The Condo Lifestyle
Twenty years ago condominiums were almost nonexistent in the Delaware Valley. Today, one out of every four home sales is a high-rise or garden condominium. Condominiums are not a new form of housing, but one that is over 300 years old. Recently, condominiums have again become a very popular alternative to single family homes.
The reasons are very simple: Features, Security, Affordability, Maintenance
- Features
- The condominium lifestyle offers such amenities as a swimming pool, balcony, deck, in-unit washer/dryers, individually controlled air conditioning and heating systems, and the latest state of the art kitchens.
Most condos are just a few minutes walk from theaters, restaurants, museums and department stores. - Security
- Security in a condominium allows for peace-of-mind. Usually, security in a high-rise building is controlled by a 24-hour doorman and garage attendant. Most condominiums offer a well-lit underground parking garage or parking lot.
- Affordability
- When interest rates increase or when the real estate market weakens, condominiums become more popular because of their affordability. Typically, the price per square feet of a condominium is lower than a single family home because the condominium does not have the land that a single family home offers. The cost efficiencies of condominium can save owners thousands of dollars over the long term. Repairs to the facility, upkeep of the grounds and other maintenance expenses are shared by all owners and the cost is spread throughout the building.
- Maintenance
- The maintenance features of condominiums are really one of their best aspects. Most of the larger ones have a 24-hour maintenance staff, which can routinely attend to any emergency that occurs. When you are living in a single family home and a pipe breaks, you must call a repairman, and hopefully, within 24 hours, the problem can be corrected. When you are living in a condominium, within 10 minutes a member of the maintenance staff can appear on the scene and quickly and efficiently solve the problem. When you are away for an extended period of time and there is a problem within your unit, the condominium management office can resolve the problem.
