Condo Living
Looking for a place to call your own but without some of the traditional hassles of home ownership “ like yard work? Then you may want to consider purchasing a condominium.
Condos are popular for a number of reasons including amenities, size, location, and, of course, limited lawn care and maintenance responsibilities.
Only you can decide “ based on your lifestyle, your budget and your personal preferences “ if condo living is right for you.
To help you decide, consider the following questions:
- Are you attracted to the idea of sharing decision-making regarding your home and community with your neighbors?
- Do you want or need to minimize the time you spend on yard work and household maintenance chores?
- Do you favor “extras” such as a swimming pool, fitness center, party house or storage facility?
- Are you comfortable paying a condo fee (averaging $100-$300 monthly) in exchange for upkeep of common areas, including snow plowing, leaf removal, parking lot maintenance and lawn mowing as well as exterior insurance coverage and property maintenance (upkeep of roof and exterior including painting the structure)?
- Are you willing to submit to the rules and regulations for your community set forth by a condo board?
- Do you find close neighbors to be a comfort? (or do you prefer to have your privacy)
If you answered yes to the majority of these questions, condo living may be right for you. Consider these next steps:
- Look at both single-family homes and condos before narrowing your selection.
- Talk with current condo owners to get a feel for the pros and cons of condo living.
- Ask for specifics about condo fees, rules and regulations. (Some condo boards assess additional charges for maintenance work outside of routine maintenance.)
- Talk with one of our agents for advice before buying a condo.
For more information on this topic please read our Tips for Condo Buyers or Condo vs Home.
Click here if you’re ready to start your condo search
