Maryland guide
Maryland condo document review
Maryland condo document review is governed by the Maryland Condominium Act (Md. Real Prop.
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§11-101 et seq.). Section 11-135 requires the seller to deliver the governing documents plus a Resale Disclosure Certificate before closing, and gives the buyer a 7-day right to cancel after receiving them. The disclosure is genuinely strong — but it is a disclosure mandate, not a quality guarantee. A complete §11-135 package can still reveal an association mid-way through its mandatory reserve-funding catch-up, a master policy with a $25,000 deductible, or an approved special assessment that will run with the unit. The value is in reading the documents together against the building's age, its Chesapeake or Atlantic exposure, and Maryland's new reserve-funding regime.
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What §11-135 requires the seller to provide
Under §11-135, the seller must furnish the governing documents — declaration, amendments, bylaws, and rules — plus a Resale Disclosure Certificate. The certificate discloses the current monthly common-expense assessment and any unpaid assessment against the unit, any special or other charges, the status of the reserve account and reserve study, the most recent budget and financial statement, insurance information, known pending litigation or claims, and any approved capital expenditures or special assessments. The certificate norm is delivery at least 15 days before closing so the buyer's 7-day cancellation window is preserved. Confirm the package is complete before relying on it.
The 7-day right to cancel
After receiving the required resale information, the buyer may rescind the contract in writing within 7 days, without stating a reason and without liability, and recover deposits. This is a meaningful protection that California and many states do not offer — but it only works if the complete package actually arrives in time. If mandatory fees change beyond the disclosed amount, additional notice and cancellation rights can apply. Track the delivery date carefully and treat the 7-day window as your core diligence period.
Reserves: a study is required, and now so is funding
Since HB 107 (2022), the association must have a professional reserve study; since HB 292 (2025, effective October 2025), it must fund reserves to the study's recommended level, with a five-year ramp-up for first studies. Read the reserve-study status disclosed in the certificate, then request the full study and funding plan. An association still in its catch-up window will have rising regular dues, and a bylaw cap will not protect you — HB 107 lets the board override it to fund reserves.
Insurance and the $10,000 deductible rule
The certificate discloses insurance information, but read the master-policy declarations page directly. Under §11-114, if damage originates in your unit, you are responsible for the master-policy deductible up to $10,000. With master deductibles now often $25,000 or more, confirm the deductible amount, who bears it, and that your own HO-6 carries adequate loss-assessment and dwelling coverage. In flood-exposed areas, confirm separate NFIP or private flood coverage, which the master policy excludes.
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Maryland legal references
- Md. Real Prop. §11-135 — Resale of unit; resale disclosure certificate; 7-day cancellation
- Md. Real Prop. §11-109.4 — Reserve study requirement (HB 107) and funding plan
- Md. Real Prop. §11-114 — Insurance and unit-owner deductible responsibility ($10,000 cap)
Informational only. Not legal advice. Always confirm against current statute and counsel.
Need help applying these Maryland statutes to your specific situation? We can connect you with state-licensed counsel and specialists familiar with this exact regulatory environment.
Find a Maryland specialist →Reviewer's checklist
- Confirm the seller delivered the full §11-135 resale package and Resale Disclosure Certificate
- Track the delivery date and preserve the 7-day cancellation window
- Request the full reserve study and funding plan, not just the certificate's summary
- Confirm whether the association is in its five-year reserve catch-up window (rising dues)
- Read the master-policy declarations page for the deductible amount and perils
- Confirm who bears the master deductible and review your HO-6 loss-assessment coverage
- Check the flood zone and whether the association carries NFIP or private flood coverage
- Read the certificate and minutes for approved or contemplated special assessments
- Request a statement of any pending litigation or §11-131 warranty claims
- Confirm condo fidelity insurance is in place where required under §11-114.1
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Source documents
- Declaration & bylawsthe rules
- Budget & financialsthe money
- Reserve studythe big repairs
- Meeting minuteswhat the board fears
Cross-reference
The risk lives in the contradiction between documents.
An assessment in the minutes but not the estoppel; a reserve the budget never funds.
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Severity-graded across 8 categories.
Every finding cites the document, page number, and quoted text.
How CondoSignal reviews this
We read the reserve study, operating budget, and 24 months of meeting minutes together — maryland condo document review risk usually lives in the contradiction between documents, not in any single one of them. Every finding cites the source document, the page number, and the quoted text behind it.
See our 8-category framework →Risk Intelligence
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Related risk areas
Read these next to round out your due diligence
Reserve studies
A reserve study tells you what the association expects to spend on long-term capital repairs and replacements, and whether it is funding those obligations adequately.
Insurance risk
The association's master insurance policy determines what your personal HO-6 policy needs to cover — and what it does not.
Special assessments
Special assessments are the single largest source of financial surprise in condo and HOA ownership.
Related reading
Guides for Maryland buyers and owners
Maryland Condo Resale Package and Your 7-Day Right to Cancel (and Why HOAs Are Different)
Maryland gives condo buyers a 7-day right to cancel after receiving the resale package — and HOA buyers a different 5-day right. Here is what the package must contain, how the cancellation windows work, and how to protect them.
Maryland's New Reserve Law Is Triggering Big Special Assessments — How to Spot a Building at Risk
Maryland's HB 107 and HB 292 made reserve funding mandatory, and long-underfunded buildings are responding with large special assessments. Here is what the law requires and how to read a building's funding status before you buy.
What to Look for in Condo Documents: A Buyer's Complete Guide
A resale package contains roughly a dozen documents. Learn what each one discloses, what most buyers overlook, and which sections to read closely before you close.
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Reviewed by Kirk Hasley, Founder. Every claim here is checked against current Maryland statute and primary sources, using the same documented review framework we run on every file. Last reviewed June 13, 2026.
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Most buyers get 7–14 days to review condo documents. Upload the packet — we read the reserve study, budget, minutes, and insurance summary and flag the risks, every finding linked to the exact page. Free.
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