Condo living can be an appealing and carefree housing option. It’s often affordable and someone else handles much of the maintenance and repairs, such as shovelling snow and replacing the roof. Many condos have enhanced security features over those found in single-family houses and offer a wide range of social, entertainment and recreational activities.
However, condo ownership is very different from owning a home. Here are the top three basic concepts you should know about condo ownership.
Types of condos
A “condo” refers to a form of legal ownership, as opposed to a style of construction. Condos are most often thought of as units in high-rise residential buildings, but they can also be: Low-rise residential buildings (fewer than four storeys); townhouse or rowhouse complexes; stacked townhouses; duplexes (one unit over another) or side-by-side; triplexes (stack of three units); single-detached houses. There are even mixed-use condos that are partly residential and partly commercial buildings. Condos come in various sizes with diverse features and can be found in almost every price range.
Condo buyers have three choices:
1. New condos refer to units that have not been previously occupied. They can be in the planning stage, under construction or recently completed and are usually purchased from a developer.
2. Resale condos are units that have already been occupied, typically in older buildings, and are for sale by the current owner. One of the advantages of purchasing an existing condo is that you get to see the unit, building and grounds before you make your purchase, and maybe meet other unit owners.
3. Conversion condos refer to units in a building that was previously used for something else but has been, or is to be, renovated for residential use. For example, many loft-style condos are converted from former commercial or industrial buildings.
A unique form of ownership
Owning a condo differs from owning a conventional home in several ways.
1. What you own When you purchase a condo, you own a private dwelling called a “unit.” Your unit is registered in your name. You also share ownership of the common elements and assets of the building and community. It’s important to be clear where your unit’s boundaries are located before you purchase. You can find information about your unit’s boundaries in your condo’s governing documents. Some condo units (called freehold condos) include ownership of the land your home is on. In this case, your unit may be the entire house including the exterior walls, the roof and the lawn.
Common elements may include lobbies, hallways, elevators, recreational facilities, walkways, gardens and other amenities. They may also include structural elements and mechanical and electrical services. Some common elements may be outside the unit boundaries, but are for the sole use of the owner of a particular unit. Balconies, parking spaces, storage lockers, driveways and lawns are common examples.
2. What you pay In addition to paying for your unit and a share of the common property, you also pay monthly fees, along with all of the other unit owners. This covers the upkeep and replacement of common elements — whether you use them or not. The fees may also cover the corporation’s insurance policies, utilities and services. Part of those monthly fees may be put into a reserve fund to cover the estimated cost of future maintenance and repairs.
Even though condo owners often pay the same municipal taxes as other homeowners, they don’t always receive services covered by those taxes, such as garbage pickup, road repairs and snow removal. This is because condos may be considered (by the municipality) to be private communities with limited access. Before you buy, ask what municipal services the condo corporation receives and what other services are carried out by independent contractors.
Three of the most common causes of annoyance to condo owners are pets, people and parking — the “three Ps.” That’s why condos have rules and restrictions around them and other issues, such as noise and the number of people who may live in a unit. It’s essential that you review the condo’s rules, bylaws and declaration before you make an offer.
Before buying, find out what common property elements are for your use only and what restrictions apply. For instance, restrictions may prevent you from parking a boat, RV or commercial vehicle in your parking spot or there may be restrictions on what you may place on your balcony.
Your role in the community
When you become a condo owner, you become a member of a condo corporation and have certain rights and responsibilities. One of your key rights is the right to vote at general meetings on matters that affect the condo. You are also eligible to help elect the board of directors. The board of directors takes responsibility for the management of the corporation’s business affairs.
As an owner, it’s your responsibility to participate in the governing of the condo. You can do this by attending general meetings and information sessions, serving on the board of directors or on a committee and voting. It’s also important to read the minutes of meetings and other information sent to members, such as the condo newsletter, as well as the corporation’s budget and financial statements.
You are now part of a community with shared responsibilities. If the parking garage in your development unexpectedly starts to crumble and there aren’t enough funds on hand to repair it, you — along with all of the other owners — must pay the increased condo fees or a lump-sum payment to cover costs.
Also, condo corporations are legal entities. You and all of the other owners can be sued for matters for which you’re collectively liable. Likewise, you and all of the other owners have the right to sue for damages to the common property.
An experienced REALTOR® can help you decide if condo living is the right choice for you.
— www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca