Found a townhouse! Pics inside!

[Sealy]

I'm going to be looking at some townhouses tomorrow with my realtor. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what questions to ask and what I should look out for? Anyone have any horror stories to share in regard to buying a place? Just thought I'd throw the question out there.

 

[frizzlefry]

ask about if water is included, if there are association fees, demographics of the area. go talk to the neighbors too. just introduce yourself and explain that you're thinking about moving there and find out what they say about the neighborhood.

 

[Sealy]

Originally posted by: frizzlefry
ask about if water is included, if there are association fees, demographics of the area. go talk to the neighbors too. just introduce yourself and explain that you're thinking about moving there and find out what they say about the neighborhood.

Good idea about talking to the neighbours! That way you can see what type of people they are and if you want them as neighbours.

 

[alkemyst]

make sure your future neighbor is a hottie no need to see some ugly chick coming out half cocked to get her morning paper and ruin the rest of your day.

Other than that, what's the monthly fees and maintence and what's included in that? Ask if your roof is covered by the association too. Get all the rules first, see what is done to people who don't follow them. I am all for freedom, but when your neighbors have no regards to sanitation and others you need some recourse.

 

[frizzlefry]

oh yeah forgot to mention. since i'm assuming you will at least have one attached neighbor, find out how solid the walls are. at my place, they're pretty damn well built. can't hear anything the nighbors do. don't want to be hearing some old ass neighbors bumping it at night.

 

[Sealy]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
make sure your future neighbor is a hottie no need to see some ugly chick coming out half cocked to get her morning paper and ruin the rest of your day.

Other than that, what's the monthly fees and maintence and what's included in that? Ask if your roof is covered by the association too. Get all the rules first, see what is done to people who don't follow them. I am all for freedom, but when your neighbors have no regards to sanitation and others you need some recourse.

Well thanks for the advice, but since I'm a girl...I think I'll make sure my neighbour is a hot stud coming out to get his paper!

Btw I'm putting an offer in on a townhouse tomorrow! I'm very excited...yeah no more renting!

 

[Sealy]

I truely know that no one really cares....but I'm totally excited and happy right now, so I don't care I'm posting it anyway....I bought a townhouse!!!!!! We move in on December 1st! Yeah no more dark and gloomy basement suite!!! Everything just worked out so well! The complex is going to be painted and each unit will have to come up with 1000.00 dollars but because they were assessed with that before our date of possession, the original owners have to pay for it!! Yeah! Okay I'm finished...for now.

 

[amdskip]

congrats

 

[Cyberian]

Great!

Can you tell us any more about the place? Size, layout, location, # of rooms, etc.

 

[JellyBaby]

Pics?

 

[Sealy]

Sure I can tell you more about the place! It's backed onto a green belt on a dead end street in Port Moody, B.C. It's 3 bedrooms with a huge master bedroom that you could do arobics in! Very exciting since my bedroom currently is a shoe box! It has a carport so no more running from car to house in the rain! It needs a lot of decorating but that's right up my alley! The previous owners just loved really ugly wall paper!

Outside of my place. The bay window is in the bedroom.

Click on (view additional pictures) to see the main floor. Like I said it needs some major re-decorating and all their ugly furniture out of there...but there is so much potential! I want to expand the kitchen out to where they have their dining table and replace the carpet with lamenate flooring.

When we are done, I'll post some before and after shots!

 

[pnho]

congratulations!

I am quite envious, renting sucks. I hope to be purchasing a home in a year or two...

best wishes

 

[Kerouactivist]

sweet townhouse

 

[Sealy]

Thanks pnho! Yeah I'm so happy to be out of the renting scene now! It will be nice to pay my own mortgage rather than someone elses! You'll get there it's not as hard or scary as you might think!

 

[ObiDon]

The complex is going to be painted and each unit will have to come up with 1000.00 dollars

That really sucks. I thought the whole point of the homeowners association fees was to pay for the outside maintenance?

 

[Sealy]

Originally posted by: ObiDon

The complex is going to be painted and each unit will have to come up with 1000.00 dollars

That really sucks. I thought the whole point of the homeowners association fees was to pay for the outside maintenance?

Well it does'nt suck for me 'cause the previous owners have to pay it. When you live in a strata there is a contingency fund and the strata can decide to use all or just some of the money in there to do the major things like paint, and roofs ect... Anything over and above is paid for my the home owners. It's not really that much different then having a detatched home, as anything goes wrong and you're out of pocket. Only it could be thousands and for the whole amount! Even if I had to pay it, I would'nt mind cause it's going to the upkeep and value of my property!

 

[ObiDon]

Well it does'nt suck for me 'cause the previous owners have to pay it.

I knew that would be your response.
I know you don't have to pay for it this time but sooner or later they will hit you with the same type of thing. I hope that your homeowners fees aren't that high at least. I'd be kind of pissed if I had realatively high fees and they could still say, "Surprise! You owe us $xxxx.xx!"

Other than that, congratulations! Have fun with your kitchen!


<---- guy who hates small, cramped kitchens!

 

[Muadib]

ObiDon is right. You should try to get it in writing that your association fees won't change for X number of years.

 

[T2T III]

Quote
The complex is going to be painted and each unit will have to come up with 1000.00 dollars

That really sucks. I thought the whole point of the homeowners association fees was to pay for the outside maintenance?

It really depends on the association and the property. If you have a townhouse/condominium, then they should collect enough money in the assessments to cover the exterior maintenance. If you have a regular townhouse where you own the land that the structure sits on, then the homeowner's association usually will just provide insurance on the common areas so they don't get sued along with maintenance such as grasscutting. In all actuality, $1,000 isn't too bad for painting. In my area here in the U.S., just the trim painting on a townhouse runs about $1,500. The trim is quite minimal because the townhouses have either aluminum siding, vinyl siding or brick. The paintjob takes about a day to complete for a crew of 3 painters.

Here's a link to a picture of my townhouse. Here in the D.C. area of the U.S., homes on my street are selling for $270K (U.S. $$) - My Townhouse

 

[Pheran]

Congrats, Sealy. I bought my townhouse about 3 years ago, they are great (no mowing!). In fact I'm in the process of refinancing it right now for a lower rate.

That $1000 assessment is some cause for concern. It implies that the association isn't collecting enough money to budget for those things. I've never been assessed any special fees (and we have a set painting schedule for all of the buildings), but on the other hand my association fee is fairly high (~$160) so maybe it all balances out.

Enjoy your new place!

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: Sealy

Originally posted by: alkemyst
make sure your future neighbor is a hottie no need to see some ugly chick coming out half cocked to get her morning paper and ruin the rest of your day.

Other than that, what's the monthly fees and maintence and what's included in that? Ask if your roof is covered by the association too. Get all the rules first, see what is done to people who don't follow them. I am all for freedom, but when your neighbors have no regards to sanitation and others you need some recourse.

Well thanks for the advice, but since I'm a girl...I think I'll make sure my neighbour is a hot stud coming out to get his paper!

Btw I'm putting an offer in on a townhouse tomorrow! I'm very excited...yeah no more renting!

In other words, WE want YOU as our neighbor!

 

[Quaoar]

Do not get one near the oceans........ soon as the yet undetected effects of my gravitational field begins to affect the ebb and flow of the tides anything on the coasts will be destroyed.


Except for big niko and a bottle of lotion.

 

[Sealy]

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: Sealy

Originally posted by: alkemyst
make sure your future neighbor is a hottie no need to see some ugly chick coming out half cocked to get her morning paper and ruin the rest of your day.

Other than that, what's the monthly fees and maintence and what's included in that? Ask if your roof is covered by the association too. Get all the rules first, see what is done to people who don't follow them. I am all for freedom, but when your neighbors have no regards to sanitation and others you need some recourse.

Well thanks for the advice, but since I'm a girl...I think I'll make sure my neighbour is a hot stud coming out to get his paper!

Btw I'm putting an offer in on a townhouse tomorrow! I'm very excited...yeah no more renting!

In other words, WE want YOU as our neighbor!

Ah Gee Shucks! Aint you just the sweetest thing!

 

[tarheelmm]

Port Moody
Thats funny

 

[Sealy]

Originally posted by: tarheelmm
Port Moody
Thats funny

If you think that's funny my friend went to PMS Port Moody Secondary! I don't know why it's called Port Moody, obviously it's on the water, but Moody I'm not sure. Probably after someone's name. I'm going to look into that! Thanks for peeking my curiousity!