Warrantability Is the New Ocean View

Most owners don't know if they have it. Buyers check first.

For decades, condo value in Los Angeles came down to a short list: location, view, square footage, finishes.

That list has a new item at the top. Can a buyer get a loan in this building?

Since August, lenders review nearly every condo building in full: reserves, insurance, maintenance, governance. A building that passes is warrantable, and it keeps access to the full pool of buyers. A building that doesn't loses most of them.

That makes a qualified building scarce. And scarcity is where value comes from.

Most Sellers Don't Know Where They Stand

Most owners have never asked whether their building qualifies. They find out in escrow, when a buyer's lender reviews it. By then, the answer controls the deal.

If the building is in excellent shape, that's a missed opportunity. The owner is sitting on one of the most valuable features in today's market and not marketing it.

If there are gaps, it's a missed chance to address them on the seller's timeline instead of the buyer's.

Either way, the owner who knows first is in control.

Finding Out First

That's what we do for our clients before a home ever reaches the market.

Through our Pre-Packaged Condo Sale and CondoNAV, we review the building the way a lender will: documents, reserves, insurance and the financing picture. When a building is in strong shape, we lead with it. When it isn't, we know exactly what needs attention and work through it.

Buyers don't discover the answers in escrow. They confirm them.

Two Recent Examples

While many listings sit, both of these sold before they reached the market. Both set records.

4350 Via Dolce #208, Marina del Rey

Sold: $1,350,000. A record for the building, above its planned list price of $1,299,000.

The preparation went well beyond the unit:

• Mold remediation, with the kitchen, bathrooms and flooring rebuilt

• Plumbing addressed through the vertical stack

• Building issues worked through with the HOA and neighboring owners, including SB 326 items

• HOA documents, disclosures and building due diligence pre-packaged

• Financing reviewed in advance through CondoNAV

The buyer is a veteran purchasing with VA financing. That required the entire condominium project — not just the unit — to make it through the lending process. Because every question had already been answered, it did.

2271 Century Hill, Century City

Sold: $1,485,000. A record for its section of the community.

This one didn't need a rebuild. It needed the right preparation:

• About one month of targeted work: paint, flooring, LED lighting, bathroom finishes, tile and staging

• Time spent learning the community: management, security, grounds and amenities

• A clear case for its location. The Avenue of the Stars side, which some buyers had seen as a compromise, delivers light, privacy, breezes and the sound of the fountains

What Both Have in Common

In both cases, the buyer had the full picture before making an offer: the home, the building and the financing. There was nothing left to discover in escrow, so there was nothing to hesitate over.

That's why they sold before they reached the market.

When the building is known, buyers don't hesitate. They move.

Which Side of the Line Is Your Building On?

If you own a condo or townhome, the most valuable thing you can learn this year may be whether your building qualifies.

If it does, you have an advantage worth pricing and marketing. If it doesn't yet, better to learn that now than in escrow.

Let's find out together. No pressure. Just clarity.

Call (310) 494-2979 or visit condosalesexperts.com/contact.

When everything is known, everything works.

— Brian Maser, The Condo Experts

FREQUENTLY ASKED — WARRANTABILITY AND YOUR LOS ANGELES CONDO

Q: What does it mean for a condo to be warrantable?

A warrantable condo is one in a building that meets Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac standards, which means buyers can use conventional financing there. Warrantable buildings keep access to the full pool of buyers. Non-warrantable buildings don't — buyers are limited to cash or specialty loans, which shrinks demand and can pressure price.

Q: How do I find out if my condo building is warrantable in Los Angeles?

The fastest way is to have the building reviewed before you list — not wait for a buyer's lender to do it in escrow. The Condo Experts run this review through our Pre-Packaged Condo Sale and CondoNAV process: documents, reserves, insurance and the current financing picture. Call (310) 494-2979 or visit condosalesexperts.com/contact.

Q: Did the condo lending rules change in 2026?

Yes. As of August 3, 2026, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac eliminated the Limited Review shortcut for most established condo buildings. Lenders now conduct a full review of every building — its reserves, insurance, deferred maintenance, governance and more — before approving a conventional loan. For a deeper explanation, see our complete guide to the 2026 condo lending rules.

Q: Can you still sell a condo if the building isn't warrantable?

Yes, but your buyer pool shrinks significantly — most conventional buyers can't finance it, so you're largely limited to cash buyers and those using portfolio loans. That reduced competition typically shows up in price. The better move is to know your building's status before you list and address any issues on your timeline, not under the pressure of an open escrow.

Q: What is VA financing for a condo and why is it hard to get?

VA loans for condos are available only in buildings that pass both conventional lender review and a separate VA project approval. The entire condominium project has to qualify — not just the unit. When a building has been fully prepared and pre-packaged, it can pass. When it hasn't, the deal falls apart in escrow.