Whether you are trying to find luxury real estate to invest in or going condo hunting, buying a luxury condominium requires several different rules and principles. The perfect condominium unit that will suit your needs, preferences, lifestyle, and financial situation is often challenging to find and isn’t the same as purchasing a family house.
There are a lot of things you would need to consider before purchasing your supposed-to-be dream home. Whether it is the location, community rules, management, and association fees, the entire process of purchasing a condo can be overwhelming, albeit exciting. However, if you know the nooks and crannies of buying a luxury condominium, it would be a walk in the park for you.
10 Steps to Buying Your First Luxury Condo
Are you still a beginner in the world of adulting and property investing? Fear not! Here is a consolidated beginner’s guide to buying a condo.
1. Remember to do your research
One significant distinction between buying a luxury condo and a single-family home is that you will live close to your neighbours. Unlike having neighbours on opposite or adjacent streets, you may have many adjoining condominium units linked to your own.
Thus, as you share a property with your literal next-door neighbours, you must research and consider a place that regards space between condo owners. Especially if you need and value peace, choosing a friendly and quiet community would benefit you.
Digital technology and tools have transformed how people look for houses, and current figures suggest that virtually everyone begins their search online. Potential buyers research the real estate market, house purchasing advice, condo, and comparable homes on the internet. There’s a lot of information and resources available online; use them to your advantage.
2. Re-check condominium requirements and rules
Because most condominiums are near one another, it is critical to know that you cannot establish your own rules and do anything you want. Investing in a condo doesn’t give you the same freedom as owning a house and lot. Condominium building owners impose condo rules to keep the units in harmony; hence, they would limit a lot of your freedom.
Find a unit that would enforce manageable regulations and not restrict your current lifestyle. For example, many communities either limit the kind of pets permitted or will not allow any pets at all. So, if you have a beloved pet, maybe these communities may not just be for you.
Other typical restrictions in many condo communities include limitations in designing or decorating the unit’s interior. If you prefer to make significant modifications to your future unit, perhaps you should look for condo buildings with more lax policies.
3. Review the association and maintenance fees
Each tenant in most condo complexes is obliged to pay a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, or yearly fee. The condominium association uses these fees to deliver expected expenditures such as insurance, upkeep, and repairs.
Although condos are generally cheaper than houses, the cumulative payments can give you a run for your money, detrimentally impacting your monetary situation in the long run.
Hence, if you think you won’t be able to pay such high fees, it is best to stray away from those with expensive association fees. It avoids the possibility of piling up debts, saving you from future financial stress and burden.
4. Inquire about the condo inclusions
You may be curious about where your association fees go. This cost primarily covers maintenance and insurance, but it is still necessary to understand the specifics.
Some examples of where the fees go include lawn care, sewage services, road maintenance, plumbing, landscaping, and waste disposal. In addition, there are condo developments that provide luxury amenities such as fitness centres, pools, and clubhouses, which require maintenance.
Association fees can factor into such services. Hence, if you see that these services are unnecessary to your current lifestyle, you may reconsider your purchase.
Also, inquire about the parking space. Is there more parking available in the condo community for your visitors? Is the parking space in a garage? The answers to these questions are crucial to your decision-making process.
5. Check the location of your condo unit
Most real estate agents place luxury condominiums in plush areas since these areas reflect wealth and extravagance. As a result, most luxury condominium units stay on the outskirts of the central city. But opulent condos still tower within premium locations to provide the utmost convenience and comfort.
Although the city’s centre appears to be an excellent site, especially since it gives condo owners easy access to establishments, it may not be the best choice for some. The traffic, crowded streets, street vendors, and noise can be a downside for some investors.
You would find it difficult to be comfortable in your own home where there is no peace. Thus, it is worth considering choosing a location away from the bustle of the city’s busy streets.
6. Seek a trustworthy real estate agent
It is best to reach out to experts, especially if you are a beginner in the adulting world or are not knowledgeable enough about the dos and don’ts of condo hunting. You can engage with local appraisers, attorneys, title firms, real estate brokers, or perhaps lenders familiar with the complexities of real estate in your area.
A real estate agent who has sold condominiums before or is well-educated enough will help you through the process and ensure that you won’t overlook essential paperwork. Not only do they make your condo hunting experience much easier, but they also eliminate such worries before you splurge on a luxury condominium unit.
7. Inquire about the security
When buying your first luxury condominium, it is essential to ask the seller about the building’s security. You want to know what security measures are in place and whether they’re adequate.
It would be best to inquire about this because it ensures your investment is safe. If there isn’t proper security, it could leave you vulnerable to theft or damage, and that’s not something you want to risk when making such a big purchase.
Condo developers put in place many different types of security measures. Some buildings may include key-card access gates, cameras monitoring entrances and exits, and more advanced systems like motion sensors or fingerprint scanners for access points, like elevators.
Finally, it is essential to know that systems are in place for emergencies, like fires or floods, allowing you to contact emergency personnel as quickly as possible before signing any contracts with a builder or developer. These inquiries can make all the difference if something goes wrong before and after your purchase.
8. Enlist the help of an inspector
Most luxurious condominiums look impressive on paper. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case regarding the unit’s interior. The best way to ensure you are getting a condominium as advertised is to get an inspection done before you purchase.
Many things could go wrong with a condo, and they could be hidden from view when you look at it. A professional inspector will be able to point out any problems with the building or unit itself and any issues with the neighbourhood.
A good inspector can also tell you whether the property had adequate maintenance. Official property evaluations can give you an idea of how many repairs or renovations the building needs to meet your standards.
9. Negotiate the price before purchasing
If you are new to the world of luxury condominiums, it might seem like a good idea to pick whatever condo you find appealing and can afford. Unfortunately, many people make this mistake and end up with a condo that’s not worth the hefty price.
Before finalizing a deal, a crucial thing you must do is negotiate a fair price. You don’t want to pay too much, but if you pay too little, there is not much room for profit either, especially if you decide to lease or sell the condominium later.
You can also speak with real estate agents familiar with the market and see what they have to say about pricing and trends in the area you are looking to buy. If you want more insight, try talking directly with current owners of similar condos. They’ll have a lot of valuable insight into the inner workings of buying property from a specific developer.
10. Assess if the luxury condominium accommodates your lifestyle
As you plan to buy your first luxury condominium, assessing whether the building and its amenities can accommodate your lifestyle is essential.
If you are looking for a condo where you can unwind with friends or carry out certain activities, there are many ways you’ll want to consider this. You may ask yourself, “Does the building have a fitness centre?”, “Is there an outdoor or indoor pool?” and “Which amenities will be available when the seasons change?”
The bottom line is that when making this kind of purchase, the property must accommodate the lifestyle that best fits your own. You don’t want to end up disappointed because the building didn’t have what you were looking for in terms of amenities or maintenance services.
How to Buy Luxury Condominiums?
Condo hunting is simply not just going building-to-building or door-to-door. As it is different from house searching, there are many factors you would need to consider.
The process can be overwhelming. However, with the right knowledge and assistance from an expert, condo hunting can be an adventure for you—like a treasure hunt. Hopefully, these essential tips can help you jumpstart your condo-hunting journey. Happy searching!
Mishka has been writing meaningful and engaging content for a wide range of niches since 2018. She’s currently a content writer for Federal Land, Inc. She hopes to be a New York Times bestselling author someday. When she’s not writing, Mishka can be found in her listening room playing Hall & Oates vinyls.
