Condo Living 101

The many developments around most metropolitan areas have created a man-made weather phenomenon known as micro-climate which tends to trap heat within these urban areas making them hotter than they used to be. The many buildings and spread of concrete and other structures disrupts natural airflow creating islands of heat and smog where pollution from our cars and other activities preventing heat from properly dissipating into the air trapping it beneath our concrete floors and parking lots. that is why we spend billions of dollars for cooling our urban dwellings so cooling it or maintaining the ambient temperature is of utmost importance. Adding more green zones where native plants and trees allows more heat to escape or be absorbed is a good idea and it also helps with the pollution problem to some extent. (more…)

Apartment communities often pick up the phone and call a leasing office or an on-call security staff to report excessive noise. With condominium owners they don’t have such facility unless it is included in their amenities. Condo owners are sometimes faced with this dilemma of going downstairs, upstairs or next door.

If you have quiet and considerate neighbors, common walls is not an issue. But it’s a gamble when you purchase a condo unit since you don’t have any idea how selfless your neighbors will be. And unfortunately, if your neighbors are unbearable, you have little alternative as a condominium owner but to call the administration.

Space is very much limited in a condo due to the lack of it in today’s modern condo. Except maybe if you are living in a multi-million dollar development, you may find out soon enough that you always seem to have an urgent need for space. Storage space is one you may have difficulty with so keeping it neat and organized is the way to go.

Many after-market shelving systems and cabinets offer a lot of flexibility, allowing you to shuffle them around should you get bored with the current set-up. Stack-able plastic bins help a lot but only if you keep track of their contents diligently. Sifting through a dozen or so of these containers can get on your nerves if you do not know what your looking for. A sure way to keep the space you have organized is to get the old out as you bring in the new. You can even earn a buck or get to help a charity group in the process, so what are you waiting for lets start cleaning up that cluttered closet!

Throughout the past six years, South Florida has distorted from low-rise structures to high-rise condominiums which are believed to be hundreds of feet high. Except that as the building heights rise, so did the selling value. South Florida condo market has been saddened by foreseeable trade and industry realities. Worth of newly-built condos tumble by at least 30% at the time the market crash down. Consequently, lenders are guarded of financing condo construction, thus convincing developers across South Florida to call off, postpone or repair their individual projects. Analysts mark out condo problems to short-term investors, who purchased condos at low pre-construction prices.

For some homebuyers, condominiums are a heaven sent. Yet, condo ownership is not for everyone. One thing is unit owners share common walls. Comon walls are reminiscent of apartment life, which is something that homebuyers are worried to take flight when they’ve reached the life stage at which a home purchase is attainable.

Living and dining in a luxury place at the heart of the city is the trend these days. Standing at the window of a condominium unit is a fascinated scenery. That’s why the higher the unit floor, the cost is much expensive. Also, homeowners are now particular how well decorated the unit is. Some are even hiring interior decorator to transform the unit into a magical place. More than anything else, living in a condominium is more of a comfort rather than a lifestyle. The fact that you live in nearby establishments, you don’t need to worry about time and other things.

Condo living is a great convenience especially for people on the go. It is usually situated at the heart of a business district, that’s why it is very accessible to work place, shopping centers, schools, and even churches. You don’t need someone to guard your place since the building has it’s own security.
There are however some tradeoff’s to living in a condominium, like the fact that you’d have to live in close proximity to neighbors a wall away. and so much more. Not having the liberty to enjoy your own lawn, and even the frequent barbecues you used to have without having to go down to the poolside or recreation area where it is limited to.

More and more people are opting to save money due to the recession and condo living people are feeling the pinch. not only are the ones living within them finding it difficult, the property owner who gets a vacant unit seldom gets a replacement in time to make all necessary payments.
The hard economic times has resulted in many losing jobs even from some of the world’s biggest companies who have been forced to trim down their workforce rather than face closure. The government is trying to alleviate some of the pressure but it might not be enough to hold of foreclosure on your mortgage. Time will tell if we can weather the storm that is in full force, hopefully not too many will be left out on the streets of the broken American Dream.

If you’ve just bought a condo, or are planning to buy one, you might have overlooked the cost of your monthly dues. These, in addition to your mortgage, are major costs you cannot afford to miscalculate. Monthly dues can vary according to the amenities and services a condominium has. It’s usually calculated per square foot or meter. Think of these as fees as membership fees you need to pay to use the amenities your building has. After all, you have a pool, gym, jogging track, tennis courts, etc, amenities you would usually need to pay a country club for. Also, these fees will go toward building security, maintenance, disposal, gardening & landscaping, etc., all services you would normally have to do in a regular home, but is now being handled by a property manager. You’ll need to consider this part of your monthly expenses, remember too that these dues can’t be taken off, even if you’re not using the condo or it’s amenities.