What a bargain! Your parents have sent you on the quest to find a good home for them to buy here in Florida. There are many for sale, and the prices are great. Builders have unsold units, desperate sellers need to clear their mortgages, and the banks are holding units that were foreclosed.
Many developments have empty houses. Some of these houses have been abandoned by the owners, and in some, the foreclosure proceedings have just stopped. The association cannot collect from the owners because they cannot find them (the lender often pause the foreclosure and avoid becoming the “owner” as long as they can), and if the association forecloses on its lien, the association will just end up having to pay the real estate taxes. Many associations are becoming insolvent on account of these issues.
It is entirely possible to have the great surprise of very large special assessment after purchasing a new home in such a development, essentially because the association is broke. Watch your back. You may have to engage an accountant to review the association’s books and records to determine that they’re financially sound. If they are not, WALK AWAY.