What should I know before buying a condo in Florida?

A building of three or more habitable stories must have a milestone structural inspection when it is 30 years old, or 25 if the local building department requires it, and every 10 years after. The association must also have a structural integrity reserve study at least every 10 years, covering the roof, the structure, fireproofing, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, and windows and doors, and in budgets adopted from 2025 it can no longer vote to waive the reserves for those items. In an older building that can mean a higher fee or a special assessment. Before you buy, ask for the milestone inspection summary, the reserve study, the current budget and any special assessment that has been voted or proposed. On a resale the seller must give you those documents along with the declaration, the bylaws and rules and the association's question-and-answer sheet, and you have seven days after receiving them, not counting weekends and holidays, to cancel.

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