How do I know what I want in a condominium?

Determining what you want out of your next living space is a critical step in the condo-buying process. At Ripco Real Estate, we will work with you every step of the way to ensure your condo purchase aligns perfectly with your lifestyle needs and long term financial goals. One of the most effective and thorough methods of determining what you want is to create a wish list.

The wish list is essentially a description of your dream condo. You start with the basics, such as a minimum number of bedrooms and baths required and go from there. We highly recommend you use our worksheet to create your wish list and reflect on these five issues:

Size: Size refers to the amount of space you will have and how it is designed. Before considering a move you should realistically evaluate how much space you need. Perhaps you want an easier space to manage now that you’re an empty nester, or require more space for entertaining. Also consider issues such as closet space, do you want stairs or prefer living on a single floor and floor layout.

Location: Location is all about where you want to live and why. There are two factors to consider when determining location – lifestyle and financial. Lifestyle includes things such as neighborhood, work commute, and proximity to facilities such as the gym. Financial includes items affecting the resale value, such as major neighborhood construction projects or rezoning ordinances.

Amenities: Amenities are those building and condominium features which will make your life more comfortable or convenient. They include things such as an extra parking space, valet parking, a swimming pool or fitness facility.

Condition: Condition refers to the physical shape and repair of the building and unit. There are a variety of different types of spaces; new developments where you can put in your own finishing touches, a pre-existing unit in move-in condition, or a space you can fix-up.

New/Existing/Remodel: This refers to the type of construction you want to have. Each type of construction has benefits and disadvantages - older buildings can have beautiful detail and newer construction may have more amenities such as a pool.