Fort Lauderdale Condo Buying Checklist

1. Request the association documents early

For an oceanfront, downtown or other Fort Lauderdale condo, ask for the declaration and rules, current budget, available financial statements, meeting minutes, assessment information and insurance documentation. Where applicable, request the milestone-inspection reports and Structural Integrity Reserve Study, usually called SIRS.

Keep a list of missing documents and questions. Ask your real estate attorney about the applicable contract and statutory review rights; do not assume that waiting for documents automatically extends a deadline.

Current budget and available financial statements.
Recent board meeting minutes and pending project information.
Approved assessments, payment schedules and any discussed future funding.
Applicable inspection reports, reserve studies and repair updates.
Association insurance information and ownership/use rules.

2. Separate milestone inspections from reserve studies

Florida DBPR describes a milestone inspection as a structural evaluation used to determine whether substantial structural deterioration exists. A reserve study addresses planning for specified building components and their funding. They answer different questions; one does not replace the other.

Applicability and timing depend on the building and current requirements. Ask the association and local enforcement authority which requirements apply, when reports were completed and whether follow-up work remains. Have a qualified professional interpret technical findings rather than treating the existence of a report as a guarantee of safety.

3. Connect planned work to the funding plan

Read the budget and reserve information alongside inspection findings and meeting minutes. If repairs are planned, ask whether bids have been obtained, how work will be funded and what has already been approved. Distinguish an adopted assessment from a proposal still under discussion.

Ask who is responsible for any outstanding assessment under your contract. Have your attorney review the wording, and ask your lender about building eligibility early. Neither a low association fee nor a completed reserve study guarantees that future costs will stay unchanged.

4. Investigate insurance and unit condition

Ask an insurance professional to explain the association’s coverage, deductibles and the coverage you would need as a unit owner. For a waterfront or coastal building, review address-specific flood information rather than making assumptions based on the floor number or a citywide label.

Arrange a unit inspection appropriate to the property. Building-level reports do not tell you everything about the unit’s air conditioning, plumbing, electrical systems, windows or interior condition. Ask about maintenance responsibilities and which items belong to the association versus the owner.

5. Confirm that the rules fit your plans

Before committing, check leasing restrictions, application requirements, parking, pet rules, renovation procedures and any dock-use arrangements relevant to you. Confirm current documents rather than relying on how another resident uses their unit.

Tell Margo whether you are seeking a primary residence, seasonal home or a property you hope to rent. Share your purchase budget and comfortable total monthly ownership cost. A document-led shortlist can help you focus on condos that fit both your plans and the financial questions you need answered.

Sources & further reading

Florida DBPR inspections and reserve studies — Official guidance on milestone inspections and SIRS.
Florida DBPR condominium FAQ — Association records, reserves and condominium requirements.
Florida DBPR condominium purchasing guide — Condominium ownership and purchase considerations.
FEMA Flood Map Service Center — Property-specific flood hazard mapping.

General buyer information, not legal, engineering, insurance or navigation advice. Rules and conditions can change; confirm current requirements and property-specific findings with qualified professionals.