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Does size really matter?
Thoughts on condo living versus single family home. We are looking to buy our first home and the areas around us are pretty limited. We love the location where we are now, walking distance to awesome parks, beaches and restaurants. There is very little crime, no violent crimes. Excellent schools K- 8. We don't have kids yet but are trying. Problem is we can only get into a condo 2, maybe 3 bedrooms. We have 2 labs also, so space becomes an issue. Babies can sleep in drawers, right?
We could move off of where we are now, into the city to some really charming homes. But they are mainly 2 bed/ 1-2 baths built in 1940's- for a butt load of monies. Safety becomes more of an issue, street to street varies considerably here.
Or move way out west to live in a sprawling newly built home... in the Everglades.
Thoughts on home size versus amenities? Not so stoked on having neighborsthisclose, but location is amazing. Anyone have any similar issues?
Re: Does size really matter?
This really isn't a question people can answer for you. You need to decide what is important to you and what your priorities are in a home. Most would probably agree that extra space is nice, but not necessary. Plenty of people have and do live in condos with families and have no issues with it.
Personally, I love our home and the extra space it provides us. I think I would go stir crazy in a condo. But living within walking distance of ammenities wasn't that important to me and the school district we are in now is very good. Sure I dislike things, like how close we are to our neighbors, but it was something I was willing to sacrifice to get the space I wanted.
2/20/2011
For me, the difference between condo and single family home living is more about lifestyle than anything. You can make things work in just about any size space (just ask the under $1000 blogger).
With condo living, you're part of a collective. There are upsides and downsides to that. You'll have HOA fees and regulations you'll need to follow. Some HOAs are crazy and worry about what color your mailbox or bankrupt themselves and can't afford to pay the landscapers. Sometimes you get jacked rates because all the balconies need to be replaced even though you don't live in a unit with a balcony (this happened to a friend of mine). You share walls with your neighbors. But, like you said, you get more space for less money and usually newer construction than if you bought a single family home.
With single family homes, your money doesn't go as far. Having more than one bathroom is a luxury not everyone can afford. Things are more likely to need to be replaced. You're responsible for your own yard maintenance (although not all condos have that as part of the deal either). But you're free to do whatever you want and you have a lot more privacy.
You just have to decide which lifestyle you prefer. I far prefer a smaller house of my own than to live in a condo, if you couldn't already tell from my very biased argument above. I would rather die than deal with an HOA.
"That chick wins at Penises, for sure." -- Fenton