They’re typically smaller than single-family homes and they require far less upkeep. Especially here in Marlboro. Some of the houses here average over 5,000 sq feet! Yet the process of purchasing a condo may be much more detailed than that of purchasing a house.
Some of the advantages to purchasing a condominium, rather than a single-family home, include the obvious facts that condos are typically less expensive and may offer more amenities. Let’s take a look at some of the other advantages: (remember these advantages are true in Marlboro Township and around the country)
- Maintenance chores are greatly reduced for condo owners. Although there may be landscaping in front of your unit, it is typically (though not always) up to the Homeowner’s Association (HOA) to maintain it. The same holds true for the roof, fencing and other items.
- The typical HOA maintenance fee imposed on owners includes paying for items such as water, trash collection and sewer fees. Insurance is also paid for by the HOA, bringing down the cost of living in a condo even more, although you will still need to insure the contents of your condo.
- The appearance of the complex and issues such as noise and other types of disturbances are regulated by the HOA.
- Condominiums may offer more security than a single-family home. Many have doormen, guards or gates at the entry. The proximity of neighbors also adds a certain level of security that may not be present in an area’s single-family home selection.
Yes, there are disadvantages to owning and living in a condo: (yes, even here in Marlboro, NJ)
- The proximity of neighbors, while also listed as an advantage, may be a disadvantage for those who crave privacy.
- The HOA, while advantageous for many reasons, may be intrusive and dictate unreasonable restrictions.
- Condos tend to have less storage space than single-family homes, a concern especially for families with lots of “stuff.”
- When you purchase a house, unless it sits on leasehold property, you are also buying the land beneath it. Not so with a condo. In most instances you will own only the space inside the unit and share ownership the common areas of the complex.
- Your share of the common areas, however, does not grant you the right to alter them in any way. So, although you may despise the tree in front of your unit, you are not allowed to remove it unless the HOA approves.
If you want more information on Condos and Townhouses in Marlboro Township. JUST ASK!
The Condo Purchase Process
If you’ve purchased a house before you’ll notice that the condo purchase requires far more paperwork. This is because the seller must provide the buyer with certain HOA documents, which vary by state. These documents may include:
- Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs)
- HOA budget
- Bylaws
- HOA meeting minutes
Each document in the HOA package provides valuable information. For instance, the meeting minutes let you know the type of issues that the board deals with frequently and whether there have been discussions regarding raising fees or if they are considering special assessments.
By far, the most important documents are the HOA’s financials, especially the reserve balance, sometimes called “reserve funds,” or “reserves.”
This is money set aside to cover major repairs, replacement, or maintenance of common area elements, such as a broken sewer line. A well-funded reserve account ensures you that there will most likely not be future special assessments imposed on the owners.
Another red flag to look for in the HOA documents is the number of non-owner-occupied units. There are several reasons that a large number of tenants make the condo less attractive. First, many lenders won’t finance a condo in a complex with a tenant ratio over 25 percent.
Next, tenants don’t have the same incentive as owners to keep the property maintained so an overabundance of them may tend to bring down the value of the complex.
Lots of tenants also mean a noisier environment and heavier usage of common area amenities such as the pool and exercise equipment, according to Robert Irwin, author of “Tips and Traps When Buying a Condo, Co-op, Or Townhouse.” Irwin suggests looking for a complex with 10 percent or fewer tenant-occupied units.
If you have any questions about anything in the HOA documents, consult an attorney before signing an agreement to purchase the condo.
Since these documents govern how you can use your unit and the future costs of owning it, you owe it to yourself to understand every word.
There are a few Condo and Townhouse Communities here in Marlboro. If you want to see what homes are currently on the market take a peek.
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Cori Dunphy is local, she’s a life-long resident of Monmouth County. Why is that important? Because she has knowledge of the area. Cori Covers all of Monmouth County but has a very strong following with listing and selling homes in also has experience listing and selling houses in Marlboro, Morganville, Manalapan, Freehold, Hazlet, Holmdel, Matawan, Aberdeen, and more. She has a true understanding of the market in Monmouth County.
Cori Dunphy is a Marlboro Township resident. If you need extensive information about Marlboro Township, Everything from Real Estate, to Restaurants, From Schools to Shopping. JUST ASK!
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Cori Dunphy is a Senior Real Estate Specialist. This means she has the training and experience to meet the needs of the over-55 homeowners who are typically considering retiring and/or downsizing, and whose needs are different than those homeowners under age 55. Cori currently specializes in the Adult Community of Greenbriar. www.greenbriarmarlboro.com
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Cori Dunphy has proven experience working with home sellers. Every house Cori has ever listed has SOLD!
Cori Dunphy knows the real estate market. She knows the average days on the market of homes for sale. She knows the sales price trends. She knows whether it’s a buyers or a sellers market, and can provide the advice to get homes sold!
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Curious about the Marlboro NJ market? Hop over to my website and take a look around. www.corisellsnj.com
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