The condo life is not for everyone, there are advantages and disadvantages to condo ownership. This page details some points you may want to consider before you decide to purchase a condo.

Low Maintenance Living. This is seen as one of the key advantages of owning a condo as apposed to owning a house. There is no yard work to do, no snow to shovel and exterior repairs are the responsibility of the HOA (home owners association). While it may seem nice not having to take care of the maintenance of your home, you must remember that you are paying for someone else to do this work. Your HOA fee pays for most routine maintenance, but there are times when charges may be passed on to you, either in the form of a lump sum payment or an increased HOA fee. The most common reasons for these additional charges are major repairs to the roof or replacing the heating / cooling systems.

Rules and Restrictions. When you make the decision to buy a condo, you are making a decision to live in a community. Because of this, you must adhere to certain rules and regulations. These rules are defined in the CC&R's (Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions). Rules can affect everything from what if any pets you can keep, to if you can run a business from home. In order to ensure you are OK with the rules, you should always read the CC&R's has part of your due diligence.

Poorly Run HOA. The general day-to-day running and maintenance of the condo development is usually handled by a HOA (Home Owner Association). You pay a monthly HOA fee, which the HOA uses to maintain and run the properties. Most of th

e time the HOA works well, but there maybe occasions where a poorly run HOA can impact its residents. For example, if they have problems collecting the monthly fees, this can result in financial difficulties, which in turn could mean difficulties for people trying to sell their condo. As part of your due diligence, you should always request copies of recent minutes from the HOA meetings. Reading through these minutes should give you an idea of any impending troubles, and an indication of how well the HOA is being managed.

Facilities. Some of the larger condo developments include onsite access to facilities such as, swimming pool, exercise room, games room, gardens, etc.

Security. Most condo complexes have some level of security. Some larger developments may employ dedicated security guards who vet everyone who enters the building, while others may have keycard entry systems. This security is useful for people who may feel vulnerable living alone, or people who are going to vacate the property for extended periods of time.

Garden. Usually when you purchase a condo there will be no, or very little outside space, and even if there is it will be common grounds. If you enjoy gardening, or having the odd barbecue party, you may want to consider buying a house.

Trela Bird specializes in helping people buy and sell Salt Lake City Utah Condos. Regardless of you housing requirements, whether you are looking for Downtown Salt Lake Condos or other types of Salt Lake City Homes we provide the level of service you expect and deserve.