House or condo? Find out what is best for you

House or condo? Do you already know if you want to live in the city, on the beach, in a residential neighborhood? Then you know how you want to live.

If you are not so sure, you are probably trying to find out if a family home or a condo is better for you. In this case there is no right or wrong answer. You can be happy with any of the decisions.

However, below we are going to explain the nuances of living in a condominium versus living in a house. This way you will be able to decide what type of property is the one you need.

Lifestyle

A home is a good investment if you are hoping to expand your family. This can be if you plan to do it permanently, as in the case of children,. While there are also many larger options for growing families, a condo is often the preferred choice for young professionals, students, and frequent travelers.

In addition, if you enjoy gardening or other manual jobs, a home also gives you the possibility of both enjoying these tasks, as well as having your own pool, patio, porch or garage. If, on the other hand, what you are looking for is to be able to enjoy the pool, gym, spa, club room, game room, lounge and more, then a condo can facilitate all this and, in addition, make it your own condominium association who takes care of repairs and maintenance.

If you like to come home and close the doors to the world, with a house you can avoid bumping into neighbors in the elevator or sharing your pool with a stranger. Instead, if the idea of ​​meeting people and staying connected appeals to you, then a condo can help you meet new faces that boost your more social side.

A house is ideal for those seeking seclusion, but who have access to the city center quickly. A condo puts you in the thick of action since most condo buildings are located close to work areas, well connected to public transportation, and close to all the fun.

If you're a homebody and love the warmth of your home, a home can provide all the security and stability you so desperately need. Frequent travelers will appreciate the “lock in and out” convenience that comes with owning a condo.

Virtual

Homes typically have a minimum of two to four bedrooms. This makes them the right choice for large families or who want the flexibility to add more rooms if necessary. Condos, for their part, came up with the idea of ​​being compact, so most of the options you find available are going to be smaller options.

Another difference between buy a house and a condominium, is that while houses give you the opportunity to modify the living space (as long as you have the surface) to suit your needs, while condos usually come with a standard design and strict requirements that make you undertake home improvement projects require special permits.

That is, while houses give you the freedom to grow, whether by adding or modifying rooms, they also allow you to add a pool, barbecue, host porch celebrations, or care for and grow a pretty garden. The condos simply have a number of fixed services.

In a house, the development options are almost endless: you can enable a spare room in the basement or in the attic, or build your own gym or office. The compact design of the condos makes these modifications not so easy to carry out. Additionally, visitors will need to register when entering and leaving in order to enjoy the amenities.

The garage is one of the strengths when it comes to choosing between a house or a condo. Many people already choose to directly convert the garage into a shed converted into a storage space. In that sense, the parking assigned for your vehicle in a condominium can only be used for that. A condo is the best route to minimalist living, otherwise you will need to rent a local storage facility.

If you love animals, this point should also be taken into account. In one household you can be free to adopt as many pets as you like. Also having enough space to move freely. In the case of condominiums, you will need to know the association's rules regarding the presence of pets, since today there are condo options that are more flexible with animals.

Community, tranquility and security

Most houses are built in idyllic surroundings, with tree-lined streets, space for children to play, and an overall welcoming atmosphere. A house of this type is the door between the chaos of the city and its own tranquility. Therefore, condos are usually a great option for those who want to be surrounded by life and live close to the action.

As we have already mentioned, a house separates you from the hustle and bustle. This, in turn, involves a greater effort to get to know your neighbors. In a condo, you only need to head to the gym or pool to meet like-minded people.

And even if the security of your home rests entirely with you, installing a security system does not guarantee that problems will not arise. All condominiums, today, usually have some type of security or surveillance included in their monthly rate.

Accessibility

To give freedom, houses are generally built far from the city, making it difficult to get to places of interest or work. Not to mention, finding an affordable home downtown or in popular neighborhoods can be quite difficult. The condominiums are focused on offering access to young professionals and people looking for second homes in nearby places of interest, such as work or entertainment areas.

Another aspect related to accessibility has to do with the lack of access to main roads and a variety of public transport options. If you buy a home, you are going to rely heavily on your private vehicle and be aware that roads are sometimes a considerable driving distance from your home. As condos are typically built in the city center (or close to it), public transportation options are greater. In Miami, the largest cluster of condo buildings can be found alongside stops along the Metrorail, Metromover, and MetroBus routes, as well as arterial routes such as I-95, Dolphin Expressway, Biscayne Blvd, and more.

Services

When you own your own home, you have the opportunity to choose the type of services you would like to enjoy. You can think of a swimming pool, a barbecue area, a conservatory garden or a Zen garden. But there are many more options: an outdoor play area, a tree house, a house for your dog and much more. You can customize your comforts to tailor your home exactly to your tastes and needs!

Condos these days are being built with amazing amenities. Pools, spas, gyms, and gardens have become the norm. The latest condo buildings are now creating soccer fields, golf simulators, cigar rooms, wine cellars, party halls, race car simulators, helipads, restaurants, art galleries, and flying car air ports!

Maintenance and invoices

When it comes to home maintenance, it may be higher in the long run in a home with condo-like amenities. The flat monthly fee that condominiums often require to pay can cover a wide range of facilities and amenities that can be cheaper at the end of the day.

Analysis of monthly expenses

Making pool repairs, replacing the water heater or replacing the roof, in a home you are the owner of making budgeting and planning decisions. On the other hand, with a condominium, the maintenance costs will remain fixed. This prevents you from cutting costs, so that a condominium has a long list of amenities available to its owners associated with it, it also makes it impossible to reduce your monthly rate.

Choice vs. Compulsion

In a single family home you decide everything 100%: from repairs and repairs, to complete renovations. In a condo, whether you want to move a wall or renovate the kitchen, you will need the approval of your condo association.

You see, choosing between a house and a condo is easy if you understand how you prefer to live.