So you think you want to buy a condo.  There are lots of good reasons to buy one. There are also a some reasons not to.  Let's look at some of them:

Pros

Hate yard work and maintenance?   Sick of mowing the lawn and shoveling snow?  Never want to paint or trim or fix up?  A condo may be for you!  Most of the maintenance is  paid for through your monthly Homeowner Association dues.  For larger repairs, the association will accumulate reserve funds to replace things like the roof or to repair the pool or other significant projects.

With all your free time, you may want to use some of the amenities a condo usually offers.  Things like a pool, tennis courts, excercise room, or a clubhouse are sometimes avaliable in certain developments. People often develop new friendships when they attend some of the programs that some condo associations provide

Condos have a list of rules and regulations usually called bylaws.  These are there to protect you in case your neighbor decides to park their cars in the parking lot and blast their music, or if someone decides to paint their porch pink.  The board will listen to complaints and handle them accordingly.

Condos usually cost less than single family homes and many are in desirable areas, convenient to schools or shopping or pubic transportation. 

Snowbirds often like being able to lock up and go for months and know that everything is being taken care of.
First time buyers find condos an affordable option as they step into homeownership.
College students and their family often invest in a condo for the student to live in while the student attends college.
Senior Citizens often downsize to a condo for easier living.

Cons

If you want to make structural changes in your unit, you may have to get permission from the board.

Even if you pay off your condo, you will still have to pay the monthly homeowner's association fee.

You share the community areas, like the lawn space, so you cannot put out your own furniture, (except on your own balcony or patio).

Storage is limited.  Sometimes a condo has a private storage area in the basement, or you may even get a garage.

Laundry facilities can be "community washers and dryers" in the basement.  Some are coin operated, some are not depending on the condo.  Some condos will let you have an in unit laundry, but you have to check with the board.

Pets.  Some condos have restrictions on pets.  So before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you can keep Fido or Princess.

Thinking about buying a condo?  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me to help you decide if a condo or townhome is for you.

Buffalorealtor@gmail.com