Comparison: Condominium vs. House & Lot

by Ronel Forbes

October 7, 2021

When buying a property, you have the option of buying a standard house or a condominium. Aside from location, one of the most significant considerations when purchasing a home is the style of housing.

Condo ownership involves only the living space inside the condo unit and a piece of the common area of the condo building, whereas home ownership includes both the house and the land beneath it. Even though both types of housing have advantages and disadvantages, your lifestyle and budget can help you decide whether a single-family house or a condo is better for you.

Most people nowadays hope to make a stable house investment that will last a lifetime. They are making an investment that they will be able to pass down to their children and grand kids. Similarly, an investment that is owned rather than borrowed for their own gain. This is one of the reasons we work so hard every day: we will not let our sacrifices go to waste.

Before you do anything else, you should understand that whether you want to buy a condo or a standard house depends on your long-term aspirations for home ownership. Each residence is designed to meet a unique lifestyle requirement. Will you choose a resort-style home or a village-style dwelling?

What you should know before making a choice.

Purchasing a Condo

Advantages:

1. Proximity / Environment

Due to the effects of urban living, most buyers have chosen condominiums over houses in recent years. Condos are typically found in urban locations, close to stores, restaurants, and other points of interest. It is more convenient for persons who work in these fields to make this choice.

2. Amenities

Condos typically provide facilities such as swimming pools and gyms that are not typically found in single-family homes.

3. Maintenance costs are shared

The owners of all the units pay dues to the association in order to share common expenses, which lowers the maintenance costs.

For example, if the roof of a condominium building leaks and has to be repaired, the cost will be shared by all unit owners, whereas if the roof of your own home needs to be repaired, you will be the sole person responsible.

Disadvantages:

1. Proximity / Environment

If you buy a condo, you will most likely be in a city or suburb, which means a more polluted and noisy environment than if you lived in a private compound or hamlet.

2. Maintenance costs are shared

As previously stated, association fees are used to pay for the majority of the building’s pricey components, which might be a disadvantage in condo living. The reason for this is that it will be collected on top of your monthly mortgage payments to cover the cost of the building’s upkeep and amenities.

These fees, which are calculated per square meter of your living area and frequently increase over time, can get very expensive depending on the building. Another disadvantage is that you are limited to what you have.

3. Possibility of change/extension

Extensions and extensive renovations of the unit are not permitted due to the building’s structural integrity.

4. Regulations and Rules

The process of deciding on rules and regulations will be shared among all homeowners, and you will be required to follow them whether you like them or not. For example, if you wish to have a pet but the admin rules prohibit it, you won’t be able to have one.

Purchasing a House

Advantages

One of the most significant advantages of buying a house is that you have complete control over it and can rebuild or improve it without the approval of others. You’ll also benefit from having extra indoor and outdoor space, which makes accommodating visitors, families, children, and pets easier.

Houses also have additional storage space, such as attics and basements. The most important advantage is that homeowners have more privacy than condo dwellers due to the distance between them and their neighbors.

Disadvantages

The disadvantages of having a house are the polar opposite of those of owning a condo. The homeowner is solely responsible for all care on the property, both inside and out, including the upkeep of the yard and trees (if there are any).

When buying a home, don’t forget to factor in the cost of maintenance tools and equipment. Although any modifications are likely to raise the resale value of your home, they do necessitate a time and financial investment. Because houses have greater space than condos, utility expenses are often higher.

Houses are normally available in suburban areas, unless the property is in an urban area (in most cases, raising the cost to more than half of what you would pay for suburban houses), which will be a key decision if you work in an urban location, as commuting time would be longer.

Easier to sell — You won’t have to gain a HOA’s approval to sell your home, so that’s one less hurdle to overcome when it’s time to sell.

Is it better to live in a condo or a house?

A: This is not the right question for you to be asking in terms of picking. The question you should be considering is whether a house or a condo is better suited to your lifestyle.

When it comes to determining which property to buy for you and your family, the debate over whether to buy a condominium or a house constantly arises, and both property types have their advantages and disadvantages. It all comes down to which option best meets your needs and desires.

Conclusion

It is up to you to make the final decision. Because all of your assets are on the line, make the best judgments you can. Both properties have advantages and disadvantages, and it is up to you to weigh the pros and cons from the perspective of a potential home owner.

If you’ve already decided on what you want, consider purchasing insurance, such as Home or Property Insurance, in an Insurance company as a safety net in the event of an unexpected event at home.For more specific information regarding the insurance of your choice, please visit MGS Insurance.