Condos

Can you sell a Florida condo that has a special assessment or unpaid association dues?

Yes. A Florida condo with a special assessment, a required structural inspection or unpaid dues can be sold. Who owes what at closing, and why mortgage buyers hesitate, is what decides the route.

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The short answer

Yes. Nothing in Florida law stops you from selling a condo because the association has levied a special assessment or because dues are behind. The assessment does not disappear, though. It is either paid at or before closing, or the contract says who takes it on, and the association will state the exact balance in writing.

Howler Property Group LLC, a Tampa-based company that buys Florida houses and condos directly, publishes this guide. It is general information and not legal advice.

Why are Florida condo owners seeing special assessments?

  • Structural inspections and reserve studies. After the 2021 Surfside collapse Florida added milestone inspections for older condo buildings and a structural integrity reserve study that associations must now fund. The age triggers and deadlines have been amended more than once, so ask the association or a Florida attorney for the current rule for your building.
  • Insurance and repairs. Storm damage, roof or concrete work and higher insurance premiums are common reasons an association bills owners directly.
  • Deferred maintenance. Buildings that kept reserves low may need to bill owners all at once.

Who pays the assessment when you sell?

  • Assessments already due are generally the seller's to pay at or before closing. The association can record a lien for unpaid amounts and, under Chapter 718 of the Florida Statutes, can enforce it.
  • Installments that come due after closing are a matter for the contract. A written contract can say the buyer assumes them, the seller pays them off at closing, or the price reflects them.
  • The association is required to provide an estoppel certificate on request, which states what is owed. Ask for it early, because the title company needs it to close.

Why do mortgage buyers walk away from these condos?

A buyer using a mortgage needs a lender that will lend on the building. Lenders and the agencies behind them look at unpaid assessments, pending special assessments, litigation, low reserves and the share of owners behind on dues, and they may decline a whole building. A cash buyer is not bound by those lender rules, which is why a condo that will not finance can still sell.

What if you are behind on dues?

An association lien for unpaid dues and assessments is a recorded claim on the unit, and it can lead to a foreclosure by the association. Selling before that point usually costs less than letting it run. See selling a Florida house with liens, which covers the same title-company payoff process.

Where does Howler Property Group fit in?

Howler Property Group buys Florida condos as-is for cash, with no repairs, no showings and no agent. We still request the estoppel certificate, run a title search and put the deal in a written contract, and the closing date can be set around your situation. If a different route would leave you better off, we say so.

Written 2026-10-27. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice, and we are not a law firm. For your own deadlines and rights, talk to a Florida attorney.

Related questions

Good Questions

Frequently asked

Can I sell my Florida condo if there is a special assessment on it?
Yes. The assessment is either paid at or before closing, or the written contract says who takes it on. The association states the exact balance in an estoppel certificate.
Who pays a special assessment when a Florida condo sells?
Amounts already due are generally the seller's to pay at or before closing. Installments due after closing are set by the contract. A Florida attorney or the title company can confirm how it applies to your sale.
What is an estoppel certificate on a Florida condo?
A statement from the association of what the unit owes in dues and assessments. The association must provide it on request, and the title company needs it to close.
Can I sell a condo if I am behind on association dues?
Yes, but the association can record a lien and eventually foreclose, so the balance is paid from the sale at closing. Selling before a foreclosure usually leaves the owner with more options.
Why can't buyers get a mortgage on some Florida condos?
Lenders look at pending special assessments, unpaid dues, litigation and reserves for the whole building, and can decline it. Cash buyers are not limited by those lender rules.
Does a milestone inspection mean I have to sell?
No. It means the building has to be inspected and any needed repairs funded, which may lead to an assessment. Whether to sell is your decision.