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When deciding to buy a home, there are several choices you have to make; location, amenitities, and type of home that fits your needs and your budget.

Location can be determined by preference, schools, distance to work and social activities, price, etc. Often once location is determined, you have to decide on the type of home you will purchase. For example, in Coral Springs condos are the least expensive homes to purchase, but is the most economical choice. Your other options are townhomes, villas, or single family homes> (Coral Springs does not have mobile home parks, there are other cities close by that do).

A Condo is usually an apartment style property, multiple stories, in which you own the condo unit and share the common areas with your neighbors. The condo community has different ammenities which usually impact the maintenance fee. The maintenance fee normally includes home owners insurance, common area maintenance, management fees, landscaping, maintaining of the structure of the buildings including but not limited to the roof.

A Townhouse is usally a two-story attached home with or without a garage within a Homeowner’s Association (HOA). HOA fee normally includes common area maintenance, and amenities. Some may cover homeowners insurance, but have this verified before you enter into a sales contract.

A Villa is similar to a townhouse except villas are one-story attached homes. Also, verify what the HOA fees cover before you enter into a sales contract.

A Single Family home is ususally a detached property that may or may not be in a Homeowners Association (HOA), please verify before you enter into a sales contract. Single Family Homes that are in a HOA have to adhere to the rules and regulations of the HOA including paying HOA fees.

Which should you purchase depends on your lifestyle. Many people purchase condos because of the affordablity, while others because of the minimal upkeep (no landscaping, pool service, etc..), the amenities, etc. For many who want the feel of a single family home but not necesarily all the exterior maintenance and other unshared expenses.

Ideally, everyone wants to own a house but sometimes the other alternatives may better suit your needs for your situation. So the condo may be your first home, it can help you to purchase that single family home in the future.

Remember, start somewhere because homeownership offers several opportunities that renting may not.

For more information in purchasing a home in the Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach areas please drop me an e-mail at [email protected]

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