| The answer always lies in terms of what | | | | those people had more funds they would |
| are you needs and resources. There is | | | | generally purchase a home for equity. |
| nothing in essence new about Condos or | | | | Why throw money out the window they |
| Condo projects. People around the world | | | | would say. True with vast increases in |
| for eons have owned property in a large | | | | housing prices due to low mortgage |
| building and shared costs such as | | | | interest rates the rules of apartments |
| maintenance, taxes and security | | | | being the main option for temporary |
| services., | | | | living for many may well change. |
| Two factors have driven the popularity | | | | It can be said that generally one or two |
| of Condos in America and Canada in the | | | | people inhabit an apartment. An |
| last several years. They are lifestyle | | | | apartment again is meant for temporary |
| and cost. | | | | living. People go to work, come home and |
| Lifestyle is a factor in Condo choice. | | | | watch TV. That's about it. There is |
| People have equity in house. A house | | | | generally not the living space or |
| requires maintenance - yard work, | | | | storage space that you find in a condo. |
| cutting grass in the summer and if you | | | | Walls are generally thinner so that the |
| life in a colder climate - such as | | | | sounds of your neighbors may drift in. |
| Minnesota, North Dakota or Manitoba | | | | In hotels or condos a higher standard of |
| Canada clearing snow in the winter off | | | | construction is generally planned for |
| your walkway and driveway. True you can | | | | than in rental apartment blocks. |
| hire workers to do this work - but it | | | | In one case a bright young son - a |
| requires coordination and the workers | | | | manager yet , convince his father that |
| may not be reliable and responsible. If | | | | with a "Gee Dad do you realize that if |
| you wish to travel as a snowbird in the | | | | you sold your house and moved into an |
| winter Condo living may be ideal for | | | | apartment that you could basically live |
| you. Someone else takes care of those | | | | for free on the interest. Sounded good |
| headaches for you. In addition there is | | | | to the financially inexperienced parent |
| a measure of security both with other | | | | who had never tried apartment living. |
| neighbors and often a security service. | | | | The older couple quickly found out two |
| Similarly if you wish to travel a | | | | areas of concern. First there really was |
| vacation condo may be a good choice for | | | | no family area for the grandchildren to |
| you. The services are taken care of - | | | | play in, secondly the wife was a very |
| whether it yard work, overall | | | | proud and experience cook and was now |
| maintenance site security. | | | | restricted to a small galley kitchen. |
| Even if you had bought a house rather | | | | .This experiment in condo living |
| than a condo the practical logistics of | | | | collapsed in short order with a threat |
| finding workers and arrangements are | | | | by the wife of marriage separation. The |
| exceptionally difficult in a practical | | | | now smarter home owner had to basically |
| sense to arrange long distance both in | | | | replace his previous home. This was done |
| finding workers and coordinating | | | | at a fair cost which seems to escalate |
| arrangements and payment as well as | | | | daily in his mind. To add to the humor, |
| checking on completion and quality of | | | | his new house is across the street from |
| any work done. True phone call costs may | | | | the older home. To add salt to the wound |
| be small compared to what they used to | | | | previous home recently had a new owner |
| be - but overall the costs of any | | | | who has taken to complaining to the |
| project from start to finish may be much | | | | original owner. In this case if the home |
| higher than they normally will be. As | | | | owner wanted a simpler lifestyle wished |
| well take into account the time and | | | | to downsize or had less maintenance |
| aggravation factors. A vacation condo | | | | concerns when traveling a condo with a |
| purchased by yourself or shared with a | | | | layout and size relating to the families |
| group whether it be friends or family | | | | needs might have been a much more |
| may be the answer. | | | | intelligent choice. |
| What about renting an apartment? An | | | | Most of the answers in life are actually |
| apartment is not a condo. Simple as | | | | quite simple and revolve around basics. |
| that. Apartments, in our society, are | | | | What are your needs and financial |
| meant for temporary living. Up until | | | | resources? Is condo living a wise choice |
| recently if a person was starting or | | | | for you and your family at this point in |
| need temporary accommodation and | | | | your lives and careers? |
| apartment was generally the answer. If | | | | |