Condo Document-Review Checklist
Start with the actual condo documents
Most of this stays unknown until you are under contract
For most condos, the seller only orders the full condo documents after the property goes under contract. That is when you receive the reserve study, budgets, minutes, insurance declarations and governing documents, and can fill out all of this information with confidence.
If you are house hunting now, Tristan and Patrick will gather as much intel as we can on the buildings you are looking at, so this checklist reflects the most accurate information available before you make an offer.
This is a buyer due-diligence checklist, not a determination of an HOA's financial health, building condition, insurance adequacy or loan eligibility. It only organizes the answers you enter; we have not verified them or reviewed documents through this tool.
The seller typically orders the condo documents after the property goes under contract. Delivery and review deadlines depend on your purchase contract. If you do not have the documents yet, leave answers blank or choose "Not sure" and use the checklist to prepare your questions.
Tristan or Patrick can help you read the documents and raise questions. Agent observations are not a professional financial, legal, engineering or insurance opinion, and are not a guarantee that every issue will be identified. Buyers remain responsible for reviewing the information, obtaining appropriate professional advice and deciding whether to proceed.
Condo First Review Ltd.
Condo First Review offers paid, human-led reviews for Hawaii condos. Its advertised review covers association finances, reserves, bylaws and rules, and potential future costs. Contact the provider directly to confirm the documents covered, current fees and turnaround time.
Its website advertises professional accountability under liability and insurance. Before hiring, ask for its written service agreement, qualifications, insurance coverage and liability terms. A paid review does not automatically transfer all risk or responsibility away from you or your agent, and this link is not a guarantee of the provider's work.
Explore paid document reviewService details: Hawaii review FAQ. Accountability statement: provider's comparison page.
How this works
Your answers organize questions for a document reviewer. Unknown answers stay as follow-up items, not findings of a defect. Priority indicators are prompts to investigate, not confirmation of HOA health, insurance coverage or lender approval. The tool does not obtain or analyze the actual documents. Confirm delivery and review deadlines in your contract, review the documents yourself with agent assistance, and obtain professional advice where needed.
Frequently asked questions
Does this checklist tell me whether an HOA is healthy?
No. It organizes unverified answers into follow-up questions. A reserve percentage or color cannot establish an association's financial health, building condition or future assessments. Review the actual reserve study, budgets, minutes and other documents with appropriate professionals.
Why are Oahu condo insurance costs rising?
Master policy premiums have climbed with higher rebuilding costs, hurricane and wildfire risk, and fewer insurers writing policies in Hawaii. Large increases usually show up in maintenance fees.
What is a special assessment?
A one-time charge to owners when the association needs money it doesn't have in reserves, often for repairs like repiping, concrete or elevators. Ask who pays it if you buy while it's being collected.
Can I get a VA or FHA loan on any condo?
No. VA and FHA have their own condo approval lists, and lenders also look at owner-occupancy, delinquency, litigation and single-owner concentration. Check approval early.
What's the deal with leasehold?
With leasehold you own the unit but lease the land. When the lease nears its end, rent can be renegotiated or ownership can revert, and financing and resale get harder as the term shortens. Ask for the lease end date and terms.
When will I receive the condo documents, and who reviews them?
The seller typically orders them after the property goes under contract. Your contract sets the delivery and review deadlines. Tristan or Patrick can help you read them and raise questions, but that assistance is not a professional opinion or guarantee. Buyers remain responsible for due diligence and deciding whether to proceed. Condo First Review Ltd. is an optional paid review service; confirm Hawaii availability, scope, fees, insurance and liability terms directly. Hiring a reviewer does not automatically transfer all responsibility.
Want help reviewing your condo documents?
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