Not everybody needs to live in a house. It seems like a natural progression when you are ready to buy your own place that you get a big house in the suburbs. Yet, that isn’t the best choice for everybody. A house is a big responsibility and can be quite expensive to maintain. Also, lifestyle plays a big part in what type of housing you live in.
If you are wondering if it is better for you to live in a house or a condo, then you need to look at the issue from a lot of different angles. In this article, we will go over several of the benefits that come with living in an apartment.
1 – Location
Very often, houses that are within your budget are going to be quite far from the city center. This inevitably means that you’ll have a long commute. This is a very big drag on your quality of life.
When you choose to live in a condo, then you can pretty much live where you want and have a minimal commute to work. Even if your work is outside the city, you end up doing a reverse commute and never have to deal with traffic.
For instance, if you choose to buy Toronto real estate, in other words, a condo, then you are right downtown where all the amenities are. Most of the things you need to live are located within walking distance so you don’t have to spend your life in the car.
You’ll have all kinds of lifestyle options right at your doorstep. Gyms are nearby as are museums, restaurants, and theaters. What you sacrifice in space, you make up for by having the city be your living room.
2 – Maintenance
When you live in a house, you are responsible for everything from lawn care to the roof to the heating system. You have to spend money to keep things working and in good shape and also are on the hook when things break or stop working. These costs can exceed what your house is appreciating in value over time.
When you live in a condo, all of this maintenance is done by the property management. Sure, you have to pay a condo fee for it, but you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself. If something were to break or need repair then the cost is spread out across all of the residents.
3 – Privacy
Even though in a house you aren’t right on top of your neighbor, you often have little privacy. In your yard, there is little to block the view from your neighbors’ windows.
In a condo, people can’t see into your apartment and if you have a patio or balcony, you generally can be out there without any eyes upon you. New construction will also be done with noise-blocking materials so your neighbors can’t hear what you are doing in the privacy of your own home.