Living in a condo

[mataraki]

Any tips in getting a condo unit. Is it better to stay in the upper floor? Pre selling condos.? Reputable developers. Experiences in condo living? Thanks in advance

[ghosthunter]

Any tips in getting a condo unit. Is it better to stay in the upper floor? Pre selling condos.? Reputable developers. Experiences in condo living? Thanks in advance

If the area has busy traffic in the area, living in the upper floors (ten or higher) can help reduce the noise level somewhat but not eliminate it.

But upper floors can have their own issues:
-typhoons winds can make water leak through closed windows.
-quakes feel more intense in the higher floors
-if the building has any water or electricity issues (example, busted water pump), it can be a big headache for the resident
-termites and other pests can attack your condo unit. They might also come from units above, below or beside you. Best to choose a condo building with annual pest control.
-neighbors. depends on your condo's construction and type of neighbors you get.
-leaks of water that come out of nowhere. Water leaks can travel a long distance vertically and horizontally within the building's structure before coming out somewhere. Once it starts in your unit, it may be hard to determine the source to fix.

When buying a condo, make sure you also buy enough parking slots for your needs. Even if you plan to use only one car slot, it may be a worthwhile investment to buy two slots. In most condos, you can rent out the extra parking slot to other residents who need the extra parking space.

Condo expenses does not stop when you buy your unit. You still have to spend on the monthly and annual dues. These are usually expenses of the building which includes: security guards, electricity, water, phones, elevator operation/maintenance, janitor and sanitation, swimming pool maintenance, admin staff salaries, general building maintenance, etc. Typically the amount to be paid is computed based on your condo unit's floor area.

[ghosthunter]

Any tips in getting a condo unit. Is it better to stay in the upper floor? Pre selling condos.? Reputable developers. Experiences in condo living? Thanks in advance

If the area has busy traffic in the area, living in the upper floors (ten or higher) can help reduce the noise level somewhat but not eliminate it.

But upper floors can have their own issues:
-typhoons winds can make water leak through closed windows.
-quakes feel more intense in the higher floors
-if the building has any water or electricity issues (example, busted water pump), it can be a big headache for the resident
-termites and other pests can attack your condo unit. They might also come from units above, below or beside you. Best to choose a condo building with annual pest control.
-neighbors. depends on your condo's construction and type of neighbors you get.
-leaks of water that come out of nowhere. Water leaks can travel a long distance vertically and horizontally within the building's structure before coming out somewhere. Once it starts in your unit, it may be hard to determine the source to fix.

When buying a condo, make sure you also buy enough parking slots for your needs. Even if you plan to use only one car slot, it may be a worthwhile investment to buy two slots. In most condos, you can rent out the extra parking slot to other residents who need the extra parking space.

Condo expenses does not stop when you buy your unit. You still have to spend on the monthly and annual dues. These are usually expenses of the building which includes: security guards, electricity, water, phones, elevator operation/maintenance, janitor and sanitation, swimming pool maintenance, admin staff salaries, general building maintenance, etc. Typically the amount to be paid is computed based on your condo unit's floor area.

[mataraki]

thanks sir. at first we were looking for a townhouse but its more expensive and besides we are just praparing the condo for the kids when they go to college in manila. ill get the 16th floor of the 38 floor condo. my other choices are the 10th and the 38th floors. any suggestion? i am just worried if its a good investment but its a better choice for us at this time. shall i close the deal?

[ghosthunter]

thanks sir. at first we were looking for a townhouse but its more expensive and besides we are just praparing the condo for the kids when they go to college in manila. ill get the 16th floor of the 38 floor condo. my other choices are the 10th and the 38th floors. any suggestion? i am just worried if its a good investment but its a better choice for us at this time. shall i close the deal?

I would suggest the higher floor options. As mentioned, this would help with the noise issue coming from street level. Advantage of the higher floors would be a better view from your unit and less dust as well. But if you have pets (or plan to own a dog) you will have to check the rules & regulations for them in the condo. Many condo might allow pets but pets would not be allowed in the elevator. So if you want to take the dog for a walk, you will have to use the stairs which will be a long climb if you are not in shape.

BTW, I would also suggest a unit with bedrooms facing the morning sun. This would help keep the room cool later in the day (afternoon and night). If the bedrooms were facing the afternoon sun, the rooms would still be very warm in the evening, resulting is higher aircon use.

Another advantage of a condo is better security since there is just one point of entry/exit.

In the long run, the condo might be the better choice. Lower long term maintenance issues of the structure (roof, etc) and better overall security might be the ideal choice for you. Of course some people also want to have an actual garden, etc which you will not have with a condo.

[Ry_Tower]

Actually I am also contemplating between a small house or a condo for my son when he goes to college. This has been helpful.

[ghosthunter]

Actually I am also contemplating between a small house or a condo for my son when he goes to college. This has been helpful.

Well, you can ask what is on your mind.

Condos for small kids can be fun. Many have pools and a secured play area.

For older children (college age) it may offer a more convenient travel distance to school, as many condos are being situated near colleges and universities. Downside, many condos (of more recent construction) tend to have smaller floor areas and/or lower ceiling as compared to older condo developments.

[vinj]

Thanks for the tips, GH. We were also fixing on the purchase of a condo to serve as a halfway house during the workweek and for rental later on.

We considered the following:
- proximity to public transpo and the CBDs. This I feel is better than choosing one near a school as it will have better value later on as your kids start working or you want to rent it out. If its centrally located, most good universities should be within striking distance (30 mins to an hour drive/commute)
- proximity to fault line and flood prone areas (of course we would want to avoid these areas)
- developer record
- orientation to the sun (as GH mentioned); i'm choosing a unit facing the northeast and also considered that no other building will be built next to our window and block the view.
- number of elevators in the development
- assurance to be able to purchase a parking slot

Since the development were considering is along EDSA, were finalizing to get one of the upper floor units as well. I also checked out skyscrapercity for developer/development feedback.

[mataraki]

thanks GH. You really give good insights. You also guided me when i bought my daily car Lancer EX MX and I am very happy with it. I will close the deal with my realtor this week. I hope everything will be just right!

[CVT]

Condo?- If you have visitors from abroad or probably from the province,- puwede doon sila for privacy et al.... Ganoon gawa namin....

14.0K:bike3:

[_Qwerty_]

be ready for additional monthly and yearly expenses..

ask magkano association dues.. some condos goes from 50 to 120 per sqm per month.. minsan kasama din yung parking space (12 to 15sqm din to) sa computation nang dues..

some condos also adds 10% sa utilities.. water and electricity.. also some condos not purely residential.. iba ang rate nang water.. mataas compared to residential households..

then you have the yearly building insurance.. ask if this is paid in full or in installment.. mabigat din kasi pag nagkasabay sabay.. tapos may insurance on common areas and mechanical etc..

then yung yearly RPT tax.. iba iba ang rate kada city.. tapos depende din sa zonal value..

also magkano rentals sa parking space.. is it worth to buy one? or just rent? gano kalalim yung basement parking.. pwede ba mag park sa harap or kailangan sa parking mo lang.. minsan kasi hassle aalis ka pa tapos ang parking mo basement 4.. pag walang parking sa taas.. park ka pa sa basement 4.. eh paapaano kung 5x ka umalis that day.. 5x ka babalik balik sa basement 4.. also check kung may available bang visitor parking.. sa ibang condo wala.. or yung iba charges too high.. like 40.00 per hour.. hassle sa mga visitors..

check mo din kung may mga convenience store na malapit.. mas maganda kung 24 hours.. para pag may kailangan ka mabilis makakuha nang supplies.. may malapit bang water refilling station? malapit na laundry? ok ba ang palibot nang condo? yung iba kasing condo.. delikado maglakad sa labas kasi maraming squatters sa palibot..

check mo din kung pwede magpasok nang LPG tank.. may ibang condos bawal ang LPG tanks.. so electric ang gamit pagluto.. medyo mahal yan..

check mo din kung pwede maglagay nang window type aircon.. yung iba walang provision sa ganyan.. puro split type.. so medyo additional expense na naman yan..

ilan ang elevators.. may service lift ba?? malaking issue yang elevators.. expect na malimit masira yan sa dami nang gumagamit.. ilan ang units per floor.. mas madaming units.. mas madaming tao.. tapos kung 2 lang ang elevator... patay ka pag rush hour sa umaga and sa gabi.. tapos sira pa yung isa.. or walang service lift so ginagamit na service lift yung isa..

kailangan consider lahat to..

[shadow]

stayed in a condo for 2 years after I got married dahil ginagawa pa bahay namin. generally masarap naman dahil convenient everything is just around the corner. and the view is spectacular at least doon tinirahan namin since We stayed in the penthouse 36th floor. as for the neighbors doon sa condo namin walang problema dahil foreigners lahat ng condo mate namin so "peaceful" ewan ko lang kung mga filipino rin kapitbahay.

then there's the amenities. baba ka lang pwede mag swimming, gym then meron pang jogging path...convenient talaga.

[Ry_Tower]

Thanks for the tips, GH. We were also fixing on the purchase of a condo to serve as a halfway house during the workweek and for rental later on.

We considered the following:
- proximity to public transpo and the CBDs. This I feel is better than choosing one near a school as it will have better value later on as your kids start working or you want to rent it out. If its centrally located, most good universities should be within striking distance (30 mins to an hour drive/commute)
- proximity to fault line and flood prone areas (of course we would want to avoid these areas)
- developer record
- orientation to the sun (as GH mentioned); i'm choosing a unit facing the northeast and also considered that no other building will be built next to our window and block the view.
- number of elevators in the development
- assurance to be able to purchase a parking slot

Since the development were considering is along EDSA, were finalizing to get one of the upper floor units as well. I also checked out skyscrapercity for developer/development feedback.

Nice nice tips sir. We'll keep this in mind as well. hehe

[vinj]

stayed in a condo for 2 years after I got married dahil ginagawa pa bahay namin. generally masarap naman dahil convenient everything is just around the corner. and the view is spectacular at least doon tinirahan namin since We stayed in the penthouse 36th floor. as for the neighbors doon sa condo namin walang problema dahil foreigners lahat ng condo mate namin so "peaceful" ewan ko lang kung mga filipino rin kapitbahay.

then there's the amenities. baba ka lang pwede mag swimming, gym then meron pang jogging path...convenient talaga.

It would be generally more "peaceful" and organized if you have foreigners and upper middle class neighbors (of course you cannot avoid association politics). If you go for high-volume, low budget developments expect more problem neighbors.

BTW, parking slots are a gold mine. Developers charge anywhere between 500K to 800K for these.

[_Qwerty_]

maganda din kung may katabing commercial establishment ang condo para may parking space na available... para hindi mahirapan mga visitors..

may friend kami dito sa Tivoli Garden by DMCI.. walang slots for visitors.. ang ginagawa.. don pina park sa Caltex sa labas.. tapos lalakad na lang.. medyo malayo layo din yung Caltex.. kakahiya sa mga bisita..

[foresterx]

I live in a condo right now and it is very convinient for me since i travel a lot and everything i need is near me. Restaurants, mall, grocery store, repair shops, car wash, banks. Also maganda pa mga facility ng condo namin, gym with sauna, pool, playground, mini restaurants, 7/11. Biggest advantage for me is the security since like i said i travel a lot, when im abroad i dont have to worry about my house getting broken into. Also mamili ka ng condo na medyo highend at di kaya bilin ng mga OFW, kasi kung mura lang like my old condo yung crowd iba, lalo na mga kamag anak ng OFW and iranian/korean students ang magiging crowd mo. Pag ganon ang mga kapitbahay mo dudumi yung building nyo, tapon ng tapon ng basura sa bintana at hallway nag yoyosi, dura kung sansan. Sa old condo ko meron ako kapitbahay kala mo kung sino sobra yabang kung umasta pa kala mo sya may ari ng building pati tapon ng tapong ng basura kung sansan lang pati nag yoyosi sa hallway, taxi driver lang pala at bigay lang ng kapatid nyang OFW yung condo niya. Kaya ngayon lumipat na ko ng ibang condo na sigurado maganda ang crowd at never mag kakaron ng mga taong ganon ang ugali.

[vinj]

Actually I am also contemplating between a small house or a condo for my son when he goes to college. This has been helpful.

BTW, my experience with some friends who had condos near the schools... nagiging scene of the crime yung place :naughty2: :rave: :cheers:

[shadow]

I agree na huge factor yun magiging condomate niyo. maganda mga foreigners na expat dito with family. pag mga students. bukod sa maingay, magulo sigro yun floor niyo.

[foresterx]

I agree na huge factor yun magiging condomate niyo. maganda mga foreigners na expat dito with family. pag mga students. bukod sa maingay, magulo sigro yun floor niyo.

Yup, yon ang isa sa pinaka important sa akin nung nag hanap ako ng bagong condo. Kasi pag students magulo lalo na pag nag iinuman minsan nag aaway pa kaya natatakot si misis, pag kamag anak naman ng ofw madumi naman sa building and magulo din kasi kung sansan tumatambay.

[12vdc]

Get 3 condos near u-belt. yung dalawa pa rent mo, yung isa pang emergency halfway home. Solve na problema mo sa maintenance ng 3condos.

Maganda investment ang condo near ubelts, hindi ka mawawalan ng lessee.

And its true kahit hindi mo occupied, hindi titigil ang gastos. Nandyan yung assoc dues, taxes, meralco, insurance..

Kung bawal ang lpg, inverter type stove and hood range ok na.

Check also kung operational ang backup generator, one way of knowing kung nag fluctuate ang commercial power dapat mag activate yung starter ng motor and switch ang ATS. Kung hindi, palpak yan parusa kung may bagyo wlang ilaw at tubig.

Avoid units near the center or elevator shaft, yan yung poorly ventilated and lit kaya dependent ka sa lights & aircon.
Check also for garbage chute or proper ang waste disposal. Mahirap na pag natapat sa basurahan na napabayaan.

See to it also na may conceirge wag lang basta basta guwardya..minsan maliligaw yung mails mo sa ibang pigeon hole nilagay ng guwardya.

Tama sila, importante yung may good breeding mga kapitbahay. Nakakairita yung maingay, may alagang aso kung san san nag poops sa corridor, yung basura iniiwan lang sa doorstep, at dumudura sa elevator..

Swerte ka kung may magandang chix na kapitbahay at tanaw mo sa viewfinder ng peep hole ang doors nya.