A practical research resource
Miami condo document checklist
Before choosing a condo, connect the residence you see with the documents that explain its ownership, costs and shared responsibilities. Use this checklist to record what you have requested, what you have received and what still needs an answer.
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Start with the exact unit. A building-wide description does not establish your parking rights, monthly charges or permitted use.
Record the unresolved questions. Receiving a report does not mean its findings have been resolved. Keep the next action visible.
Use the appropriate professional. This is an organizing aid, not a legally exhaustive disclosure list or an assessment of a building’s condition.
Your entries stay in this tab and are not submitted to us. Download your checklist before leaving or refreshing this page. Use brief research notes; keep private documents in your own secure storage.
0 of 12 topics have a recorded status. This measures your notes, not a building’s quality or safety.
1. Unit identity and ownership
- Documents to request
- Legal description, recorded condominium documents, current unit plan and the exact street address.
- Question to resolve
- Do the unit, terrace, parking and storage in the advertisement match the rights in the documents?
- Next step
- Ask your title professional or attorney to explain any mismatch before relying on the advertised features.
2. Budget and recurring charges
- Documents to request
- Current adopted budget and the written assessment schedule for this unit, including any master or secondary association.
- Question to resolve
- Which services are included, which are separately billed, and which charges will change during your expected ownership?
- Next step
- Ask management to reconcile the advertised monthly fee with the current unit-specific schedule.
3. Reserves and planned work
- Documents to request
- Latest reserve study, updates, funding plan and available information about the reserve account.
- Question to resolve
- Which projects are approaching, what assumptions support their estimated cost, and how will the association fund them?
- Next step
- Have the study and adopted budget compared together; a balance alone does not describe the work it must fund.
4. Assessments and association debt
- Documents to request
- Approved assessment notices, payment schedules, relevant minutes and information about association loans or credit lines.
- Question to resolve
- Which amounts apply to this unit, when are they due, and are additional proposals still under discussion?
- Next step
- Ask your attorney to explain the contract’s allocation of charges between buyer and seller.
5. Condition and repair records
- Documents to request
- Relevant engineering reports, inspection summaries, repair scopes, permits and completion records.
- Question to resolve
- What remains unresolved, and do the records cover the exact structure and systems you are evaluating?
- Next step
- Ask a qualified inspector or engineer to assess the scope and any outstanding findings.
6. Association and unit insurance
- Documents to request
- Current master policy information, deductible schedule and a unit-owner insurance quote based on the exact property and intended use.
- Question to resolve
- Where do the association’s coverage and your responsibility meet, and which exclusions or deductibles could affect you?
- Next step
- Review both sets of documents with a licensed insurance professional; ask about loss assessment and location-specific hazards.
7. Leasing, pets and daily use
- Documents to request
- Current declaration, bylaws, amendments and written rules for leasing, occupancy, pets, guests and renovations.
- Question to resolve
- Is the use you intend actually allowed for this unit, with what approval process, costs and restrictions?
- Next step
- Resolve conflicts between sales material and governing documents with management and your attorney.
8. Meeting records and open decisions
- Documents to request
- Recent available board and owner meeting records, notices and relevant financial disclosures.
- Question to resolve
- Which decisions are pending about repairs, budgets, service changes or disputes?
- Next step
- Ask for the current status and supporting records; distinguish a proposal from an approved action.
9. The residence itself
- Documents to request
- Unit inspection, alteration history, permits where relevant, and a viewing of the exact home.
- Question to resolve
- Do condition, layout, light, noise, access and views suit the way you intend to live?
- Next step
- Record the questions that need a second visit or a specialist; a building description cannot resolve them.
10. Florida milestone inspection
- Documents to request
- Applicable local notice, phase-one report, any phase-two report, and follow-up repair records.
- Question to resolve
- Has the local building authority identified a requirement, and what does the inspection actually conclude?
- Next step
- Check applicability and unresolved findings with the local building department and a qualified professional.
11. Florida structural integrity reserve study
- Documents to request
- The association’s SIRS, any updates, and the funding schedule used in its current budget.
- Question to resolve
- Do the budget and approved funding methods match the current study?
- Next step
- Ask the association to explain applicability, deadlines and any permitted timing arrangement with its milestone inspection.
12. Hotel or branded residence arrangements
- Documents to request
- Applicable service, management and brand agreements, plus the schedule of included and optional services.
- Question to resolve
- Are hotel and residential costs or facilities shared, and what rights could change?
- Next step
- Have your attorney review the rights attached to the unit; hotel guest rules do not settle condominium ownership questions.
Official references and related reading
These references explain the jurisdiction-specific topics in the checklist. Applicability depends on the property and circumstances; a professional should interpret the documents for your decision.