Would anyone live in a condo?

[misplaced1]

I dislike being stuck in a building for much of the day, I need a yard to get outside and enjoy some flowers or grass or butterflies, anything but four walls. I NEED a house with a yard. And personally I'd prefer pay someone the 200 bucks to take care of my own yard if that ever came to be than to pay a fee to a condo association and have none.

[Ellwood]

We lived in a small house for the years the children were growing up. After a divorce, I decided I didn't want to be tied to cutting the lawn and gardening, and shoveling snow, and cleaning the pool so I bought a large townhouse. After 11 years, I got fed up with the "pansie patrol" who told you what flowers you could have in your window boxes, how many lights you could have on your porch around the holidays and paying a high maintenance fee ($385/month). If you had a problem and brought it before the board, all you were told is, "we will take it under consideration." The management company and the board were clueless regarding budgets and we were "special assessed" everytime there was a problem. I swear I will NEVER live under communist rule again!
Now I live on several acres and if I get to the point I am unable to care for it, I will hire someone.

[texdav]

To me condos are too much like apartments in that they can have the same problems with noise etc.

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by texdav

To me condos are too much like apartments...

Condos are apartments.

The difference between “condos” and “apartments” exists in the legal documents and the owners perceptions, not in the building.

[perfectcolor]

I hoped to live in a condo but as I see it now it's not a practical thing to do..

[Itz]

Every condo association is different. You hear so many horror stories about fees, assessements, etc...
When i looked for real estate (as a single female).. I wanted a house with a yard. I looked at several houses but realized they needed work - which took money and manpower... which i had neither.. I am not about to take a weekend and re-paint my house and I can't afford to pay someone to do it.

So I looked at Townhomes.. Found one with my own private yard.. a garage.. nice and big, in a great community, its quiet. I do have neighbors and don't technically share a wall (construction wise) but I do hear them every so often.

The association fees... depend on the age of the community and the ammeneities. I got on my HOA board ASAP after moving in. So I know where my money is going.. (there are a LOT Of things behind the scenes that people don't realize - as to the cost of the things). - and the assessments = you can have your own insurance (similar to a renters policy) that actually protects you against assessments.. ..

Condos/townhomes aren't for everyone - its a choice that you need to make based on your lifestyle.