US condo owners are finding it increasingly difficult to find buyers — MarketWatch
In the United States, owners of condominium apartments are finding it increasingly difficult to sell their homes due to rising homeowners association fees, special assessments for major repairs, and building insurance problems. As MarketWatch reports, potential buyers are deterred by monthly expenses, which in some cases can make owning an apartment more expensive than owning a detached house.
Sales of condominiums and cooperative apartments fell by 2.7% year-on-year in August, according to the National Association of Realtors. In the region from New Jersey to Virginia served by the Bright MLS multiple listing service, the share of condominiums among active listings rose to 15%, while before the pandemic it was below 10%.
Fees and insurance
The median monthly homeowners association fee in the United States in 2025 was $135, compared with $108 in 2019. In the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach metropolitan area, this payment reached $617 per month for a home with a median price of $425,000, up from $401 in 2019.
The rise in costs is largely linked to more expensive insurance. Insurance companies are raising premiums or refusing to insure condominium associations because of losses from natural disasters, higher reinsurance costs and damage repair costs, especially in older buildings. The loss of a building's master insurance policy can make it more difficult to buy an apartment with a conventional mortgage: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac require associations to have insurance coverage that meets their standards.
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Price declines in some states
According to Realtor.com, median listing prices for condominium apartments in Louisiana fell by nearly 17% in 2021–2026. The decline was nearly 11% in the District of Columbia and nearly 10% in Colorado.
Will Hudson, a resident of Golden, Colorado, bought a two-bedroom apartment for $260,000 in July 2024. He said he wants to sell the home because of water supply disruptions, flooding in common areas, and maintenance costs. His monthly association fee rose to nearly $470, and he also paid special assessments. A similar apartment in his complex was listed for $270,000 in May 2025, and by mid-September 2026 its price had been reduced to $149,000; the deal has not yet closed.
Experts advise potential buyers to check the association's financial reserves, the building's technical condition, planned major repairs, and insurance terms before completing a deal.
