PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Buying a condo in South Florida is not as simple as it used to be.

Since the Surfside condo collapse, new state rules are changing the way condos are bought and sold — and in some cases, making them harder to move.

Realtors on Monday say the biggest shift is uncertainty.

“It’s a little tougher right now to sell condos than it maybe was in the past,” said Talya Lerman, a realtor with Keyes.

After Surfside, Florida required more inspections, more financial transparency, and stronger reserve funding for older condo buildings. That means associations now have to show they can afford major repairs — from concrete work to balconies and roofs.

For buyers, that comes with more paperwork and more questions.

“It has required more transparency from the condo associations, more documents that buyers have to look at prior to purchasing,” Lerman said.

That added transparency may help protect buyers long term — but right now, it’s also creating hesitation.

Buyers want to know whether fees could go up, if special assessments are coming, and how much work a building may still need. In some cases, those unknowns are causing deals to fall through.

“I think people are worried that their assessments are going to go up, so they plan on selling rather than potentially facing that in the future,” Lerman said.

That uncertainty is also leading to more condos hitting the market — and staying there longer.

In Palm Beach County, condos are now often sitting for two to three months before selling, according to Lerman. Some sellers are even lowering prices to attract buyers.

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But not every property is in the same position.

“Not all condos are created equal. It’s really important to pop open the hood before we make a purchase,” Lerman said.

Experts say buildings that have already completed repairs and built up reserves may be in a stronger position, while others could still face costly work ahead.

The bottom line: buyers need to do more homework than ever before.

That means reviewing financial statements, reserve funds, meeting minutes, and any potential assessments before making a decision.

Because in today’s condo market, the price you see may not tell the full story.