Overview: Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025
| Bill Number | Chamber | Sponsor | Date Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.R. 1803 | House | Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] | March 3, 2025 |
The Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025 is a House bill that lets eligible veterans use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) backed mortgages to purchase eligible cooperative housing units.
This change expands the types of homes you can buy with VA financing, including zero-down financing when you qualify. It also matters in higher-cost markets where co-ops are a common way to own a home.
The bill was introduced March 3, 2025, in the 119th Congress, and it has advanced in committee with a subcommittee voice vote to move it forward.
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Bill Overview
Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025
Allows eligible veterans to use VA-backed mortgages to purchase eligible cooperative housing units.
Bill Overview
Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025
Allows eligible veterans to use VA-backed mortgages to purchase eligible cooperative housing units.
Bill
Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025
House of Representatives
What Is The Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025?
The Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025 expands VA-backed mortgages to cover eligible co-op homes.
A VA-backed mortgage is a home loan made by a private lender and backed by the VA. The VA backing is what supports VA-friendly terms, including the option for zero down payment for eligible buyers, and pricing that often compares well to other low down payment loans.
A co-op is a different kind of homeownership than a condominium. With a condominium, you own your unit. With a co-op, you buy shares in a corporation that owns the building, and your shares come with the right to live in a specific unit. In many neighborhoods, co-ops are the main way people buy homes, so making co-ops eligible for VA financing opens more doors for veteran home buyers.
Who Benefits From The Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025?
This bill benefits veterans and service members who qualify for VA loan eligibility and want to buy in a co-op building.
It also helps when the homes you like are mostly co-ops. In some cities and close-in suburbs, you can find fewer entry-level condos, and more co-ops at price points that fit a starter-home budget. By making eligible co-ops available to VA financing, the bill increases the number of homes that fit your budget and your loan options.
Here’s who feels the impact most:
- Veterans buying in co-op-heavy markets
- Buyers who want a zero-down VA option on more home types
- Households choosing between condos and co-ops in the same neighborhood
The big idea is simple: you get more choices without changing what makes VA financing attractive.
How Does The Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025 Work?
Today, many VA loan transactions focus on traditional one-unit homes, condos, and certain other property types that meet VA requirements. Co-ops have been harder to finance with VA backing because the ownership structure is different. You are not buying real estate in the same way; you are buying shares and a right to occupy the unit.
The Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025 changes that by allowing VA-backed mortgages for eligible cooperative housing units. That means VA eligibility and VA financing features apply to an expanded set of homes, as long as the co-op meets program standards.
1. The home type expands to include eligible co-ops
The bill adds cooperative housing units to the types of homes that work with VA-backed mortgages, as long as they are eligible.
In plain terms, a co-op building and its rules still need to be financeable. When the co-op meets the standards, the buyer gets to use the VA loan benefit on that home.
2. VA loan benefits apply to the expanded home type
VA-backed mortgages are popular because they support home buying with features that help buyers keep more cash on hand, including the option for zero down payment for eligible veterans.
By expanding eligibility to co-ops, the bill extends those same VA loan advantages to more addresses, not just more buyers.
3. A before-and-after example in a co-op market
Here’s a simple example of how this changes your search.
| Scenario | Homes you can shop with VA financing | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Before the bill | Mostly single-family homes and eligible condos | You focus on a narrower slice of the market |
| After the bill | Those options plus eligible co-op units | You can include co-ops in your VA-backed home search |
In neighborhoods where co-ops are common, this expands the list of homes you can seriously consider without switching away from VA financing.
Who Sponsors the Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025?
The Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025 is introduced in the House of Representatives as H.R. 1803 and has moved forward in the committee process.
For the latest legislative updates and cosponsors, see the Bill Tracker above.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025
Get answers to common questions about the proposed Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025.
What does the Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025 do?
It allows eligible veterans to use a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) backed mortgage to buy eligible cooperative housing units, expanding the types of homes that work with VA financing.
What is a co-op, and how is it different from a condo?
In a co-op, you buy shares in a corporation and get the right to live in a specific unit. In a condo, you own the unit itself and share ownership of common areas. The bill focuses on making co-ops eligible for VA-backed mortgages.
Does the bill change the VA loan down payment requirement?
The bill expands where VA financing can be used, including co-ops. When you qualify for VA financing, the program supports zero-down financing for eligible purchases, which is why this change matters in co-op-heavy markets.
Who benefits most from the Fair Access to Co-ops for Veterans Act of 2025?
Veterans and service members buying in places where co-ops are common benefit most, because the bill adds co-ops to the list of home types that work with VA-backed financing.
Are all co-ops eligible under the bill?
No. The bill applies to eligible cooperative housing units. Eligibility depends on the co-op meeting program standards so the home is financeable with a VA-backed mortgage.
Does this bill help only first-time home buyers?
No. VA loan eligibility is based on military service and entitlement, not whether you are a first-time home buyer. Eligible repeat buyers also benefit when buying an eligible co-op home.
About the Author
Dan Green
20-year Mortgage Expert
Dan Green is a mortgage expert with over 20 years of direct mortgage experience. He has helped millions of homebuyers navigate their mortgages and is regularly cited by the press for his mortgage insights. Dan combines deep industry knowledge with clear, practical guidance to help buyers make informed decisions about their home financing.
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