What is Condo Living?
There are many benefits to owning a condo, like no more mowing the lawn, shoveling snow or repair the roof. Owning a condo is quite different from owning a single family home. However, along with the benefits, there can be unexpected rules and restrictions. Condominiums have a Master Deed, Bylaws and Rules that must be followed, so make sure you read through these. All these documents should be provided to you by the seller once you purchase a condo unit.
If you have a big family, love family reunions and owning large, or multiple, pets, condominium living may not be ideal for you.
When you own a condo unit, you only own the inside space of the unit you purchased. You are responsible for maintaining and insuring everything within the inside walls of your unit (i.e., personal possessions and any upgrades to the unit). The Association owns all other areas, like the outer building walls of all units, garages, patios, court yards, parking areas, and lawns.
​
All condo owners are members of the Association and pay monthly fees (also called monthly assessments). These fees are each owner's share of the expenses for the common elements, including building insurance and property management. Part of the fees also goes towards the Association's reserve fund (think of it as a savings account for future large expenditures such as roofs, roads, etc.).
When living in a condominium, it's important to be a good neighbor - treat other neighbors like you would like to be treated:
​
-
Be pet courteous - always clean up after your pet, and never leave your pet unattended.
​
-
Be parking courteous - park your vehicles in the garage. Ask your guests to park on the street when parking areas are full.
​
-
Be home courteous - watch noise levels and respect the peace and tranquility of your neighbors, keep trash bagged inside a proper trash container in the garage until pickup day, and keep your outside area neat.
After buying your condo, you might find that you are not happy with certain aspects of the Bylaws and Rules. The best way to get your voice heard is to contact your Board via the Property Manager with your concern. Bylaws cannot be changed without the affirmative vote of over 2/3 of all owners.
​
In a condo complex, areas outside the walls of a unit are the Association's property.
