Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Over the years, my wife and I have moved into several types of homes and we’ve come to the conclusion that we are more suited for condo living than a house with a yard in the countryside. While I wouldn’t advise all my friends to look at Montreal condos for sale, I do recommend it for those with the same lifestyles as ours.
To give you a better understanding of why I prefer living in a condo, I thought it would be a great idea to list down the major pros and cons so those who are still undecided on whether to buy a condo or a house can be guided in making the right choice for them:
Pros
1. Small space. Granted, not everyone will see this as an advantage but I like how we no longer have to fill up all rooms with unnecessary furniture or heat up space we hardly ever use. I like how compact and cozy our home is, and for a 3-member household, it’s just perfect.
2. Easy connectivity. We can watch a movie, have dinner in a nice restaurant and buy groceries in just one afternoon. It’s very easy to get to just about anywhere. Everything is within walking distance so there’s no need to deal with traffic jams and long commutes to and from home.
3. High rent value. Although our objective for buying a condo is not to have it rented out, it’s worth mentioning that it’s easy to find a tenant for condo apartments than a detached house. In our area, for example, there are many office buildings, it’s close to the subway and there’s a university nearby. So we’re always assured that should the time come when we want to have it rented out, it would be easy to find renters. Also, the price of rent is very good due to the convenient location of our building.
4. Minimal maintenance. When you have a house, you have to mow the lawn, clean your yard, and make sure your exterior is properly maintained. However, condo maintenance is mostly arranged by the homeowners’ association and they’re in charge of the upkeep of the building and its exteriors.
So those are basically the main reasons why anyone would choose to live in a condo. But of course, it’s not without drawbacks. To begin with, it can’t compare to living in a quiet suburb surrounded by trees, hills and lots of free space. In a condo, you’re surrounded by highways, concrete and noise. Pets are also not allowed. So if you own a pet and can’t bear to part with your furry friend, then a condo apartment is probably not for you.
Condo living is best suited for working professionals who want to live near their workplace. It’s great for those with young kids because there are at least a couple of good schools within walking distance. It’s definitely cheaper than buying a house but you also need to consider condo fees as part of your expense.
