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Community associations are governed by an assortment of rules and regulations, and would-be owners who fail to research the associations in which they are interested can end up moving into their new condo without full knowledge of what life will be like.

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Potential buyers can't ask an association for its financial records but can request the documents from the owner who is selling the unit, said Matt Zifrony, a real estate attorney for the law firm Tripp Scott, which represents condominium and homeowners associations.  Zifrony added that residents shouldn't expect real estate agents to do all the background work.

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