VA loans for condos in Broward and Aventura: how to check VA approval, what the funding fee costs, and how a zero-down VA loan compares on a $350,000 condo
October 31, 2026 · Zach Curtis, REALTOR®, Realty Hub
Short answer: yes, you can use a VA-backed loan on a condo, but the building has to be a VA-approved project. If it is, eligible veterans, service members and qualifying surviving spouses can often buy with no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance. Most borrowers pay a one-time VA funding fee instead.
What a VA purchase loan offers
According to the VA (VA: purchase loan):
- You can put no money down as long as the sales price isn't higher than the appraised value.
- There's no private mortgage insurance and no FHA-style mortgage insurance premium.
- There's no penalty for paying the loan off early.
- Some closing costs may be paid by the seller.
You must live in the home, qualify for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), and meet the VA's and your lender's credit and income standards. The same page lists buying "a condo in a VA-approved project" as an eligible use. For the COE, the VA's application page lists what each type of service member, veteran or surviving spouse needs, such as a DD214 for most veterans (VA: how to request a COE).
Step one for a condo: check VA approval
The VA's lender guide says a condominium must be approved by the VA to be eligible for a VA loan guaranty (VA LGY condo approvals quick reference). Anyone can search the VA's public Condo Report (VA Condo Report):
- Choose Florida as the state, which is required.
- Enter part of the condominium's legal name or its six-digit ID. Add the city or county if you want to narrow the results.
- Tick "Retrieve only approved condos?" if you only want approved projects.
Search the association's legal name, which may differ from the name on the building. Some complexes are split into phases or separate associations, so search each one. If the building isn't listed as approved, ask your lender whether it can request a review before you commit. Treat that as a timing risk in your contract's financing period; see earnest money deposits. FHA approval is separate; see how to check if a condo is FHA-approved.
The VA funding fee
The funding fee is a one-time charge based on your loan amount. You can finance it into the loan or pay it at closing. For purchase loans, the VA's chart, effective April 7, 2023, is (VA: funding fee and closing costs):
| Down payment | First use | After first use |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 5% | 2.15% | 3.3% |
| 5% or more | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| 10% or more | 1.25% | 1.25% |
You don't pay the fee if, for example, you receive or are eligible for VA compensation for a service-connected disability, or you're a surviving spouse receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. The VA's page lists the full set of exemptions and the refund rules.
A $350,000 condo example (first use)
- No down payment: the loan is $350,000 and the funding fee at 2.15% is $7,525.
- 5% down ($17,500): the loan is $332,500 and the fee at 1.5% is $4,987.50.
- 10% down ($35,000): the loan is $315,000 and the fee at 1.25% is $3,937.50.
None of these adds a monthly mortgage insurance charge. By contrast, an FHA loan carries both an upfront and an annual premium, explained in FHA mortgage insurance vs. PMI. Your monthly cost still includes the association fee, property taxes and your HO-6 policy. See HO-6 condo insurance and property taxes by city.
Loan limits and the appraisal
If you have full entitlement, the VA says you don't have a VA loan limit. You still need lender approval based on your credit, income, debts and assets. The maximum VA loan is the lower of the appraised value and the purchase price. The VA doesn't set a minimum credit score, though some lenders do, so it pays to compare more than one lender (VA: entitlement and limits). If you've used your benefit before and still have a VA loan, your remaining entitlement matters; ask your lender to calculate it. For the 2026 FHA and conforming limits in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach, see the 2026 loan limits.
Condo-specific checks
- Request the resale documents and use your review period; see the Florida condo buying checklist.
- Ask about association approval of buyers; see whether an association can deny a buyer.
- Ask about special assessments and building reserves; see who pays a special assessment.
- Compare the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure, including any seller-paid costs; see Loan Estimate vs. Closing Disclosure.
Browse Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Dania Beach, West Park or Aventura, then start at Ready to buy. Tell me you're using a VA loan, and I'll check each building's VA status before you write an offer.
Zach Curtis, Realtor, Realty Hub, license SL3664129. Equal Housing Opportunity. General information, not legal, tax, insurance or lending advice. VA eligibility, entitlement and funding fees are determined by the VA and your lender.
Questions? Ask Zach
I'm Zach Curtis, a REALTOR® with Realty Hub in Hallandale Beach. I help renters and buyers in Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Aventura and nearby. Zach replies personally within 15 minutes, 8 AM to 9 PM ET, 7 days. Outside those hours, by 9 AM.
Questions
Can you use a VA loan to buy a condo in Florida?
Yes, if the condominium is a VA-approved project. You can check the VA's public Condo Report at lgy.va.gov by selecting Florida and searching the legal name or six-digit ID.
How much is the VA funding fee in 2026?
For a first-use purchase loan it's 2.15% with less than 5% down, 1.5% with 5% or more down and 1.25% with 10% or more down. After first use with less than 5% down it's 3.3%, under the VA's chart effective April 7, 2023.
Does a VA loan have PMI?
No. The VA says VA-backed purchase loans don't require PMI or an FHA mortgage insurance premium; most borrowers pay the one-time funding fee instead.
Is there a VA loan limit in Broward County?
If you have full entitlement, the VA says you have no loan limit, though your lender still decides how much you qualify for and the loan can't exceed the lower of price or appraised value.
Who is exempt from the VA funding fee?
Exemptions include veterans receiving or eligible for VA compensation for a service-connected disability and surviving spouses receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, among others listed by the VA.
Sources
Published October 31, 2026 by Zach Curtis, REALTOR®, Realty Hub, license SL3664129. General information for South Florida, not legal, tax, insurance or lending advice. Laws, programs and prices change; check the official sources above, and ask a Florida attorney, CPA, insurance agent or lender about your situation. Listing numbers are asking prices and rents from BeachesMLS on the date shown. Equal Housing Opportunity. Zach Curtis and Realty Hub follow federal, Florida and Broward County fair housing law. Every listing is open to everyone. We never steer anyone by race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected class.