Anonymous wrote:People think that to feel better about their own life decisions, OP. They wanted to live in a house and so they think everyone should want what they want.

I am in my 40s and live in a two-bedroom condo with my husband. I don't have kids and so don't need more space. I often think that I should want a to buy a house, because That's What Adults Do. But when I think more about why, it comes more down to social norms than my lifestyle preferences. I suppose I am already defying social norms by not having kids, so might as well continue with my housing!

One thing that is a real difference between condo vs. house is appreciation. If I spent the same on a house when I bought my condo in 2013, it would be worth a lot more, while my condo has barely appreciated. But that is just once piece of it, and obviously the calculus is different now with current interest rates.

This could be me, but it is just my child and I in it. I don’t want a different living place. But I certainly lost out a lot in appreciation over the years.

I’ve been president of my condo board for 20 years. There is no corruption and a great sense of community. (Unanimous votes in a 100 unit building for 19 of those years).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You get constant comments? From who? I can't imagine ever having an opinion on this for a family member or friend.

Same here. My only opinion of condo living being less than is because the boards tend to be corrupt and would rather run building into the ground so to give contracts to their friends. But other than my total distrust of the boards, I wouldn't judge someone for living in a condo, especially when you've paid it off and can have your salary for other needs. Good for you!

Your comment that condo boards tend to be corrupt is ridiculous. I don't know if there is any actual data on this but I would think most condo boards are doing the best they can and yes, some have members who are corrupt and are doing sketchy things. I lived in a condo rental for 8 years, my mom owned a condo for years, I now own a condo I bought three years ago and my experience has been the boards are doing a good job of managing things. I know when condo or HOA boards do bad things it is often in the news but that is not a reason to assume that most are like that.

Maybe many are trying but the condo board where my husband owns pulled all sorts of stunts, but didn't make the news. I'm leaning to thinking corruption is fairly common rather than I witnessed a needle in a haystack.

Anonymous wrote:Your problem is not the condo it's the people you are talking to. They need to mind their own business. Stop caring.

This. You get the living space that works best for you and your family, and screw anyone else's judgments.

I chose a SFH because I love gardens and birds, but that does come with a lot of time and costs for exterior maintenance, as others have mentioned. Our next place, we will definitely be down-sizing to a low-maintenance condo.

I live in a house my husband and I recently bought for around 750K, which is among the cheapest ones in our city. People see us living in the house, but they don't see the massive debt we incurred in just to achieve this, which makes me wonder if we made a mistake. Condos might be less of a status symbol, but the money you save on mortgage is a massive advantage. You'll be living mortgage free at an early age and probably have already more of a cushion against increased cost of living.

Sigh.

The condo is fine. It's more than fine -- you don't have to mow the yard yourself.

I think the main reason that SFHs or townhouses are pushed is because they're investments. People think apartments/condos= renting, but that's just because they often combine the two in their heads. Condos are owned. I miss my condo with my doorman, gym and fancy pool.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You get constant comments? From who? I can't imagine ever having an opinion on this for a family member or friend.

Same here. My only opinion of condo living being less than is because the boards tend to be corrupt and would rather run building into the ground so to give contracts to their friends. But other than my total distrust of the boards, I wouldn't judge someone for living in a condo, especially when you've paid it off and can have your salary for other needs. Good for you!

Your comment that condo boards tend to be corrupt is ridiculous. I don't know if there is any actual data on this but I would think most condo boards are doing the best they can and yes, some have members who are corrupt and are doing sketchy things. I lived in a condo rental for 8 years, my mom owned a condo for years, I now own a condo I bought three years ago and my experience has been the boards are doing a good job of managing things. I know when condo or HOA boards do bad things it is often in the news but that is not a reason to assume that most are like that.

Then just say all of that to them!

I personally have trouble with the upkeep on SFH exteriors/lawn. That's the reason a lot of people I know live in condos.

People think that to feel better about their own life decisions, OP. They wanted to live in a house and so they think everyone should want what they want.

I am in my 40s and live in a two-bedroom condo with my husband. I don't have kids and so don't need more space. I often think that I should want a to buy a house, because That's What Adults Do. But when I think more about why, it comes more down to social norms than my lifestyle preferences. I suppose I am already defying social norms by not having kids, so might as well continue with my housing!

One thing that is a real difference between condo vs. house is appreciation. If I spent the same on a house when I bought my condo in 2013, it would be worth a lot more, while my condo has barely appreciated. But that is just once piece of it, and obviously the calculus is different now with current interest rates.

Your problem is not the condo it's the people you are talking to. They need to mind their own business. Stop caring.

Anonymous wrote:You get constant comments? From who? I can't imagine ever having an opinion on this for a family member or friend.

Same here. My only opinion of condo living being less than is because the boards tend to be corrupt and would rather run building into the ground so to give contracts to their friends. But other than my total distrust of the boards, I wouldn't judge someone for living in a condo, especially when you've paid it off and can have your salary for other needs. Good for you!

Anonymous wrote:I'm not talking about first time home buyers who intend to upgrade, or about owners of luxury condos in the center of the city. I'm talking about individuals and families who are at least 35 years old living in average two-bedroom condos, who don't intend to buy a detached home.

We live in a city (not in DMV) where the standard up until now has been to live in a detached house, but prices have been increasing at a great speed. A house you could buy for 350K just five years ago now costs around 600K. Any single family home that costs less than this is either 40 minutes outside the city limits or needs major repairs that would amount to 600K. We bought a condo around 6 years ago for 180K which we're about to pay off. Our monthly mortgage + condo fees amount to less than 2/3 of a detached home mortgage we'd have to pay beyond our retirement, which is crazy. We constantly get comments about how we need to buy a "proper" place or how condos are only acceptable for young people who aren't professionally established yet.

I grew up in a country where condo living in major cities is the norm and the attitude we've seen from other people is baffling.

I, too, am from the USA.

Anonymous wrote:You get constant comments? From who? I can't imagine ever having an opinion on this for a family member or friend.

OP here: colleagues and acquaintances. Not all of them, but at least five people I know made these comments to us. There were also people who didn't directly address our situation, but talked about adults living in condos in a similar way. They didn't know we lived in a condo.

You get constant comments? From who? I can't imagine ever having an opinion on this for a family member or friend.

I'm not talking about first time home buyers who intend to upgrade, or about owners of luxury condos in the center of the city. I'm talking about individuals and families who are at least 35 years old living in average two-bedroom condos, who don't intend to buy a detached home.

We live in a city (not in DMV) where the standard up until now has been to live in a detached house, but prices have been increasing at a great speed. A house you could buy for 350K just five years ago now costs around 600K. Any single family home that costs less than this is either 40 minutes outside the city limits or needs major repairs that would amount to 600K. We bought a condo around 6 years ago for 180K which we're about to pay off. Our monthly mortgage + condo fees amount to less than 2/3 of a detached home mortgage we'd have to pay beyond our retirement, which is crazy. We constantly get comments about how we need to buy a "proper" place or how condos are only acceptable for young people who aren't professionally established yet.

I grew up in a country where condo living in major cities is the norm and the attitude we've seen from other people is baffling.