Buying a home is a major decision. What home to buy is a much bigger decision.

First time buyers often tend to look at condo units first, possibly because it is much cheaper than houses. Condo units are more affordable.

You do not need to bother maintenance on condos as there are association fees paid monthly.

Usually condos are located near commercial establishments.

Most condo units have amenities like swimming pools or tennis courts.

A condo is a good buy for busy people as they do not have bother about house maintenance.

Overall, you have to think carefully on what home you want to buy. Visualize yourself living in that place for a couple of years and choose a home that will suit your lifestyle and way of living.

Nowadays, condominiums are rising everywhere. This is so because condo living is a great choice for people who are attracted to the idea of owning a property at a fairly inexpensive price and yet, well-situated in the city. Apart from being in a good location, condominiums have many facilities which unit owners can maximize.

One of the leading reasons why owning a condo attracts many people is because of the fact that it does not include individual land ownership. It is basically full ownership of the unit without the sole responsibility of owning the land. Also, the combined ownership makes facilities existent and free for all and such are the pool halls, gyms, club houses, and the like. Some condominiums also take the liberty of housing small business establishments such as a mini grocery, a bookstore, and eateries so as to give even more convenience so that the tenants wouldn’t have to leave the very building.

Another advantage is that tenants only maintain their own units and the care for the garden, hallways, and the lobby is assigned to a housekeeping staff.

It is important to be in harmony with your neighbors as they are the nearest people you can go to if there might be troubles. So, to keep that peace in your place, please take note of the following:

Throw all your garbage appropriately. That’s what garbage bins are for.

Minimize the noise especially when you are having a party. There are also other people in the building. Be considerate.

Take only your own mails. If they are not for you, please just leave them in the mail room.

Do not leave your children running down the hallway. It will annoy your neighbors.

Learn to understand that there are people living beside and under you. The sound of your heels on the flooring might bother them. Also, moving furniture’s or vacuuming the condo can be done during the day and not at dawn or at wee hours of the night.

Buying a parking space is usually an extra expense at condominiums. Also, there are certain conditions which contribute to the price of the parking spot.

1. The number of people staying in the area versus the available space for parking. This usually brings the price higher.
2. The parking area itself. The spacing and the number of cars the parking lot can accommodate greatly affects the pricing for a parking slot.
3. Security. The kind of security they have definitely contributes to the pricing. After all, you trust them to make sure that it stays where it is.

1.    Ponder on the thoughts when preparing to buy a condo. Is it the right move? Will it fit my budget? Will it fit my Lifestyle?

2.    Check the advantages and disadvantages of an urban lifestyle. Check out various Condos and note their strengths and weaknesses and also take note of the price range.

3.    Get prequalified for a mortgage.

4.    Inspect the building complex of your desired condo location. See my article on how to inspect for a condo unit.

5.    Make an offer and close on the deal.

Condominiums cost much because of the advantage they have. Such as:

1. They’re easy to maintain. You buy the space, you personalize it, and maintaining is something you don’t have to worry about.

2. You could live very close to your work/ study area. Condo’s usually situate themselves strategically near business centers and schools. This is very convenient on those late evenings – going home is no longer a problem.

3. Amenities. Not everyone can buy a house with a pool, nor an apartment at that. A condo provides you with the place to sleep in, and the amenities for your leisure time.

1.    Design and Layout – check the design of the unit and the layout of the floor plan such as rooms, doors, windows. Is the unit in the direct path of the sun? If that’s the case you should consider that in summertime you may spend a bit more energy and money for airconditioning.

2.    Noise – from both inside and outside sources  visit the unit you want to buy at different times because there are times when it so peaceful but check it at weekends or during rush-hour period to see if the noise is bearable or not.

3.    Privacy – We all want our privacy and we must find the perfect unit to help maintain our privacy, check the unit decks and patios to make sure your safe from prying eyes and such.

4.    Security -  Comes hand in hand with Privacy, Is there a security system in the building complex and in the unit, is it properly lit at night Is the unit or building secure and have ample security to deter criminals?

5.    Amenities – Every building has ameneties that are widely available to residents, such as a pool, a hot tub and community room. And always check and ask the buliding management if there are fees for usage and maintennace of these said amenities.

6.    Parking – Which is near an elevator, stairs, or close to your unit. And is properly lit.

Although staying in a condominium would be a good way to start on the road to independent living, it might not be such a great idea for everyone.

Things to consider about staying in a condominium is that there are higher safety risks, considering that you may be living on the top most floor and that at any time natural disasters could strike. Moreover, staying in a condo costs a lot, from the fees to the unit itself. Consider your needs before picking out that condo, it might not be for you after all.

While there are a lot of advantages in settling in an apartment, there is one disadvantage that we all surrender to: the lack of garden space. It’s such a shame that because of this, a garden-less home is not only something to deal with but also the lack of space to raise and keep a pet.

Well, we can’t do anything about pets except maybe for some fish you can keep in a bowl or small aquarium, or perhaps toy dogs that don’t need so much rolling space. However, we found ways of bringing nature into your apartment!

1. Fresh-cut Flowers

Having a number of vases full of nicely arranged fresh flowers each week is the way to go. Now what you need to know is how to make these arrangements last longer.

2. Houseplants

A little gardening skill might be needed for you to keep houseplants fresh and alive as they pretty much stay indoors. Cacti and hanging plants are the best survivors.

To be continued…

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