What You Need To Know About Downsizing from House to Condo

Jun 05, 2022

Owning a home is often a family's ultimate dream. But not all homeowners are ready to downsize after years of living in their homes. As one of the most popular housing choices among people nowadays, you may be considering downsizing from your current house to a condo or apartment. You may be asking yourself questions like "is it better to own a condo or house?" or "where to invest: condo or house and lot?".

Downsizing from a house to a condo is a significant change to make. When it comes to deciding whether to buy a condo or house, many factors can affect your decision. For example, if you're single and live alone in an apartment, buying a property might not be worth it. It is also essential to consider whether you want to live in the same neighborhood for your entire life or move around often. On the other hand, downsizing from a house to a condo can be an excellent alternative for some people, especially if they're getting older and have health issues that make it challenging to maintain a large property. Consequently, buying a condo unit can be an excellent investment for first-time homebuyers as condominiums are usually cheaper than houses and offer more space for your money. 

If you're thinking about downsizing from house to condo, here are some things you should consider:

Advantages of Downsizing from House to Condo Living

Anyone wanting to downsize would appreciate the benefits of living in a condo. Owning a condo is a terrific solution for people looking to own property without all the hassle, from affordability to community. 

Costs

One of the essential distinctions between a condo and a townhouse or a condo and a house is price. Condos are typically less expensive than townhouses or homes since they do not include land. While condo owners may be required to pay fees to their Homeowners Association (HOA), the prices of other types of homes and materials for building a home are often greater. Furthermore, larger residences or townhouses cost more, resulting in much greater utility expenses. 

Accessibility and Location

You should consider where the best location would be if you decide to move into an apartment or condo building with other owners. While some people prefer living alone in their own home, others prefer being around other people in an apartment building or condo complex where neighbors help each other out as needed and have access to shared facilities like pools and gyms. If you live in the city, having access to public transportation and nearby shops and restaurants can be very convenient. Condos also tend to be much closer together, so if you want to socialize with your neighbors, it might be easier when you live in a condo complex than in a house. 

Security 

One of the reasons you're considering downsizing to a condo could be security concerns or a lack of safety measures. To keep residents and their belongings secure, most condo associations are mandated to install security cameras in community-wide common areas. Furthermore, many buildings will have key fob or door code restrictions for access. 

Also Read: Things to Consider in Buying a Condo vs. House and Lot

Less Maintenance

Condos are generally cheaper than houses and require less maintenance. Condos come with monthly maintenance fees that cover utilities, maintenance of common areas, and groundskeeping services. Many condos also have annual fees covering capital improvements such as new roofs or remodeling projects. If you plan on staying in one place for more than five years, buying a condominium makes more sense because of the lower purchase price and lower monthly costs compared with buying a home. If you're concerned about the cost of maintaining your home, this could be an essential factor when deciding whether to sell your house for cash and buy a condo instead. 

Amenities on-site

Buying a condo may be ideal if you desire luxury amenities and facilities but still want to have your property after downsizing. With condo living, you can take advantage of pool access, community activities, fitness facilities and gyms, basketball courts, and others. 

Size 

One of the most significant differences between condos and houses is their size. Condos are generally smaller than single-family homes because they don't have as much space for outdoor living areas like gardens or terraces. This means condos are often easier to maintain and less expensive to build and maintain over time. When you move into a condo, you can choose the size that fits your needs. For example, if you want a larger unit with more space but don't need all the extra rooms, you can choose a one-bedroom condo. A two- or three-bedroom unit is ideal if you need more space for guests or kids to stay over.

Space

The most significant benefit of moving into a condo is space savings. If your current home has too much space and you don't know what to do with it all, downsizing may be just the thing for you! Condos are designed with less wasted space and more functionality than traditional homes. This means less wasted space and clutter throughout the entire unit. For example, instead of having an office and living room split up by a wall in one room, many condos have open-concept layouts, which allow for more flexibility when planning out what furniture goes where.

As you age, there are many reasons why you may want to downsize from your current home to a condo. Be sure you know what you're getting into if you're considering downsizing from a large house to a condo. There are advantages and disadvantages to the condo lifestyle that might not be obvious. But if you opt to decide, stop asking yourself where to invest: condo or house and lot, or is it better to own a condo or home because the first step in downsizing is to determine if this condo is a living lifestyle change is right for you. 

For more information on Vista Residences, email [email protected], follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167. 

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