Condos: A Great Alternative to Single-Family Homes

Whether you’re just starting out and shopping for your first house, looking for an easy-care retirement home, or want upscale, maintenance-free digs that leave you time for more exciting pursuits, a condo might be the perfect choice.

The combination of price and on-site maintenance services makes condominiums a great choice for a variety of prospective owners. While the prices of condominiums have gone up in recent years along with those of single-family homes, they still sell for substantially less than comparable detached homes; and they’re available in a variety of price ranges and designs from one-bedroom entry-level homes for under $100,000 in many areas to the most spacious and luxurious examples. Choose upscale urban living close to cultural hotpots, or the peace and quiet of a lakeside country setting; or choose a condo in a popular resort area as a second home.

Condos can provide a variety of social settings, as well. Tennis courts, swimming pools, communal backyards, even on-site theaters promote interaction with neighbors in some complexes, while others end up more suited to quietly independent living. While looking for a condo with the requisite number of bedrooms and bathrooms, you might want to quiz the condo management about the atmosphere at the complex. Do the residents have a lot of interaction, or do they keep to themselves? Is there a residential condo board, and are new residents encouraged to join? When you take a tour of the complex, are the residents friendly and welcoming toward you?

When you’re ready to move from your present home to a new environment, think about your needs. If you want homeownership without the maintenance hassles, and you’re ready to live in a complex populated by a variety of different and interesting people, maybe a condo is the perfect choice.