BLOG

Florida condo building affected by new 2025 real estate regulations

1 week ago

New Florida Condo Law 2025: What Buyers and Owners Need to Know

Florida condo building affected by new 2025 real estate regulations
Condo buildings along the South Florida coastline
Florida Condo Law 2025: What Buyers Must Know

On July 1, 2025, Florida made important changes to its condo law — especially for high-rise buildings across Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach. If you’re buying, selling, or living in a condo, this update could affect you.

 

🔍 Why the Law Changed

After the Surfside tragedy in 2021, Florida passed strict laws requiring older condos to undergo structural inspections and fully fund reserve accounts. These rules aimed to improve safety, but many associations struggled with the cost.

To ease the pressure, lawmakers passed an updated version in 2025. The goal is to protect residents while giving associations more time and flexibility to comply.


  • More time for inspections

    Condo associations now have a longer window to complete required milestone inspections and update their reserve studies.

  • Reserve funding flexibility

    Some associations may now choose partial reserve funding instead of full — as long as they disclose it to buyers and residents.

  • Transparency remains important

    Sellers still need to provide buyers with key documents about the building’s structure and financial health.


🏝 Why This Matters for South Florida

Many buildings across South Florida are over 30 years old. If you’re looking at buying a condo in Brickell, Aventura, Sunny Isles, Palm Beach, or Hollywood, this law affects what you need to ask.

Important questions for buyers:

  • Has the building completed its latest milestone inspection?

  • Is there a recent reserve study available?

  • Are there any upcoming assessments?

  • Has the board voted to waive or reduce reserves?

Asking the right questions now can save you from surprise fees later.


📊 How This Impacts the Market

This law could open doors for both buyers and sellers:

  • More condos may become loan-eligible again, especially with FHA and VA loans

  • Sellers who held back due to strict reserve rules may now list their units

  • HOA fees could level out in buildings that were under financial strain


🎯 Final Thoughts from a Local

This law brings balance — protecting owners while giving associations more flexibility to stay compliant. But it also makes due diligence more important than ever.

If you’re planning to buy or sell a condo in South Florida, now is a great time to connect with a local expert who understands both the law and the market.


📽️ Want to See Condos for Yourself?

If you’re exploring South Florida real estate and want to see what properties actually look like, check out my property tour videos on YouTube:

👉 youtube.com/c/SouthFloridaLiving

    Schedule a Call