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Are you finally ready to make the leap from renter to homeowner? That is very exciting, and congratulations to you for being financially prosperous and responsible enough to be in a position to afford a home. Now it’s time to make some major decisions like, what neighborhood do you want to live in? How many bedrooms do you want? What sort of loan are you looking for? A long, one with low monthly payments or a short one with high monthly payments? If you’re shopping with a partner, you’ll likely have some different opinions on these matters. But what about this one: do you want a stand-alone house or a condo? You don’t have to commit to a single-family home. You can buy a condo, with all of the glorious things condo-living offers. But each has its pros and cons. Let’s discuss.
Condo pro: some built-in security
Living in a condo provides some natural built-in security. Many condos have door code access, some have security guards, and there is the fact that you have neighbors all around you. They are a built-in and close-knit form of a neighborhood watch. An intruder may need to get through several obstacles—from the lobby door to the fob-access elevator—before he could make it to your front door. Getting to the front door of a house can be a bit easier.
