Buying a condo or a house?
Buying your first home is probably one of the biggest decisions of your life so far. One of the big questions to worry about from the start is the choice of the type of property: buy a condo or a house?
Several factors to consider will help guide your choice if you are hesitating between buying a condo or a house.
Your budget
Your budget will greatly guide the decision to be made: what does it allow you to buy? To choose between buying a condo or a house, you must first know the associated costs.
For a smaller budget, you will have more condo options, but their price can be as high as that of a single-family home depending on location, size, construction, year, etc. Considering all the expenses related to each type of property, the condo turns out to be less expensive in the majority of cases.
| CONDO | HOUSE | |
| Srong points |
The buying price is often lower than for a single-family home. So you will have smaller mortgage payments. Condo fees are fixed and cover all maintenance except your unit. |
The value of a home increases over the years, allowing you, in the long run, to resell it for a higher price than you bought it. You can organize your renovations according to your budget. |
| Weak points | In the context of a condo, certain factors beyond your control can decrease or increase the value of your condo. | You must take into consideration all the costs of maintenance, work and possible repairs. It is estimated that this corresponds to 1 to 3% of the value of the property. |
The maintenance
Evaluating the required maintenance, beyond the associated costs, should not be overlooked when selecting your type of property.
| CONDO | HOUSE | |
| Srong points |
The maintenance of common areas and outdoor spaces are taken care of by your condominium thanks to the fees that you will pay each month. |
By being responsible for the maintenance, you are free to do what you want with it, with a few restrictions. |
| Weak points | You have much less flexibility than in a house for maintenance or to make improvements since you must follow the rules of your condominium. | You are responsible for maintaining its exterior and interior. You will have to do some work yourself and / or set a budget to have it done by professionals. |
Your space
In your buying criteria, you probably already have an idea of the space you are looking for in your future property: the number of rooms, the storage, the size of the kitchen, the outdoor space, etc. It will also help you determine what you prefer between a house and a condo.
| CONDO | HOUSE | |
| Srong points |
You can take advantage of common areas such as a gym, swimming pool or courtyard. |
You have a private yard to do with it what you want. Many homes have garages and sheds for more storage space or for handiwork. |
| Weak points |
You must share the common areas. Storage is often limited in condos. |
You are limited by your budget, maintenance and municipal restrictions for example |
Your lifestyle and the neighbourhood
When buying a condo or a house, your choice will depend on what you are looking for as a neighbourhood depending on your lifestyle. As tastes and lifestyles are different, the advantages and disadvantages of a condo or a house vary according to your criteria.
Beyond finances and upkeep, you need to visualize your day-to-day life, how you imagine it, before making a decision. You don't want to regret your choice because you haven't taken your everyday well-being into consideration.
Prepare a list of criteria and conclude what is the best match between a condominium and a house. Ask yourself the right questions.
- Do you like to live near your neighbours?
- Are you looking for some action or a quiet place?
- Do you spend a lot of time outdoors?
- Do you do manual work?
- Do you play a loud musical instrument?
- If you are planning to have children, when?
- Do you have (or plan to have) any pets?
- Etc.
For example, the condo is often the type of property that we find the most in an urban environment. In this urban environment, you can also find houses, but the environment will remain very urban. However, if you are a suburban type, you will be more likely to find houses but also a few condos, which could even be a little more spacious than those in an urban environment.
Advice
If you eventually want to buy a house to raise your future children, but you do not yet have the means (nor the time), a condo is an ideal gateway on the real estate market: in addition to being less expensive, a condominium requires less maintenance. This is a mid-term option to strengthen your finances and prepare yourself for all that it takes to maintain a home.
Whether you choose a condo or a house, surround yourself with competent professionals who will answer your questions for the biggest purchase of your life, such as a mortgage broker, a building inspector, a real estate broker, etc.
Sutton brokers are professionals who will accompany you every step of the way to find the property (condo or house) of your dreams.
