Q. My wife and I are planning to purchase a condominium. Can you tell me if there is anything I have to watch out for?

A. Each condominium association has its own rules and regulations. You should review them before you make any purchase to make sure you are comfortable with the restrictions.

You also should make sure that the seller doesn't owe any fees to the association. Under Florida law, if you buy a unit, and the previous owner owed money to the association, the association can seek the amounts owed from you.

Finally, you should ask about the age of the roof and other structures to determine whether or not repairs will be needed in the near future.

You should ask whether the association has reserve accounts to cover the costs of repairs or replacement to the common elements. If the association does not have reserve accounts, it is likely to issue a special assessment against all the owners, which you must pay under Florida law.