When you’re ready for a new home, how do you decide between a condo or a single-family home?
A lot of it depends or your personality!
I’ve always loved communal living. In fact, I’ve spent most of my adult life in one kind of housing community or another, from dorms, to apartments, to condominiums. I like the feeling of safety in numbers when I come home late, but I also like the anonymity that comes with having lots of neighbors – I don’t have to socialize unless I feel like it!
Another perk of condo living is knowing you’re off the hook for yard work, building maintenance, and in some cases, trash, or utilities. But that convenience does come at a price…
Condo fees or HOA’s can be STEEP, and they’ll only go up over the life of your mortgage. If the building needs major upgrades, you’ll be responsible for paying your share – and repairs don’t always come at convenient times!
Single-family homes have their pros and cons as well. One of the biggest perks of a single-family dwelling is more space. Houses are generally larger than condos, and if a yard is important to you, you might find yourself leaning towards single-family housing.
And even if you’re firmly Team Condo right now, your needs may change in the future…
I’m actually pondering the move to single-family housing myself. I rescue dogs, and my 3 pooches need more room to roam – and if I add a 4th, we’re definitely going to need a yard. But the idea of handing my weekends over to yard work and home maintenance does give me a moment’s pause!
Choosing a home is a BIG decision, but I don’t believe you’re making it alone… I’m going to let you in on a secret – I truly believe that the right house chooses us.
You walk in and look around and it just FEELS right. It may not be in the neighborhood you’d planned on. It might not be the style you thought you wanted – but the house chooses you. The Universe is saying, “This is it! Trust!”
But the Universe also wants you to do your homework, so here are somethings you should consider when choosing between a condo and a single-family home:
- Do you want an HOA?
A homeowner’s association can have a huge impact on your life. It can cut down on maintenance and upkeep, but HOAs have a big say in the choices you make about your home. Many neighborhoods have HOA’s, but if you want full control over your home, you can find one that doesn’t. However, it’s almost impossible to find a communal living option without an HOA.
- How Much Time Do You Spend at Home?
If you’re a homebody who loves to putter around and garden, you’re probably going to prefer a single-family dwelling. But if you travel, and say, go to Florida for 6 months of the year – condo living is perfect. Condo life may also be the preferred choice for busy professionals who don’t spend a lot of time at home.
- How Much Space Do You REALLY Need?
If you’ve got 6 kids, 4 dogs, and a guinea pig, you’re going to need some room! But if it’s just you and your yorkie, you’ll probably be fine with smaller square footage.
Just remember, the bigger the house/yard, the more time you’ll spend on maintenance and upkeep. If you’re handy, that might be right up your ally, but if you’d rather spend your downtime doing other things, you might prefer a hassle-free condo!
Still not sure whether a condo or single-family home best fits your needs? I can help! Let’s talk about your must-haves and look at some of the great options in our area. I can’t tell you which one to choose, but I can definitely help you find the home that’s just right for you.
