Florida condo buying checklist for 2026: the documents you're entitled to, the 7-day review right, and every step from offer to closing in Hallandale Beach, Hollywood and Aventura

October 31, 2026 · Zach Curtis, REALTOR®, Realty Hub

Short answer: buying a resale condo in Florida comes down to three things. Get the documents the law entitles you to and read them inside your review window. Confirm the building can be financed and insured. Then check every number on the estoppel certificate and the Closing Disclosure. This checklist walks through each step and links to the detailed guides.

1. Before you make an offer

1. Budget for the whole monthly cost, not just the mortgage: association dues, HO-6 insurance, flood insurance where needed, and property taxes. See why condo fees are high, HO-6 insurance and 2026 property tax rates.
2. Check financing for the building, not just for you. FHA approval and Fannie Mae project eligibility are separate checks. See FHA-approved condos and non-warrantable condos.
3. Plan your cash, including the down payment, closing costs and deposit. See condo down payments, Broward down payment assistance and earnest money.

2. The documents you're entitled to

Under Florida law, a buyer under contract for a resale condo is entitled, at the seller's expense, to current copies of the following (section 718.503(2)):

• the declaration of condominium and the association's articles of incorporation
• the bylaws and rules
• the annual financial statement and annual budget
• the inspector-prepared summary of the milestone inspection report, if applicable
• the most recent structural integrity reserve study, or a statement that the association hasn't completed one
• the turnover inspection report, if one was performed on or after July 1, 2023
• the "Frequently Asked Questions and Answers" document

You're also entitled to a governance form, prepared by the state's condominium division, that explains how associations are run. Florida law says it must cover:

• the board's duty to give advance notice of board and membership meetings
• your right to attend and speak at those meetings
• your right to inspect and copy association records, and the limits on that right
• who maintains which parts of the property
• your voting rights
• your duty to pay regular and special assessments, and what can happen if you don't
• the remedies available if a board acts beyond its authority

Read it alongside the bylaws: it tells you how much say you'll have in budgets and repairs once you own.

3. Your review window

Resale contracts must include one of two clauses (section 718.503(2)(d)):

• an acknowledgment that you received the core documents more than 7 days before signing, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, or
• a right to cancel by written notice within 7 days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, after you sign and receive the documents.

That right ends at closing, and a contract without either clause is voidable by the buyer before closing. For contracts signed after December 31, 2024, the contract must also state whether the association is required to have a milestone inspection or structural integrity reserve study, and whether it has completed them. For what to look for in those reports, see milestone inspections and SIRS.

4. Reading the documents

1. Budget and reserves: are reserves funded, and is a dues increase coming?
2. Special assessments: any adopted or proposed? Who pays under your contract? See who pays a special assessment.
3. Rules: pets, leasing, parking, renovations and move-in procedures.
4. Approval: does the association approve buyers, and how long does it take? See can a condo association deny a buyer and condo rules and approval.
5. Ownership type: co-ops follow different rules; see co-op vs. condo.

5. Inspections and insurance

1. Book a licensed home inspector for the unit. The inspection doesn't cover common areas; see home inspections for condos.
2. Get HO-6 and flood quotes during your inspection period. See flood insurance for condos and the seller flood disclosure.

6. Toward closing

1. Review the estoppel certificate for unpaid amounts and assessments; see the estoppel guide.
2. Compare your Closing Disclosure with your Loan Estimate during the three-day window; see Loan Estimate vs. Closing Disclosure.
3. Review title and closing costs; see title insurance and Broward closing costs.
4. After closing, file for homestead if it's your permanent residence; see homestead exemption.

Browse condos in Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Dania Beach and Aventura, then start at Ready to buy.

Zach Curtis, Realtor, Realty Hub, license SL3664129. Equal Housing Opportunity. General information, not legal, tax, insurance or lending advice. Have a Florida real estate attorney review your contract and condo documents.

Published October 31, 2026 by Zach Curtis, REALTOR®, Realty Hub, license SL3664129. General information for South Florida, not legal, tax, insurance or lending advice. Laws, programs and prices change; check the official sources above, and ask a Florida attorney, CPA, insurance agent or lender about your situation. Listing numbers are asking prices and rents from BeachesMLS on the date shown. Equal Housing Opportunity. Zach Curtis and Realty Hub follow federal, Florida and Broward County fair housing law. Every listing is open to everyone. We never steer anyone by race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected class.