This is the condo I want!

[Argo]

http://www.seattlecondoreview....tra-high-end.html#more

 

[theblackbox]

thats a phrase i would never expect anyone under 75 and not moving to florida to say.

 

[postmortemIA]

looks good, but then similar house looks even better

 

[Argo]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
looks good, but then similar house looks even better

Sorry they don't have houses in downtowns of big cities and living anywhere else is not for me.

 

[nageov3t]

I couldn't deal with all the exposure.

 

[sjwaste]

I really don't understand the condo market. Here in Arlington, a building breaks ground once a month and they're presumably being bought up. I rent a shoebox now, I dont want to live in one. If I'm going to own, I want to step right out my front door, not past my neighbors and down an elevator. The norm here is generally one parking space, too, even on the 2br places.

To each his own, I guess.

 

[theblackbox]

i couldn't imagine wanting to live in a big city, but thats just me.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: theblackbox
i couldn't imagine wanting to live in a big city, but thats just me.

I work in San Francisco. Have been for about 2 years. I couldn't live there though. While it has its benefits, I friggin hate the drivers and bicyclists in the city. I also like to keep more than one car and parking is a bitch.
I live in the south bay and commute by train 42min each way.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: sjwaste
I really don't understand the condo market. Here in Arlington, a building breaks ground once a month and they're presumably being bought up. I rent a shoebox now, I dont want to live in one. If I'm going to own, I want to step right out my front door, not past my neighbors and down an elevator. The norm here is generally one parking space, too, even on the 2br places.

To each his own, I guess.

cheaper than a house (especially if you don't need all the room), don't have to deal with as much maintenance costs/responsibilities as owning a house, and in a nice complex, I'd imagine that they have much better amenities and security than you'd fine in a typical house.

that's what springs immediately to mind, at any rate.

I gave thought to getting a condo, but I'm too batshit insane about bugs. that's what I hate about apartment living the most -- I have no control over how clean and tidy my neighbors are or wtf they're bringing into their apartments.

 

[theblackbox]

i just couldn't imagine wanting to own the equivalent of an apartment.

 

[buck]

No one will probably believe me but I work on the second floor of this building. Its our companies corporate hq.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: sjwaste
I really don't understand the condo market. Here in Arlington, a building breaks ground once a month and they're presumably being bought up. I rent a shoebox now, I dont want to live in one. If I'm going to own, I want to step right out my front door, not past my neighbors and down an elevator. The norm here is generally one parking space, too, even on the 2br places.

To each his own, I guess.

House prices in Arlington are half that of anything near Seattle. You'd be singing a different tune if you lived closer.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie

Originally posted by: sjwaste
I really don't understand the condo market. Here in Arlington, a building breaks ground once a month and they're presumably being bought up. I rent a shoebox now, I dont want to live in one. If I'm going to own, I want to step right out my front door, not past my neighbors and down an elevator. The norm here is generally one parking space, too, even on the 2br places.

To each his own, I guess.

House prices in Arlington are half that of anything near Seattle. You'd be singing a different tune if you lived closer.

Arlington, VA not WA. Median between here and Seattle are within about 2k of each other for the metro areas.

SFH's are way far apart. Our median SFH is in the 700k range, Seattle is about 300k less.

We're a DC suburb, just a few miles out. It's pretty ridiculous here, and this county in general wasn't a subprime mess, so while it's declining a bit, nothing drastic has taken place thus far.

 

[HannibalX]

I like condos. I hate yard work, sharing a yard, doing building maintenance. I would rather pay a fee and have someone else do it. I live in a 3 bedroom house on around 2 acres at the moment. I don't really like it. I thought I would. I hate having to drive everywhere. Just taking a little trip to the grocery store is an hour long ordeal with fighting traffic and the parking lot, etc. I would rather just be able to walk a block or two, get my groceries and walk back home. I like being able to walk to the bank, the movie store, the music store, restaurants, parks, movie theater, coffee shop, library, etc.

I have been living outside of the city for just about a year now and I hate it. I'm ready to go back. Honestly there are only three things I like about living in a stand alone house: 1.) Private parking, 2.) My dog can shit wherever and 3.) I can use my BBQ smoker and my charcoal grill. As much as I love these three things, I would give them up.

Here is a condo for me. Click. 3 beds, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage, a little place for my dog to shit and a private driveway to use my BBQ & grill. Within walking distance to two shopping centers, two parks and an indoor mall. $365k. When can I move in?

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: theblackbox
i just couldn't imagine wanting to own the equivalent of an apartment.

Apartment conversions are crap. True condos and town homes are just as high quality as a stand alone structure. My last condo (in Maitland, FL) was nicer than most people's stand alone homes in the same price range.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
I like condos. I hate yard work, sharing a yard, doing building maintenance. I would rather pay a fee and have someone else do it. I live in a 3 bedroom house on around 2 acres at the moment. I don't really like it. I thought I would. I hate having to drive everywhere. Just taking a little trip to the grocery store is an hour long ordeal with fighting traffic and the parking lot, etc. I would rather just be able to walk a block or two, get my groceries and walk back home. I like being able to walk to the bank, the movie store, the music store, restaurants, parks, movie theater, coffee shop, library, etc.

I have been living outside of the city for just about a year now and I hate it. I'm ready to go back. Honestly there are only three things I like about living in a stand alone house: 1.) Private parking, 2.) My dog can shit wherever and 3.) I can use my BBQ smoker and my charcoal grill. As much as I love these three things, I would give them up.

Here is a condo for me. Click.">http://www.realtor.com/search/...sn=17&srcnt=101#Detail</a> 3 beds, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage, a little place for my dog to shit and a private driveway to use my BBQ & grill. Within walking distance to two shopping centers, two parks and an indoor mall. $365k. When can I move in?

Ah, I hear ya on that. We just bought a (small) house here, havent moved in yet, but it's walkable to the metro (our subway), two supermarkets, etc. What we gave up over a condo/apt was having all of the square footage on one level. Our house is the same size, but split over 3 levels, so it feels smaller. Gives us a driveway to park, a place for the future dog to shit, but is still pretty close to everything we're used to now. It's walking distance from our current place, actually.

If my choices were condos here or a house further out, I'd take the condo too, I think. I guess I was just assuming that smaller SFH's and townhomes were available near most condos elsewhere.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: theblackbox
i just couldn't imagine wanting to own the equivalent of an apartment.

Ok, we get it, you don't have an imagination.

I would like to have a house, but I don't think I would want to live in the suburbs. My sister is looking at houses around here. The houses in town are older and in worse condition, but the places on the outer parts just don't seem like a place I'd like to live. If I lived in a larger city area, I don't think I'd like the suburbs. Seems like it'd be boring without really being laid back like if you lived in a rural area.

 

[Tweak155]

Pass.

 

[Descartes]

I had a condo for a few years in Atlanta and another in Cleveland before that. They're great, but obviously not for everyone. For young professionals, especially those that travel, a condo is likely one of the best options. It's also great if you want to be immersed in the night life, because many of the nicer condos are right in the middle of it.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17

Originally posted by: theblackbox
i just couldn't imagine wanting to own the equivalent of an apartment.

Ok, we get it, you don't have an imagination.

I would like to have a house, but I don't think I would want to live in the suburbs. My sister is looking at houses around here. The houses in town are older and in worse condition, but the places on the outer parts just don't seem like a place I'd like to live. If I lived in a larger city area, I don't think I'd like the suburbs. Seems like it'd be boring without really being laid back like if you lived in a rural area.

The 'burbs are very laid back relative to most cities. Those closer to the city still have the feeling of a city, but without all the constant activity. It's not rural, not quite urban; it's a middle ground that's great for people looking for balance in their lives. Better schools (generally), bigger yards, bigger houses, etc.

 

[Lola]

That is a beautiful place to live. I love it. I love lots of windows!

 

[oddyager]

Sweet pad.

I'll just dig out the 12 mill I have stashed under my mattress.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I love living in the city. I have a townhouse with private yard. I can walk to work, groceries, restaurants, live music, theaters, museums, the river, etc.

 

[Demo24]

Just curious, in a condo are you pretty isolated from your neighbors or can you hear them? I guess it really depends on the condo, but lets just say in general the newer ones.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: DEMO24
Just curious, in a condo are you pretty isolated from your neighbors or can you hear them? I guess it really depends on the condo, but lets just say in general the newer ones.

Varies. Some places it may be like apartment living and you bump people only in the hallways.

Other places, may have connected balconies, gym, pool, tv room and other shared areas.