https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:51:43 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1804686 Wed, 03 May 2017 11:19:45 +0000 viva 1804686@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for all the input, everyone. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1804342 Tue, 02 May 2017 13:44:28 +0000 Janet 1804342@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm so glad that kkards and shiny beat me to it and saved me so much typing! ;-)</p> <p>We own two condo units in a beautiful old building (9 units) in Baltimore, and we rent both out (one is currently being rented by our stepson and his wife at a reduced rate while they save up to buy a house). The building is majority owner-occupied, and it is a pretty tight-knit community with high standards -- quiet older professionals, no kids. I think lots of condo situations, especially in smaller buildings like this, have little micro-cultures of their own. See if you can get to know potential neighbors a bit before you commit to a condo. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1804086 Mon, 01 May 2017 20:03:33 +0000 texstyle 1804086@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, I forgot about that constant stream of renters. With vrbo and airbnb being so popular it's a real issue even in units where it's supposed to be against the rules - so many condo owners will break the rules and force litigation before giving up their rental income. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1804085 Mon, 01 May 2017 20:00:55 +0000 texstyle 1804085@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think you have some excellent advice already above so I won't repeat. My MIL lives in a condo and has lived in them for at least half her life now. We've been there often. She loves the feeling of security, no maintenance and built in activities (it's a large condo high rise). She uses the elevator so stairs is not an issue in her case. Her monthly fees of $400 include water, cable TV, security camera, and I believe even the taxes on the unit.</p> <p>One big turn off to me personally in terms of condo living (aside from those some already mentioned) is things like using toxic chemicals for pest control - I just won't live in a building where this is required (my MIL's place does it like twice a year and they spray inside each unit "thoroughly" - she doesn't seem to care).&nbsp; Most condos seem to require this. Also, many of them have no flow through fresh air, no way to vent cooking air outdoors, etc. And some have shared air handling which is another big no to me personally.&nbsp; </p> <p>Rules on remodeling is another issue to consider if it's not already designed the way you want. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1803570 Sun, 30 Apr 2017 03:52:12 +0000 Carla 1803570@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Congratulations on the sale of your house, and good luck with your home hunting!</p> <p>I work in disability management, so the brief for the home that would be our 'last' home required that it be all on one level, with easy approaches (few stairs to climb) and low maintenance. We lucked out with an open concept, and easy access (double doors) front door, and to any closed off rooms, including the master suite. We have plans to renovate one of the bathrooms to be super accessible, with a lipless shower - but with 'designer' sensibilities. We do have a yard, and garden, but I love to garden, and DH wanted a lawn to mow! I told him if he ever got tired of lawn maintenance, we would contract with a service. </p> <p>My 80 year old mother and her 92 year old husband live in a charming condo, however I find their bathrooms very small and difficult with the old fashioned configuration of tub, toilet and vanity. There is no room for the items they now require such as a bath bench, and other accommodations for their limited mobility. Also, their older building is undergoing some renovations (window replacements) and though there was a reserve, it wasn't enough and their condo fees have gone up. </p> <p>Renting sounds like a good plan if you are not yet sure where you want to live, or in what configuration. FWIW, we put a lot of thought into planning for when we would surrender our car and now live in a small walkable community, that has day-time bus service, and a train station. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1803519 Sat, 29 Apr 2017 22:55:55 +0000 Caro in Oz 1803519@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't have any local knowledge but we moved states (in Australia) &amp; rented for a year. We used our weekends looking at various areas at different times of the day &amp; night. We ended up buying in an area that was unknown to us originally &amp; we love it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1803470 Sat, 29 Apr 2017 18:03:37 +0000 Gaylene 1803470@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kkards and Shiny have given you a great overview of what to expect from condo (in BC we call them stratas) living. </p> <p>I also second BrieN's suggestion to give renting some serious thought, especially if you are moving from a large detached home with a yard. Living so close to complete strangers with whom you have to make major financial decisions takes some adjustments. We rented for a year and a half before buying our strata--and we learned a lot about what did, and didn't, work for us. For example, our rented strata was a spacious modern unit on the third floor of a concrete and steel, 6-story, five -year-old building in a mixed urban environment with a stunning water view. The owners were active retirees and older professionals who welcomed us into the social life of the building. It was a great introduction to condo/strata living, BUT, when we bought, it wasn't in that building. Living there made us realize we preferred a different configuration, different amenities, and a different location. </p> <p>Our rented strata seemed, at first, to be the condo of our dreams. The building was very new, with high level finishes, and was surrounded by professionally cared for, manicured grounds and beautiful water views. After living there for a year, though, we knew we'd never buy a unit in that building. Those lovely, floor-to-ceiling, glass windows faced west, so the summer sun turned the living room into a sauna. Our balcony with its stunning water views became unusable by late afternoon. Strata rules concerning the appearance of the building were strictly enforced so it took the owners of a neighboring unit over a year to receive permission to even hang a screen to gain some relief from the sun which pored into their unit. On the other hand, because many of the owners travelled frequently and owned homes in other cities, rules regarding renting were quite lenient. Owners let friends and family stay in the units while they were away, or leased out their units to renters such as us. There was a constant stream of new faces and visitors were often careless about, or unfamiliar with, garbage, security, and noise bylaws. And, because the strata building was in a area which was undergoing renewal, there were other construction projects being planned nearby. </p> <p>When we bought our current condo, our checklist of what we wanted had changed considerably. We were more familiar with the city and knew what different neighbourhoods could offer. Instead of glorious water views, we were attracted to a ground-floor unit with a very private, shady garden which gave us an outdoor living space for six months of the year. Owners are a mix of young working couples and older retirees who live in their units year around. The strata has 30 units, under professional management, and owners rotate being on the strata board. The common areas are smaller and less impressive, but room sizes in the units are larger and the kitchens have good storage and counter space. Individual storage rooms with locked doors next to our car stall are much more secure than the locked cages in our rental strata. The garbage area is super clean with large bins for sorted recycling. Living on the ground floor means we hear footsteps overhead, but the young couple who live there are polite and helpful--he owns a plumbing company and helped us install our dishwasher when he found out we were buying a new one. </p> <p>In short, renting taught us a lot. At first, we were wowed by high-end finishes, lovely views, and a vibrant social feeling, but, long term, things like good storage, a quieter neighbourhood, and neighbors who actually lived in the units became much more important. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1803418 Sat, 29 Apr 2017 14:42:26 +0000 kkards 1803418@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>one more thought.....the smaller the assocation the more you or your husband will have to be involved in the assocation....because my building only has 7 units, i've served on the board 9 out of 13 years i've lived here, including almost 5 as the president. i'll admit that the worst part of this was having to make decisions regarding my nieghbors being late on almost 9 months of assocation fees, ...if you dont want to be involved in this kind of converstation, think about a larger assocation where serving is more&nbsp;voluntary </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1803301 Sat, 29 Apr 2017 04:27:02 +0000 BrieN 1803301@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Congratulations on the sale of your home!</p> <p>We sold our family home of 18 years last year and did not find a place to buy before we closed. We've been renting for a year now, and it's been great. &nbsp;I heartily endorse renting, as it gives you time and space to figure out what you really need your space to be. I know a lot of people don't like the idea of moving twice, but I'm looking forward to the second round of culling our possessions.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1803119 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:10:02 +0000 shiny 1803119@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I forgot to talk about townhouses, since you mentioned that!</p> <p>Early in my life I lived in a townhouse and really disliked it. The walls were flimsy and you could hear EVERYTHING on both sides of you. In our recent search, we did look at a lot of townhouses since there are a lot in our market, but they all just had too many stairs. I don't think that's conducive to aging in place. I also don't like how the living spaces are arranged to be so long and narrow -- makes them more dark as light only gets in the back and the front. That's my personal opinion, at any rate, and YMMV! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1803117 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 17:57:45 +0000 shiny 1803117@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Viva, I've lived in condos for the past 20 years. The last one was a duplex scenario -- a multifamily split into two condos (one upstairs one downstairs) with each of us having half the yard. About 2 years ago, with the kids finally launched, we are now in an elevator building with 21 condos. Our current condo affords us the benefits of 1) full time maintenance man; 2) no lawn to maintain; 3) far better for aging in place compared to our last situation; 4) underground parking; 5) it's in the city and close to everything.</p> <p>First I'd ask yourself how long you will be there and does the condo fit aging-in-place requirements if you intend to be there that long? That was the #1 reason we moved. After seeing everything my in-laws went through, and now my own parents, this became top of mind, especially since DH is developing some health issues. He just could not keep up with the yard maintenance, even though our yard was small. He could not keep up with house repairs either &nbsp;(the ice dams a few winters back really did us both in) -- so having full time maintenance person on site was incredibly valuable for us. We now live in a place we don't have to "baby sit" in the winter: we can drop the keys with the maintenance guy and go off for weeks or months at a time. What's more, though we were on the bottom level of the duplex, the place still had a lot of stairs to navigate. One visit from a wheelchair bound friend made it completely obvious to us that the duplex would not work in our later years.&nbsp;</p> <p>Duplex (or triplex) scenarios are... different. It is crucial that you like your neighbors!! When we first bought the duplex, we had horrible nasty neighbors. We almost sold, but they sold first instead. Then we had a very nice couple move in, and that made all the difference. They were laid back like we were which made things a lot easier -- we wound up not having a formal condo agreement / bank account, but not once did they balk about spending $ for improvements. When it came time for a new roof, we split 60/40 and got a new roof. The only nit with the situation was that they were clueless about home and yard maintenance, so a lot of that fell to my hubby, so you could say he played the role of full time maintenance man! Lesson is that if you buy in a situation like this your experience will highly depend on whether you get along with your neighbors -- if you disagree it can mean nothing gets done. Or if they don't have the $ for improvements, you may be left holding the bag, or nothing gets done.&nbsp;</p> <p>For these reasons we felt better going into a condo situation with 21 units, a formalized condo association (run by a 3rd party), and monthly fee. From what we've learned since we moved in, the association lapsed for many years and the place started getting run down, as units weren't paying the fees, and the fee was also set too low, so no reserve. A couple of years before we bought, they fixed all that, hired a professional management company, did an assessment, and raised the fee. To us it is a reasonable amount (I calculated it all out and it was comparable to our run-rate keeping our duplex afloat) but many of the owners turned over at that time and sold because they couldn't afford it. They've made many improvements since then, and have a slate of improvements for this year. The fee includes trash removal, snow removal, landscaping, cleaning of common areas, maintenance man salary, common area electricity/gas, insurance (but you'll also need your own policy as well), water, and the slated improvements (new roof, re-pointing of the brick, new windows in common area, new water pump, new security system).&nbsp;</p> <p>Be sure to ask if there has been any assessments, how long ago, are any assessments planned in the future, what is in the reserve (you definitely want money in there!), and ask to see the condo budget. It's a good thing to also meet the condo board members.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ask about the parking situation. Can you rent out your spot? Where do guests park?&nbsp;</p> <p>Read the condo bylaws very carefully and make sure you agree with them. Especially if you plan to do any renovations! One thing I don't agree with is the time they allow you to get renovations completed - it's too short, now that the place is over 30 years old, and many units (including us) are having to do gut renovations, rather than minor cosmetic improvements. It takes longer to do reno's in a condo in the city for a variety of reasons. Also if you are going to do reno's, know what you can and cannot change. We were able to knock down a non-load bearing wall, move the kitchen, move the laundry, and a whole host of other things -- but could not change the exterior and have to buy windows from a certain company. Be aware that a lot of condo situations will not be that generous. Two areas our association was fanatic about was plumbing and the water sprinkler system. Of course they would be, as these effect everyone.&nbsp;</p> <p>Usually the condo fees are figured based on a percentage of your square footage. So if your place is larger than other units, you'll be paying more than they are.</p> <p>Go around and knock on doors and meet the neighbors before you buy. We lucked out as our building is mostly quiet, working professionals, or retirees who travel a lot and are never here. &nbsp;For the most part, everyone keeps to themselves and the condo is nicely constructed so you don't hear them at all. But they also do social get-togethers a few times a year, which is nice.&nbsp;</p> <p>What floor to live on:&nbsp;</p> <p>In the duplex we were on the bottom floor and I preferred that. A lot of duplexes around here convert attic space into usable living space, and in my experience, it gets REALLY hot, or cold, and/or puts higher demand on the HVAC. Another thing you have to watch out for in that scenario is ICE DAMS. That place never had ice dams in 100 years -- until the attic was converted. However a disadvantage of the lower level is that you may have a converted basement, and those are not ideal either. Also, noise will be more of an issue -- not just street noise, but noise from your neighbors walking above you, or tromping up their stairs, or slamming the door when they come in. It really helps if the condo bylaws dictate the upper unit must have carpeting.&nbsp;</p> <p>In our current condo, we are on the top floor, which gives us fantastic views, and I do think it's quieter too. But of course if the elevator goes down we have to walk up a lot of stairs...&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1803113 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 17:38:40 +0000 Anonymous 1803113@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Excited to hear when you find something! DH and I are exploring the idea of moving to NH (most likely southeastern area) once he retires in 5 &nbsp;or so years. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1803099 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 17:12:53 +0000 kkards 1803099@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>how exciting...wow...</p> <p>I'm a long time condo owner...both in Boston and now in my current city. in Boston I was in large association. my current situation is a 7 unit association. my parents moved from the family home into a townhouse/condo development 20 years ago.</p> <p>re condo's (and many townhomes in New England i believe are technically condo's)....</p> <p>you need to look at the budget. make any offer contingent on this. as Elle points out you need to know how much is in reserve. but more importantly you need to know what is and is not covered in the general operating budget and what is the 10-15 year&nbsp;capital budget, i.e. what is the reserve planned to be used for. if, for example the 10-15 year reserve does not have replacement of the roof budgeted for and the current roof is 10 years old...you will run either be looking at an increase in your fee or an assessment.&nbsp; also, don't compare association dues without truly understanding what they include and exclude. for example, I live in an old building that was converted in the 1980s, my monthly fee includes my water, new condo's that I looked at didn't. </p> <p>you need to know how many units are currently rented, and what are the rules and regulations regarding renting units. with the tightening of the mortgage market, banks are very restrictive about writing a mortgage for units in associations with a lot of renters (I believe that magic number is 75% of the units need to be owner occupied, a good realtor will know this). this may&nbsp;impact your ability to buy and/or your ability to sell later. in addition, renters tend to be, well, less invested and those units may not be cared for as well as you would like. again this may end up impacted your invested, but more importantly, may impact your quality of life.</p> <p>my current apartment is on the 2nd floor of a 3 story building. I like it in the winter because I get the heat benefit! actually, again, because the building is old (built 1912) its very well built and is really quiet. but also add that we have no children living in the building. If you are thinking this is your new forever home, I would think twice about stairs, if however, you are thinking this is a for a long time, but maybe not for&nbsp;when&nbsp;your 80, this is less important.&nbsp;</p> <p>sorry, I seem to be writing a novel...but one more thing to add. even though my current association is only 7 units, we have contracted a professional real estate management company to help us run it. this gives us the benefit of their contacts with the trades, the city etc.&nbsp;our management company manages 4 or 5 other condo associations, and owns dozens of rental property's, so they negotiate one trash removal contract, one housekeeping contract (for the common areas) etc, thus not only saving us money, but also not making us responsible for trying to track down why the trash wasn't picked up this week.&nbsp;They provide guidance on how to handle legal issues, late payments and general maintenance.&nbsp;they also&nbsp;professionalize&nbsp;issues that otherwise can get sticky between neighbors. To me, they are totally worth what we pay them. </p> <p>hope this helped, and that I did not overwhelm you. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1803076 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:54:00 +0000 viva 1803076@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks,&nbsp;<b>Sal</b>!</p> <p>Super helpful, <b>Elle</b>. Printing out your suggestions right now so I don't forget them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1803061 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:17:24 +0000 Elle 1803061@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Congratulations! &nbsp;An exciting step.</p> <p>I would look at the homeowners association rules/procedures. &nbsp;Some associations are better run than others (your realtor may know). How do they make joint decisions and resolve disputes? &nbsp;Find out whether they have a property manager (more common in larger condos) and if not, how the major repairs are handled (rotated among owners? one person responsible for snow etc?)<br /> The other thing to look at is how much of a reserve the condo association has for major repairs/improvements. Again, your realtor can tell you if the reserve is comparable to similar condos. &nbsp;Too small a reserve means you may have to pony up money unexpectedly. &nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1802819 Thu, 27 Apr 2017 19:48:00 +0000 Sal 1802819@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No wisdom, but congratulations on your sale and decision!! Exciting but emotional times. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/condotownhome-dwellersowners-please-chime-in#post-1802815 Thu, 27 Apr 2017 19:30:18 +0000 viva 1802815@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi all,</p> <p>We just sold the homestead -- 20 years of family raising in a big New England colonial house is done -- and we are hunting for the next dwelling for DH and me. We are looking at (and actually already lost a bidding war on) a townhome or possibly condo in New England. Our ideal scenario is a great neighborhood of Portland ME or Portsmouth or Exeter NH, but inventory in our price range is tight and we will have to act quickly. If we don't find something in the next couple of months (before we close on this home) we will rent. So we're feeling some pressure but we also are completely comfortable renting for a year if it comes to that.</p> <p>In Portland we are not looking at condo or town-home complexes since we are looking in-town. It's more of a matter of someone having converted a large house into several units, or building a small collection of 3-4 units. In NH, we're looking at both those scenarios and also some smaller more traditional condo complexes. (I prefer the former scenario but they are harder to find and to get.) We are looking at some small single homes too, but I am not sure we'll find what we want, where we want, in our price range in a standalone home.</p> <p><b>Any advice on what to look out for, or what to look for? </b>Obviously HOA fees - but beyond that? I'd love to hear your thoughts. For example, with dogs, is it better to live on the first floor (access to the outside)? Or, is it always best to live on the top floor (assume max of 3 floors) so no one is above you?&nbsp;</p> <p>Would love the wisdom of the hive on this one.</p> <p>Thanks in advance.</p> <p>xxx </p>