Who pays it, when, why, and how to handle it in a Florida AS-IS contract. The closing-cost line most buyers miss until the title company sends the settlement statement.
The Working Fund Contribution is one of the most-asked-about line items in any Esplanade by the Islands transaction. It surprises buyers who only learned about the HOA fee. It surprises sellers who assumed it was their responsibility. And it’s often negotiated — but only if you know the contract has to address it.
$5,000 per lot, paid by the buyer at closing on every resale (subsequent conveyance). Per Declaration §9.9. The board can change the dollar amount in its discretion. Institutional mortgagees acquiring through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu are exempt. Not collected on new construction from Taylor Morrison.
The Working Fund is a community-level working-capital reserve. It exists to help the association maintain cash for operating needs, unforeseen expenses, equipment replacement, and services without spiking the regular quarterly assessment. Communities like Esplanade use these contributions to smooth the financial impact of unexpected events — a big repair, an insurance deductible, an equipment replacement.
The Declaration assigns it to the buyer at the time legal title is conveyed. The logic: every new owner gets the benefit of a well-funded association reserve when they buy in. The contribution rotates as homes turn over, keeping the association’s working cash topped up.
In practice, the Working Fund Contribution can be addressed in the Florida AS-IS purchase contract. If your contract is silent, it falls to the buyer per the Declaration. But buyers and sellers regularly negotiate around it — either by addressing it explicitly in the contract, by adjusting the purchase price, or by including a seller credit at closing.
Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, this should be on the table during contract negotiation — not a surprise at the title company.
Per the governing documents, Institutional Mortgagees acquiring title through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure are exempt from the Working Fund Contribution. This protects lenders that end up with property through default. It doesn’t apply to typical resale transactions.
Plan for the $5,000 as a line item in your closing-cost estimate, separate from title, doc stamps, recording fees, and HOA prorations. If you’d like to negotiate around it, raise it during contract negotiation — not in due diligence. And confirm the current dollar amount with the association before closing, since the board has discretion to change it.
For sellers thinking about how this affects pricing or how it should be handled on the listing side, see our sell-your-Esplanade-home page.
Realty ONE Group MVP · The Nicholas Nolan Team
Nicholas Nolan LLC · Florida Real Estate License SL3504588 · 
Living in Naples, listing in Naples, helping people move to Naples. Resident-level local knowledge plus the buyer-side network you need to actually pull off an out-of-state relocation.
Brokerage. Nicholas Nolan (Florida Real Estate License SL3504588) is a licensed real estate sales associate of Realty ONE Group MVP, 1495 Pine Ridge Rd, Naples, FL 34109. The Nicholas Nolan Team is a team operating under the supervision of Realty ONE Group MVP. All real estate services are performed by Realty ONE Group MVP.
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Not tax, legal, or insurance advice. Information on this page is for general educational purposes and reflects publicly available sources as of the date noted. Florida tax, residency, homestead, insurance, and Medicare rules change. Consult a licensed Florida CPA, attorney, or insurance professional for advice specific to your situation. We are not a tax, legal, or insurance advisor.
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