The Building Was VA Approved the Whole Time. Nobody Had Looked Under the Right Address.
How We Helped EJ and Deborah, a Veteran Couple Relocating From California, Use a VA Loan on a Condo at Fountains on Broadway, Downtown Kansas City, MO: The Full Story
Is Fountains on Broadway VA Approved? Yes. Here Is Why the First Search Said No
Yes, you can use a VA loan to buy a condo in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, as long as the entire condominium project is approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA approves buildings, not individual units. In 2026 EJ and Deborah, a veteran couple relocating from California and working with Casey Kempter of Nelson Home Group at Keller Williams KC North, bought a one-bedroom loft at Fountains on Broadway using EJ’s VA benefit, after the building appeared on first check not to be eligible. It was approved all along, recorded with the VA under a different street address than the one the building operates under today. They went under contract on May 3, 2026 on conventional financing, switched to a VA loan mid-transaction, and closed under list price on June 17, 2026 with a repair credit and a home warranty negotiated on their behalf.
The hard part was not the loan. It was finding out the loan had been available the whole time.
Here is how it actually went, start to finish.
The Full Story
EJ and Deborah were living in California and planning a move to Kansas City, Missouri. They wanted a downtown condo: walkable, low maintenance, close to the streetcar and the River Market. What they did not know was whether they were allowed to use the VA benefit EJ had earned.
The location mattered for reasons beyond the condo itself. EJ and Deborah had family in the Kansas City area and children starting college here, and a downtown condominium put them close to both. Proximity to family was as much a part of the search criteria as the building itself.
The financing question shaped everything else. VA financing on condominiums works differently than it does on a single-family house: the Department of Veterans Affairs approves the entire condominium project, not the individual unit, and if the project is not on the VA’s approved list, the loan cannot be written at all. Every listing they looked at online carried the same unanswered question. Rather than risk losing a home over it, they began the search planning to finance conventionally, setting aside a benefit EJ had earned, because nobody could tell them for certain they could use it.
They flew into Kansas City and spent their time on the ground with Casey Kempter of Nelson Home Group at Keller Williams KC North, touring between fifteen and twenty downtown condominiums. Most were not VA eligible. The one they fell in love with, a one-bedroom loft at Fountains on Broadway, a building constructed in 1903 with exposed brick, wood beams, polished concrete and a north view across the Missouri River, appeared on first check not to be eligible either.
“A building that is not on the VA list and a building that nobody has found on the VA list look exactly the same from the outside. The only way to tell them apart is to go ask the HOA.”
The Strategy
The building’s apparent ineligibility turned out to be a paperwork problem, not a real one.
Casey’s experience with downtown Kansas City condominiums is that VA approval status is routinely misread. It does not appear in the MLS (this listing’s acceptable-financing field read cash or conventional, with VA not even listed), most lenders check once and move on, and buildings from the early 1900s have often been converted, renamed, or recorded under more than one address across a century. So instead of accepting the first answer, Casey went to the HOA directly. The HOA confirmed what the initial search had missed: Fountains on Broadway was recorded with the VA under a different street address than the one the building operates under today. Same building, two addresses, and a search under the wrong one returns nothing.
Working with the HOA and contacting the VA to reconcile the two records, Casey established that the entire Fountains on Broadway project was already VA approved, and had been the whole time. EJ and Deborah had been shopping under a restriction that did not exist.
Acting on that, they changed lenders late in the transaction. The new lender, reached through Nelson Home Group’s veteran-lending partnerships, was able to independently confirm the project’s VA approval and write the loan, which is not something every lender will take on for a condominium purchase. That surfaced a second requirement, this one about income. Deborah worked remotely for an employer with no Kansas City presence, and remote income only counts toward a VA loan when the lender can document that the position genuinely travels with the employee. Her corporate office had to issue a written letter confirming she could work from any location. Casey and the lender identified that requirement early and had the letter requested before it became the thing holding up the file.
The last piece was timing. EJ and Deborah were already under contract on conventional financing when the VA eligibility was confirmed. Changing lenders and loan products mid-transaction means restarting underwriting, ordering a new appraisal under VA requirements, and resetting the closing clock, and it requires a seller willing to wait. Casey negotiated three short closing extensions with the listing side, a few days at a time, which kept the sellers informed and the contract intact while the VA file was rebuilt from the beginning.
Nelson Home Group is a veteran-owned team and is not a lender. VA eligibility, condominium project approval, occupancy requirements and income documentation are determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the lender underwriting the loan. Project approval status can change over time, so confirm current eligibility with a VA-experienced lender before relying on it.
The Success
EJ and Deborah bought the downtown Kansas City condominium they wanted, under list price, using EJ’s VA benefit, the benefit they had arrived in town believing was off the table.
The purchase also included a repair credit and a home warranty negotiated on the buyers’ behalf. The loan closed on June 17, 2026, about two and a half weeks past the original contract date, with all three extensions agreed to and the financing converted from conventional to VA without the contract ever coming apart.
For a veteran buying a condominium anywhere in the Kansas City metro, the takeaway is narrow and useful: a building that looks ineligible may simply be recorded under a name or an address that does not match what is on the door, and the lender you start with may not be the one able to confirm it. It is worth finding out before you write the offer, and worth finding out even after you already have.
“Switching from conventional to VA after you are under contract means a new lender, a new appraisal and a new closing date. It only works if the seller is kept in the loop, so we asked for a few days at a time instead of a month at once.”
In EJ and Deborah’s Words
Casey Kempter from the Nelson Home Group provided an outstanding home-buying experience from start to finish. We purchased a downtown condo in Kansas City relocating from California, and Casey made the entire process smooth and stress-free.
He was always quick to answer our questions, paid close attention to every request and detail, and was extremely accommodating throughout the process—even when we decided to change lenders and use a VA loan. His knowledge of VA requirements and downtown Kansas City condo living was invaluable. He took the time to show us different condominiums and helped us find the perfect place for our needs. He is even going above and beyond after closing by helping us out with move-in logistics.
We couldn’t be happier with our new condo, and we’re so glad we found Casey to help us with our purchase. If you’re looking for a knowledgeable, responsive, and dedicated realtor, I highly recommend Casey!
— EJ and Deborah · Verified Google review
About This Property
The home is a one-bedroom, one-bath loft of 667 square feet in the Fountains on Broadway building in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, a brick warehouse conversion built in 1903: exposed brick walls, original wood beam ceilings, polished concrete floors, tall factory windows, granite counters, stainless appliances and an in-unit washer and dryer. The building has an elevator, a fitness room, a theater room, a club house and a sauna, and the HOA covers building maintenance, water, trash and snow removal. It sold furnished.
The listing was held by another brokerage; Nelson Home Group represented the buyers. More on the area: Living in Kansas City, MO →
Living in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri
Fountains on Broadway sits in the Garment District on the north edge of downtown Kansas City, a few blocks from the River Market and the KC Streetcar line, with the Power and Light District and the Crossroads Arts District a short ride south. Most of the housing downtown is condominium and loft conversions like this one, which is exactly why VA project approval comes up so often here. If you are weighing a downtown condo against a house in the Northland or Johnson County, our Living in Kansas City, MO guide and our breakdown of condos, townhouses and villas in Kansas City are the place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a VA loan to buy a condo in Kansas City?
Yes, but only if the entire condominium project is approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Approval is not granted unit by unit. Several downtown Kansas City buildings are approved and many buyers never find out, because approval status does not appear in the MLS. In 2026 Nelson Home Group of Keller Williams KC North helped a veteran couple close a VA loan on a loft at Fountains on Broadway in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Our guide on buying a condo with a VA loan in Kansas City covers how the approval works.
Is Fountains on Broadway VA approved?
It was at the time of our clients’ purchase in June 2026, the whole project, not just one unit. The confusion is that the building is recorded with the VA under a different street address than the one it operates under today, so a search under the current address can come back empty. Approval status can change, so have your lender verify it before you write an offer.
What happens if the condo building is not on the VA approved list?
Sometimes it is and the search missed it. Older buildings are occasionally recorded with the VA under a former name or a different street address. Checking with the HOA and reconciling the records with the VA directly is what settles it, which is exactly what happened on our downtown Kansas City purchase. If the project genuinely is not approved, your lender can submit the association’s documents for VA review, or you can move to a building that is already cleared.
Can I switch to a VA loan after I am already under contract?
It is possible, and we have done it. It usually means moving to a lender who writes VA loans regularly, restarting underwriting, a new appraisal under VA requirements, and a later closing date, so it takes a cooperative seller. On our clients’ Fountains on Broadway purchase that meant three short closing extensions and a close about two and a half weeks past the original date. Not a decision to make casually, but giving up an earned benefit to avoid the hassle is worse.
Does my spouse’s remote income count toward a VA loan if we are moving from another state?
It can, if the lender can document that the job genuinely moves with the employee. Most underwriters want a letter from the employer confirming the position can be performed from any location. Ask for that letter early; it is a common source of delay. On a 2026 downtown Kansas City VA condo purchase we handled, the buyer’s employer letter was requested before the file reached underwriting, and it never held anything up.
Do I need a different lender for a VA condo purchase?
Sometimes, yes. Not every lender will verify condominium project approval or take on a VA condo file, and a lender who tells you a building is not eligible may simply not have looked past the first search. Our buyers changed lenders late in their purchase because the second lender could confirm what the first had not.
Can I use a VA loan to buy a place for my kids while they are in college?
Not on its own. The VA benefit is for a home the veteran will occupy as their primary residence, and the veteran certifies that intent at closing. Family visiting or staying with you is ordinary life; buying a property principally as housing for someone else is a different loan product. Ask a VA-experienced lender about your specific situation before you write an offer. This is exactly the kind of question worth asking early rather than after you are under contract.
How do I buy a home in Kansas City from out of state?
Most out-of-state buyers make one concentrated trip and see a lot of properties in a short window. Our California clients toured between fifteen and twenty downtown condominiums in a single visit, which is the fastest way to learn what you actually want. The research that decides the outcome, financing eligibility, HOA documents, building history, happens before and after the trip. Our story on relocating to Missouri from out of state walks through another one.
Are HOA dues a problem for VA financing?
The dues themselves are not disqualifying; they are counted in your monthly housing expense for qualifying, like taxes and insurance. What matters more is the health of the association. Your lender and your own attorney or tax professional should review the HOA documents with you. Nelson Home Group is not an attorney or a tax advisor. Our guide to HOA due diligence on downtown Kansas City condos lists what to read.
A VA loan on a downtown condo is a narrow target, and the way to hit it is to check the building before you fall for the unit, and to check it twice if the first answer is no. If you are a veteran looking at condos anywhere in the Kansas City metro, our team has done this before.
More stories from our team: a VA loan on a 100-year-old house in Liberty · buying a home in Kansas City while stationed overseas · using a VA loan on a multi-million-dollar home in Olathe.
Nelson Home Group works with veteran and military buyers across downtown Kansas City, the Northland, Johnson County and the wider Kansas City metro. Start with our VA home buying guide for Kansas City and our veterans page, then call or text 816-680-6624 or reach the team here.
Joe Nelson · Nelson Home Group · 1508 NW Vivion Rd #205, Kansas City, MO 64118 · 816-680-6624
Brokerage: Keller Williams KC North · 816-452-4200
The Result
A VA Loan on a Building That Looked Ineligible, Closed Under List Price
VA loan · under contract May 3, 2026 · closed June 17, 2026
Fountains on Broadway · Downtown Kansas City, MO
Financing switched from conventional to VA mid-contract, three short extensions, a repair credit and a home warranty. Relocated from California.
How VA Condo Approval Actually Works
- The VA approves the whole condominium project, never a single unit
- If the project is not on the VA list, the loan cannot be written until it is
- Approval status does not show up in the MLS or on the listing
- A lender can submit the HOA’s documents for review, which takes months
Check the building before you fall for the unit. Then check it again if the answer is no.
Why an Approved Building Can Look Ineligible
- Early-1900s buildings have often been converted, renamed or re-addressed
- The VA record may sit under a former name or a different street address
- Most lenders run the search once, under the current address, and move on
- The HOA usually knows which address the VA has on file
Fountains on Broadway was on the list the whole time. The search was under the wrong door.
What the VA Reviews on a Condo Project
- The association budget and the size of its reserve fund
- How many units are owner-occupied versus rented
- Whether one investor owns a large share of the building
- Rental bans, long owner-occupancy waits and rights of first refusal in the bylaws
- Pending litigation or special assessments
The VA judges the rules for every owner, not just you. A spotless unit does not fix a weak association.
Three Kinds of Downtown Condo Buildings
- VA approved: the whole project is on the VA list, so a VA loan can be written on any unit
- Conventional only: warrantable under Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rules, but the VA has never reviewed it
- Cash or portfolio only: non-warrantable, so most lenders will not touch it at all
A building can sit in the first group and still get listed as the second, which is what happened here. Our guides on VA loans on Kansas City condos and River Market condos, buy vs rent go deeper.
How the Timeline Actually Ran
- One trip from California: fifteen to twenty downtown condos toured
- May 3, 2026: under contract on conventional financing, 10 days after the listing went live
- HOA and VA records reconciled: the project was approved all along
- Lender changed, VA file rebuilt, remote-income letter requested early
- Three short closing extensions, a few days each
- June 17, 2026: closed on a VA loan, under list price
About two and a half weeks past the original closing date, and the contract never came apart.
What Switching Loan Programs Mid-Contract Actually Costs
- A new lender means underwriting starts over from the application
- A VA loan needs its own appraisal, ordered under VA requirements
- The closing date moves, so the seller has to sign an extension
- Ask for a few days at a time and keep the listing agent informed
- Your earnest money stays at risk until the new file is approved
On this purchase it took three short extensions and about two and a half weeks. The contract never came apart because nobody on the other side was surprised.
Remote Income on a VA Loan
- Income from an employer with no local office can count
- The lender has to document that the job travels with the employee
- Most underwriters want a letter from the employer saying so
- Request it the week you go under contract, not the week before closing
On this purchase the letter was requested early and never held up the file.
Questions to Ask Before You Write on a Downtown Condo
- Is the project on the VA approved list, and under which address or name?
- What address does the HOA have on file with the VA?
- Are there special assessments planned or pending?
- Is there a rental cap, a rental ban or a right of first refusal?
- Is parking deeded, assigned or leased month to month?
The first two questions are the ones that would have saved our clients weeks. Nobody else asked them.
The Numbers on This Loft
- 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 667 sq ft
- Built 1903 · brick and frame warehouse conversion
- Exposed brick, wood beams, polished concrete floors
- Elevator building · fitness room · theater room · club house · sauna
- Sold furnished · in-unit washer and dryer
- Under contract May 3, 2026 · closed June 17, 2026 · VA loan
Jackson County, Missouri. Buyer side; the listing belonged to another brokerage.
What the HOA Covers at Fountains on Broadway
- Building maintenance, property insurance, water and trash
- Snow removal and common-area upkeep
- Club house, fitness room, theater room, party room and sauna
- Extra storage in the basement comes with the unit
- Gated and covered parking available for a separate monthly fee
HOA dues count in your monthly housing expense for VA qualifying, so have the lender run the real number before you write.
Buying a Furnished Condo: What Actually Conveys
- This loft sold furnished, down to the dishes and the barstools
- Furniture is personal property and is listed in the contract, not the deed
- The appraiser and the VA value the real estate only; furniture adds nothing to the loan
- Exclusions get written down (here, one stand mixer stayed with the seller)
- Relocating buyers save a cross-country move and a month of shopping
For a couple flying in from California, a furnished sale meant the condo was livable the day they closed.
Downtown Kansas City at a Glance
- Garment District, on the north edge of downtown
- A few blocks from the River Market and the KC Streetcar
- Power and Light District and the Crossroads a short ride south
- Mostly loft and condo conversions, so building approval matters here
More on the area: Living in Kansas City, MO.
About Casey Kempter
Casey Kempter is a Realtor with Nelson Home Group at Keller Williams KC North, licensed in Missouri and Kansas. He lives in a downtown Kansas City condo and sells them; downtown condos, townhomes and lofts, VA loans on condominium projects, military buyers and relocation buyers are his specialties. Read Casey’s full bio →
More Veteran Buyer Stories
- A VA loan on a 100-year-old house in Liberty
- Buying a home in Kansas City while stationed overseas
- Using a VA loan on a multi-million-dollar home in Olathe
- Selling a home bought with a VA loan in Smithville
Every one of these is a closed Nelson Home Group transaction, not a hypothetical.
Buying a Condo With a VA Loan?
Tell us the building before you write the offer. We will check the project’s VA status, read the HOA documents, and tell you whether the deal is real. Start with our VA home buying guide or a conversation with the team.