house or condo?

[adelphi]

1900 sq ft house or 1 floor (3+2br condo 2200sq ft) (300/month cc)


having a backyard vs no need to shovel/ other house work that 'drains' my free time

aaahh yes the soft addictions that consumes my life yet i hold so dear

 

[FoBoT]

if you do not have any kids, then go with the condo

 

[adelphi]

why condo for kids? thought backyard let them get off steam and let them run amok

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: adelphi
why condo for kids? thought backyard let them get off steam and let them run amok

Re-read his comment.

 

[aircooled]

house

 

[waggy]

we looked into getting a condo. yeah they are much cheaper (2 br with full basement 1car garage 110k vs 130k for a house).

with a house you have to repair averything yourself, you have to mow the lawn and shovel the snow. with a condo you pay a monthly fee and all of that is done!

in the end we decided on a house. we wanted a backyard for kids.

 

[Jzero]

It really depends on your needs and your future plans.

 

[royaldank]

I prefer a house. No worries about sound. I was able to get a good sized yard which is nice. However, I've never liked condos at all. But, if you can find something you like, at least you aren't renting anymore. Maybe get a condo on a good rate ARM. Then sell it in 4 or 5 years for a better house than you can afford right now.

 

[vi edit]

Condo pros:
- Don't have to mow
- Don't have to shovel
- All siding & roofing is taken care of by association
- usually cheaper purchase price

Condo cons:
- association fees
- association rules that may be strict
- if you have a crappy snow removal or lawn care company you may end up doing the work yourself
- you have the possibility of having neighbors on either side of you, and possibly above and below you
- no back yard
- limited parking

House pros:
- backyard
- usually better parking
- can paint your house pink if you feel like it (assuming no community restrictions)
- no shared walls
- utlimately the most freedom

House cons:
- ALL repairs are done by you
- all landscaping and snow removal is done by you
- more expensive

Have you considered a zero lot line townhome?

EDIT - http://www.rgiarbys.com/house/index.htm
That's a walkthrough of our zero lot line townhome. 1550 sq/ft, 3 br, 2bath, backyard, good price.

 

[Maverick]

house so you can turn your music/movies up louder

 

[StageLeft]

House. We had to make this choice this year as well, but really it's up to what you like. I have to say I LOVE turning up the music so loud I fear for the neighbors - then remember I have none A condo will always feel like an apartment.

If you live in an apt now, ask yourself why you're getting a condo. For investment reasons? Well, there's a good chance you'll need a house soon anyway (unless you're 19!), so just do it right the first time and feel no squished-in-a-can feeling 2-3 years down the line.

 

[JaydenChris]

House!

Condo is basically owning an apartment...and not really owning at all. =/

 

[blackdogdeek]

we chose a house so the little girl will have a nice yard to play in and so that we don't have to worry about being too loud for the neighbors.

it snowed the week we moved in and i had to shovel our new driveway and we had to rake our leaves but i actually kind of like having something my own that i can take care of.

another thing to keep in mind is resale value. check to see how condos in your area appreciate compared to houses.

good luck!

 

[CChaos]

A condo might seem cheaper, but if you are paying 3600 a year for maintenance... Also, I think houses tend to appreciate more quickly than condos, though it might depend on the area in which you will be living.

I'd say you should base the decision upon your needs and your financial situation. Remember, the interest you pay on your mortgage is a tax deduction and you'll build equity quicker if you are spending some of that extra $300/month on your mortgage.

I'd prefer a house myself, but housing is damned expensive here so we might end up in a condo.

 

[StageLeft]

but housing is damned expensive

That's what you get for living in what, the richest state in the country?

 

[richardycc]

I live in a condo, its my starter home, its cheap, no yard work, shoveling, etc. My neighbors are great, but my next home will be a house.

 

[kenshorin]

Originally posted by: CChaos
I'd prefer a house myself, but housing is damned expensive here so we might end up in a condo.

Tell me about it. Damn northeastern states. I have been looking at house prices. I could never afford those! I have been seriously been thinking of leaving this region... too expensive here.