government institution that was created to help more people afford housing via the help of FHA loans. It operates by insuring mortgages for FHA-approved lenders. This allows lenders to offer loans to borrowers who would traditionally be deemed too risky.
What is an FHA condo?
Put simply, an FHA condo (also known as a HUD-approved condo) is a condominium that qualifies to be purchased with an FHA loan. It isn’t as simple as it sounds, though. In order to be eligible, you must meet specific loan guidelines determined by the Federal Housing Administration. Let’s talk about some of these requirements.
How to qualify for an FHA loan for a condo
The FHA sets certain terms for acquiring an FHA loan. These terms can be a bit more flexible since the Federal Housing Administration’s goal is to make home-buying more affordable for buyers. Don’t take that to mean it’s easy to get an FHA loan. Like any mortgage, there are several steps and rules to abide by.
Condos: How to get FHA-approved
Just like you, the condo also needs to go through an approval process. In order for a condo to be eligible, it must meet the following rules:
Benefits of FHA-approved condos
Compared to conventional loans, qualifications for FHA loans are much more flexible.
FHA-approved condos come with certain challenges
If you’re trying to avoid mortgage insurance, you may want to consider other options besides an FHA loan for a condo. Mortgage insurance is required on FHA-insured properties and it can’t be removed no matter how much equity you accumulate in the property.
Find your FHA-approved condo
Luckily for you and other home-buyers, HUD has created a tool that helps you see if the condo you’re looking at is FHA-eligible. It’s a lot easier than manually going down a checklist for every property you’re looking at. You can find this tool here.
When did the FHA final rule for condos come out?
On August 15, 2019, FHA published its Condominium Project Approval Final Rule in the Federal Register (Docket No. FR-5715-F-02). Additionally, it added two new sections—Section II.A.8.p "Condominiums" and Section II.C "Condominium Project Approval" —and incorporated new condominium project approval policy guidance in other sections ...
How long does a FHA loan last?
FHA insures condominium loans for up to 30-year terms to purchase or refinance a unit in an FHA-approved condominium project or in a project that is not FHA-approved but meets the Single-Unit Approval requirements.
How many units are required for single unit approval?
To be eligible for Single-Unit Approval, the unit must be located in a project that is not FHA-approved, that is complete and ready for occupancy, has at least five dwelling units and it is not a manufactured home. The project must also meet a subset of the requirements set forth for project approval, including FHA insurance concentration, owner-occupancy percentage, and financial condition of the project.
