Most people use "HOA" and "condo" interchangeably. They are legally and practically different — and the difference matters significantly for maintenance, costs, and what you can do with your property.
You own the entire structure — the house, the exterior walls, the roof, and the land it sits on. The HOA governs the community's common areas and enforces standards for how your property must look and be maintained. You are responsible for your own exterior maintenance, but must get HOA approval before making changes.
You own only the interior of your unit — from the walls inward. The building structure, exterior walls, roof, and land are owned collectively by all unit owners. The condo association manages and maintains everything outside your unit walls, funded by your monthly fees.
| Category | HOA Community | Condo Association |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | The entire structure — land, exterior walls, roof, and interior. You own the lot. | The interior unit only (from the walls inward). The building structure, roof, and land are owned collectively. |
| Who maintains the exterior | The homeowner. You are responsible for your roof, exterior walls, driveway, and landscaping — subject to HOA standards. | The condo association. Exterior maintenance, roof replacement, and building repairs are the association's responsibility. |
| Monthly fees | Typically $200–$600/month in Doral. Covers common area maintenance, amenities, and reserves. | Typically $400–$1,200+/month in Doral. Covers exterior maintenance, building insurance, amenities, and reserves. |
| Roof replacement | Your responsibility. You must get HOA ARB approval before replacing your roof, then pull a City of Doral permit. | The association's responsibility. You do not pay for or manage roof replacement — but you have no control over timing or material. |
| Exterior modifications | Require ARB (Architectural Review Board) approval. You submit plans; the board approves or denies. | Generally not permitted. The exterior is association property. Interior modifications may require board approval. |
| Insurance | You insure your home (structure + contents). The HOA insures common areas. | The association insures the building structure. You insure your interior (HO-6 policy) and personal property. |
| Governance | Elected board of homeowners. Governed by CC&Rs, bylaws, and Florida HOA law (Chapter 720). | Elected board of unit owners. Governed by declaration, bylaws, and Florida Condo law (Chapter 718). |
| Resale | Buyer assumes HOA membership. HOA may have right of first refusal or approval process. | Buyer assumes condo association membership. Association may have approval process for buyers. |
| Rental restrictions | Varies by community. Many Doral HOAs restrict short-term rentals (Airbnb). Check CC&Rs. | Varies by association. Many Doral condos restrict rentals or require minimum lease terms. |
| Special assessments | Possible for major common area repairs. Less frequent than condos. | More common. Building repairs (roof, elevator, parking structure) can trigger large special assessments. |
Florida Statutes Chapter 720 (Homeowners' Association Act) governs HOAs. It sets requirements for board elections, meeting notices, financial reporting, reserve funding, and homeowner rights — including the right to inspect records and attend board meetings.
Florida Statutes Chapter 718 (Florida Condominium Act) governs condos. It has stricter reserve funding requirements than HOA law, more detailed financial disclosure requirements, and specific rules around special assessments and milestone inspections for older buildings.
Important: Florida's 2022 condo safety legislation (SB 4-D) introduced new structural inspection and reserve funding requirements for condos 3+ stories. This has significantly increased condo fees in many South Florida buildings. If you're buying a condo in Doral, verify the building's reserve study and any pending special assessments before closing.