Should You Buy a Condo or a House?
If you’re looking for a new home in Tampa Bay, what’s better – a condo or a house? This guide can help you decide.
Should You Buy a Condo or a House in Tampa Bay?
First things first: You should only work with a Tampa Bay REALTOR® you trust to show you properties that meet your needs. If you’re not sure whether you belong in a condominium or a single-family home, your REALTOR can explain the differences between the two so you can make the right decision.
With that said, there are pros and cons to each. Scroll down to read about them.
$285,000
Active
9338 Lake Chase Island Way 9338 Tampa, Florida
2 Beds 2 Baths 1,373 SqFt 118 Acres
$369,900
Active
5107 Bay Club Circle Bldg 5 Tampa, Florida
2 Beds 2 Baths 1,176 SqFt
$775,000
Active
1302 E Park Circle Tampa, Florida
3 Beds 2 Baths 2,039 SqFt 0.340 Acres
$289,900
Active
7917 Croton Avenue Tampa, Florida
3 Beds 1 Baths 925 SqFt 0.160 Acres
Pros of Buying a Condo in Tampa Bay
When you buy a condo, you can look forward to:
- No exterior maintenance. In a condo, owners aren’t responsible for cutting the grass in common areas, fixing leaky roofs or cleaning the swimming pool. Your condo association fees pay for professionals to do those things.
- Saving money (in some cases). Though there are some high-end condos in the communities of Tampa Bay, you can often get a condo for less money than it would cost to buy a single-family home.
- Close neighbors. Your neighbors (and hopefully soon-to-be-friends) will live in the same building as you.
- On-site amenities. Many of the condo buildings in Tampa Bay have their own amenities, such as water access, swimming pools, classes and social calendars, workout rooms and more.
Cons of Buying a Condo in Tampa Bay
Condo living isn’t always perfect – and it’s certainly not right for everyone. Some people view these as cons of buying condos:
- Condo association fees. You’ll have to pay a fee that goes toward maintenance and upgrades of common areas. You may have to pay monthly, quarterly or annually.
- Rules. Your condo association will have rules and restrictions that you must follow. Some condo associations don’t allow pets, or only allow pets of certain breeds and sizes; some don’t let you park RVs in front of your unit, hang political banners from your balcony or even put up curtains that are the wrong outward-facing color.
- Close neighbors. If you’re used to having plenty of privacy, living with people on three or four sides of you may not be ideal for you. You may also hear your neighbors from time to time, which is a big turn-off for some people.
Related: Do you need a home warranty when you buy a home?
Pros of Buying a House in Tampa Bay
Buying a single-family home has its perks, too, such as:
- Lots of privacy. In many communities, you can even put up a fence if you want more privacy than space around your house allows.
- Yard space. You’ll have a yard with a single-family home. Some are bigger than others are, and require more maintenance – but you’ll have an outdoor space that’s all your own.
- Creative license. As long as your homeowners association allows it, you can do what you’d like to the exterior of your home.
Cons of Buying a House in Tampa Bay
When you buy a house, it’s a little more work than a condo is. Here’s what else you may consider a negative aspect of owning a single-family home:
- All the responsibility for maintenance falls on you. So does the cost!
- Single-family homes are typically more expensive than condos are.
- You may have a homeowners association in your neighborhood. If you do, joining isn’t optional; you’ll have to pay dues and abide by the association’s rules.
Related: Is living in a neighborhood with an HOA good or bad?
Are You Buying or Selling a Home in Tampa Bay?
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