VA Circular 26-25-11: Adoption of Planning Regions in Connecticut
FHFA adoption of Connecticut planning regions as county-equivalents for conforming loan limits effective January 1, 2026
Advisory Assessment
Impact. VA lenders operating in Connecticut must now use planning regions rather than traditional counties when ordering appraisals through the WebLGY system, requiring updates to appraiser geographic coverage areas and internal processes for loan origination workflows.
Risk. Operations teams face the highest exposure from selecting incorrect geographic designations during appraisal ordering, which will trigger delays in loan processing and potentially impact closing timelines for VA borrowers in Connecticut.
Recommended Action. Operations should immediately audit current Connecticut loan files to confirm all appraisal orders since January 1st used the correct planning region designations, and update staff training materials to reflect the new county dropdown selections in WebLGY.
Watch. Monitor for any VA guidance clarifying boundary disputes or addressing operational issues that may have emerged during the initial months of implementation, particularly regarding appraiser availability across the new planning region structure.
Classification
- Regulatory Program
- VA Home Loan Program
- Doc Type
- Guidance
- Effective Date
- 2026-01-01
- Days to Action
- -196
- Comment Deadline
- —
- Published
- 2025-12-31
Urgency Basis
Effective date was January 1, 2026, which is over 180 days in the past from the reference date of May 15, 2026. This is now historical guidance.
Operational Context
Impact by Category
Key Requirements
Scoring Rationale
This is an administrative change affecting only Connecticut VA loan operations. The impact is limited to process adjustments for appraisal ordering and appraiser coverage areas. No new substantive obligations or consumer-facing changes. The effective date has already passed, making this historical guidance for current implementation.