Condo or SFR ?

[Tom D]

Sounds like a pud, any lot measurement on the deed? could even be just the foot print of the house, or 1 sq foot. Here the plat shows the individual lots, or the whole project lot if a condo.

 

[Zoe]

Locally the owner don't own the land in a condo. The Condo association owns the land. The homeowner only owns the improvements. If the condo is destroyed from whatever, the homeowner has to rebuild according to condo bylaws. The homeowner may pay a portion of the real property land the condo sets on. It is pro rata share if they pay taxes on the land.

I think with FHA or VA, the condo association has to be registered.

FHA-Approved Condominium Registry & National HOA Registry​

If you need to verify a condominium’s FHA approval status or locate its National Condominium Association (HOA) registry information, there are two main resources to use.

1. FHA-Approved Condominium Search​

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) maintains an official registry of FHA-approved condominium projects. You can search by:

• Location (state, county, city, ZIP)
• Name (full or partial)
• Status (approved, expired, etc.)
• Condo ID or begin/end dates HUD

How to search:

• Go to the HUD Condominiums search page: HUD Condominiums Search
• Enter only the criteria you know (e.g., state, city, condo name) to get the most relevant results.
• Results show the project’s HUD ID, status, and other details.

Key points from HUD policy HUD.gov:

• FHA insures loans for up to 30 years in FHA-approved condos or in “Single-Unit Approval” projects (non-FHA-approved but meeting certain criteria).
• Projects must be complete, in compliance with state law, and meet HUD’s SF Handbook 4000.1 requirements (insurance coverage, financial condition, title, legal status, etc.).
• Single-Unit Approval requires at least 5 dwelling units, not being a manufactured home, and meeting FHA insurance concentration and owner-occupancy rules.

2. National HOA Registry​

The National HOA Registry is a public directory of homeowners associations, condominium boards, and cooperative boards across the U.S. reservefund.online. It provides:

• Verified HOA/community profiles
• Unit counts and management type
• State legislative compliance requirements
• Links to state statutes (e.g., California Civil Code §5550, Florida SIRS SB-4D)

How to search:

• Visit the National HOA Registry at ReserveFund Online
• Search by community name, state, or ZIP to find registered associations.
• Listings include management classification and compliance status, which can help verify governance and reserve fund transparency.

Practical Tips​

• For FHA loans: Always confirm a condo’s HUD approval status before applying, as FHA approval is a lender requirement.
• For buyer verification: Use both the HUD registry and the National HOA Registry to cross-check project approval and association compliance.
• For lenders: HUD’s search is the official source; the National HOA Registry is useful for verifying HOA governance and reserve fund status.

If you want to start, begin with the HUD Condominiums search for FHA approval status, then use the National HOA Registry to confirm the condo’s association details and compliance.

The local tax assessor will know if it is classified as a PUD or Condo most likely.

 

[ZZGAMAZZ]

Really? Plat maps typically specify each parcel's land use and zoning....

I will upload ASAP.

 

[ZZGAMAZZ]

Locally the owner don't own the land in a condo. The Condo association owns the land. The homeowner only owns the improvements. If the condo is destroyed from whatever, the homeowner has to rebuild according to condo bylaws. The homeowner may pay a portion of the real property land the condo sets on. It is pro rata share if they pay taxes on the land.

I think with FHA or VA, the condo association has to be registered.

FHA-Approved Condominium Registry & National HOA Registry​

If you need to verify a condominium’s FHA approval status or locate its National Condominium Association (HOA) registry information, there are two main resources to use.

1. FHA-Approved Condominium Search​

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) maintains an official registry of FHA-approved condominium projects. You can search by:

• Location (state, county, city, ZIP)
• Name (full or partial)
• Status (approved, expired, etc.)
• Condo ID or begin/end dates HUD

How to search:

• Go to the HUD Condominiums search page: HUD Condominiums Search
• Enter only the criteria you know (e.g., state, city, condo name) to get the most relevant results.
• Results show the project’s HUD ID, status, and other details.

Key points from HUD policy HUD.gov:

• FHA insures loans for up to 30 years in FHA-approved condos or in “Single-Unit Approval” projects (non-FHA-approved but meeting certain criteria).
• Projects must be complete, in compliance with state law, and meet HUD’s SF Handbook 4000.1 requirements (insurance coverage, financial condition, title, legal status, etc.).
• Single-Unit Approval requires at least 5 dwelling units, not being a manufactured home, and meeting FHA insurance concentration and owner-occupancy rules.

2. National HOA Registry​

The National HOA Registry is a public directory of homeowners associations, condominium boards, and cooperative boards across the U.S. reservefund.online. It provides:

• Verified HOA/community profiles
• Unit counts and management type
• State legislative compliance requirements
• Links to state statutes (e.g., California Civil Code §5550, Florida SIRS SB-4D)

How to search:

• Visit the National HOA Registry at ReserveFund Online
• Search by community name, state, or ZIP to find registered associations.
• Listings include management classification and compliance status, which can help verify governance and reserve fund transparency.

Practical Tips​

• For FHA loans: Always confirm a condo’s HUD approval status before applying, as FHA approval is a lender requirement.
• For buyer verification: Use both the HUD registry and the National HOA Registry to cross-check project approval and association compliance.
• For lenders: HUD’s search is the official source; the National HOA Registry is useful for verifying HOA governance and reserve fund status.

If you want to start, begin with the HUD Condominiums search for FHA approval status, then use the National HOA Registry to confirm the condo’s association details and compliance.

The local tax assessor will know if it is classified as a PUD or Condo most likely.

HOA didn't understand why I was questioning the status because the term "condominium" is applied throughout the property, e.g., name of the development, etc., etc. The CC&R's they provided describes "Single Family" but not a word about "condominium." [And now the client is conditoning the report to include the Unit number....which is already reported in at least 7 different locations throughout the report.]

 

[Surf Cat]

HOA didn't understand why I was questioning the status because the term "condominium" is applied throughout the property, e.g., name of the development, etc., etc. The CC&R's they provided describes "Single Family" but not a word about "condominium." [And now the client is conditoning the report to include the Unit number....which is already reported in at least 7 different locations throughout the report.]

Like others have mentioned, it sounds like a PUD. Plus, there's no unit number in the legal description.