Should I buy a condo or a house?

There are two main types of housing to choose from when buying a property; condo living, or buying a semi or fully detached house.

The differences between the two living styles are stark, especially in Ottawa. Each type of home has copious amounts of benefits to certain types of families, couples, or people living alone. Depending on what you are looking for from a home, a condo or house may be a better option for you. In this blog post, we are going to break down the main reasons our clients choose to go with condos or houses, based on their demographics, ideologies, and family styles. 

Amenities

The first difference between condos and houses is the access to amenities. Amenities can be defined as any extra thing added to your home; and can be as simply as an in-unit washer dryer for a condo or as complex as a full gym, swimming pool, or sauna. 

In general, houses come with many amenities that condos don’t. You’re more likely to find a full kitchen, in-house laundry, a dishwasher, and perhaps extra appliances in a home. However, on the flip side, condos can offer many special amenities that houses just don’t have space for. These are often shared amongst all members of the building. These can include hot tubs, swimming pools, game rooms, conference rooms, coworking spaces, restaurants or cafes, courtyards, tennis courts, indoor and outdoor fitness spaces, and more. 

Depending on what you are looking for from your home, the choice is yours. Do you value more in-unit amenities, or out of unit amenities? Is your family into sports, and perhaps having a gym in your building is a benefit? Or are you more interested in doing your laundry in the comfort of your own unit? 

Snow

In Ottawa, we are no stranger to a good snow storm. Snow removal and anything to do with the winter blues is a big consideration during the cold winter months when it comes to condo living. The most important difference is the snow removal. Most condos offer underground parking, and if they do not, their outdoor parking is maintained by the condo association or company, not yourself. If you live in a home, you are responsible for shoveling your driveway, walkway, and even the sidewalk in front of your house. 

A newer or updated home may feature a heated driveway - and if it does, what a luxury! But in theory, most homeowners have a lot more winter maintenance to think about. Condo owners will not be responsible for shovelling, salting, de-icing, or anything else of the sort. If you are lucky enough to have indoor parking, this also means no clearing off your car on a snowy morning before work, or plugging in your car on those extra cold nights. However, house-owners can also have this luxury if their home has a garage, especially one with enough space for a car and storage!

Depending on your physical abilities and willingness to deal with the snow, purchasing a home versus a condo in Ottawa can really come down to your feelings about winter. 

Price

Another large consideration amongst our clients is the price difference between homes and condos. However, there are extra costs to consider with each home-type that cannot be overlooked - it is never just the listing price! 

When it comes to condo living, you are also agreeing to pay condo fees. A condo fee covers the maintenance on the entire building. Because you are purchasing a small unit in a large building, you are also partially responsible for the health of the entire building. This means any maintenance, including new floors, elevator repairs, roof repairs, groundskeeping, snow removal, and more is all a part of your fees. Older condo buildings can have much higher condo fees, especially if the building is in need of large repairs. Condo fees can also change year to year, and may raise significantly if something goes wrong in your building. 

However, owning a house is not without its own fees too. Typically, your house will have a larger square footage than a condo. In addition, you also account for a possible front, back, or even side yard. These numbers increase your property taxes. You are also still responsible for everything your condo fees would pay for, so if you have an issue with your houses roof, driveway, insulation, windows, or anything else, you’re completely responsible. Instead of a regular monthly fee though, you’ll be paying it upfront at once, only when an issue really takes place.

Storage

Typically, condos have less storage than a home. You are losing your chance at having a basement, an attic, and most times, even a spare bedroom. Closets may be (but are not always) smaller, and rooms themselves may also be smaller than the average house. This is really dependent, of course, on which condo you choose, and how it was designed. The same can be said for houses! But on average, you will have more storage space in a home than in a condo. 

This being said, condos often offer storage lockers, bike parking, and more. It may come with your condo, it may be an extra fee or a monthly rental. So if you are looking to purchase a condo, but are worried about storage, choosing a condo that has extra storage available outside of your unit may be the best option! 

Whichever way you lean, storage can be available to you. But it will be harder to find with condo living. 

Backyard

Another consideration for many home-buyers is deciding on outdoor space. Condos offer conditional outdoor space; sometimes a rooftop patio, a courtyard, or just kept lawns around the building. But others are on busy streets, right downtown, and offer no outdoor space at all. Some condos have balconies, others don’t. 

Houses, on the other hand, are more likely to offer outdoor spaces. Most have both a front and back yard, although they are not always large. You also have the option to customize this space more than you do in a condo. If you are an entertainer, you may want to set up a large patio set. If you like to swim, you can seek out a home with a pool, or have your backyard checked to see if you are able to install one yourself. You can set up swings, a shed, a garden, and many other things. 

Condos can have all of this, including community gardens, but you have to make these decisions before you buy. If your interests change and you own a house, you can simply change your backyard to accommodate. The same is not necessarily true for a condo. On the other hand, you won’t have to spend nearly as much money to enjoy a condo pool as you would installing and maintaining one in a house. The same can be said for a garden, patio furniture, and etc.

Children

If you have children, the condo living versus house debate is a hot topic! Plenty of people raise their children in condos, and there are many benefits to the lifestyle. If the condo has a locked front door, fob-access elevators, or a concierge, there is an added level of security to your home. With plenty of neighbours nearby and shared spaces, your child may be able to make plenty of friends in the building. 

Depending on the age of your child, the shared amenities like pools, fitness centres, and fenced in outdoor spaces may be a great place for them to host friends and get out of the house. On the other hand, if your child is younger, they may not be ready to use these spaces unaccompanied. 

When it comes to houses, you most often will have more space for your child to play like a basement, extra living room, and especially a back and front yard. Great security is still an option if you intend to install cameras, alarms, and locks. 

Pets

Pets are another large consideration in the condo versus house debate. Cats, especially indoor ones, will thrive easily in both environments. In a condo, you’ll just have to ensure you have a safe place for a litter box away from the living area. 

For dogs, this becomes more complicated. First and foremost, you’ll have to check with your condo to ensure that they allow pets. Second, you’ll have to consider outdoor time for your dog. Usually you can find a local dog park or fenced area for your dog, or ensure you go on enough walks. However a new puppy may be harder to train in a condo (especially with the distance to make it outdoors!). There are plenty of articles online for training your dog in a condo - just ensure you are prepared! 

Many dog owners appreciate having a backyard to let their dog out in. If you are going the condo route, you will be just fine as long as you have a plan. 

For any other animals, you can follow the same structure. Ensure that your condo is pet-friendly, make sure you have the space, and set up a plan for the animal within the space you are considering, or seek out a condo that can accommodate your pets needs!

Summary

I hope this article has given you some insight into the differences between condo and house living. Whatever you choose, the most important thing for your family or yourself is choosing a home that is custom to the things that you need most. Both houses and condos can accommodate whatever you need - but not all condos, and not all houses, are built the same! Meeting with a real estate agent in Ottawa, we (would suggest one of our team), can help you break down what is most important to you. We can then provide you with a list of properties that meet your expectations. 

Best of luck with your search!