Zillow is easing the home-shopping process for U.S. military veterans with a new feature highlighting condos eligible for Veterans Affairs (VA) loans.
Many prospective buyers are unaware of the additional requirements condos must meet to be eligible for a VA loan. While most single-family homes can be financed with a VA loan, condominium complexes require express department approval before individual units are eligible.
Zillow’s new tool is designed to take the guesswork out of the process, allowing the country’s 19 million veterans to immediately see if a condo is VA-loan eligible, according to a press release.
“We want everyone to have access to the information necessary to empower their home search,” said Aldona Clottey, Zillow’s vice president of corporate social responsibility. “In today’s competitive marketplace, where homes sell in a matter of days, an efficient home search is critical.”
Before the tool was available, most shoppers had to toggle between their Zillow search and the VA website to confirm financing eligibility for condos, adding unnecessary complexity and time to their search.
“This feature provides valuable financing information right at the fingertips of our veterans as they search for their next home,” Clottey added.
Highlighting VA loan information on its sites and apps is part of Zillow’s social-impact strategy. Similar features include information about LGBTQ local legal protections and down payment assistance programs for financially strapped shoppers, the release noted.