Condo associations and homeowner associations where the exteriors are managed through the association have rules that sometimes create problems for homeowners. When our clients consider buying into a condo association, we remind them to check the association rules. The rules are binding and affect daily life. Some of the rules that irk our clients actually
Q: I just graduated from college and want to buy a condo in Boston or Cambridge. I am pre-approved for $-----. I would like to be within a 10-mile radius of Boston. A: I took a look at the Multiple Listing Service (the database properties for sale that is generated by licensees). There are a
According to Andrew Yun, the economic advisor for the National Association of Realtors, there has been a shift in buying patterns in recent years. The largest number of property buyers are Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964). This is not typical. What is more “normal” would be that young adults are the largest group of buyers. This
House hunting idea: two households band together and buy a two-family house together. Massachusetts allows owners of two-family and three-family houses to convert them into two or more condos. This is not typical in other parts of the country. There are lots of advantages to buying a two-family house, especially in our high-price condo market.
Boston is a college town. In June and July, I get calls from parents who are thinking about buying a condo here, so that their college-aged child can save on rent. This is known as a “kiddie condo.” Sometimes, it makes sense. Most of the time, it does not. Condo Pros: If the mortgage is