Condo Townhouses
Posted on | December 30, 2009 | No Comments
There are also a number of advantages in owning condos instead of stand-alone homes, which have also added to their popularity. However, as with other types of properties, there are also different types of condos that buyers can choose from that cater to different requirements and preferences. People who are considering buying a townhouse would do well to look at the different features that each type of condo has so that they can pick the type that would best fit their needs.
Some of the most common types of condos include condominium apartments, condominium townhouses, and freehold townhouses, which all differ with regard to their structure and the type of ownership regulations that come with buying them. One distinct difference is that with condo townhouses, people are given more “freedom” as compared to condo apartments, as some condo townhouses are built in a way that people get t have their own small yard and garage spaces. However, apart from these differences, almost all types of condos provide the same environment given that condominium living is all about communal living, which involve sharing common spaces and following common rules.
Evidence to this is the fact that almost all condominium properties have a homeowner’s association, which is responsible for the maintenance of the units and the implementation of the agreed rules among unit owners. The only drawback to this kind of set up is that there are cases wherein homeowner associations tend to promote uniformity among unit owners, which makes it hard for some homeowners to personalize their homes because there are rules that discourage them from doing so.
Among the different types of condominiums in the market, one of the most popular is the condo townhouse, as it provides homeowners with more freedom as compared to condo apartments. However, apart from slight differences, almost all types of condos provide the same communal living environment bound by rules. Given this, homeowners also need to consider the rules that the homeowner’s associations have put in place in the condominium property that they are interested in, as this can help them assess whether they can live with such rules or not.
Disadvantages of Investing in Student Housing
Posted on | October 6, 2009 | No Comments
With the number of overseas students coming to Australia to attend universities, student accommodation is one area that investors look into, but there are some disadvantages to investing in this area. For a start, student accommodation is not going to be full all year. Investors can get around this to some extent by charging a lower rate during holidays if the student wants to keep the accommodation.
Others require all possessions to be removed or stored in a locked room so the accommodation can be rented out to tourists during holidays. This means that there will be extra cleaning fees. Another disadvantage is that students are not known for their house or garden care, and if several students are sharing one house, it will very likely look like a trash pile in no time. This means that there will be a higher maintenance bill. Some landlords get a cleaner in once a month and charge the cost to the students.
Housing that is dedicated to students will often have such things as onsite management and communal facilities that all mean extra costs for the landlord. With the number of overseas students coming to Australia to attend universities, student accommodation is one area that investors look into, but there are some disadvantages to investing in this area.
For a start, student accommodation is not going to be full all year. Investors can get around this to some extent by charging a lower rate during holidays if the student wants to keep the accommodation. However, something like a four or five bedroom house shared by the same number of students can bring in a reasonable return on investment, even if it costs quite a bit to start with.
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