The demographics of the typical first-time homebuyer are changing these days.
More and more women today can afford to purchase a property on their own to
build up valuable equity and are no longer waiting to find a life partner before
they pursue the financial and lifestyle benefits of home ownership.
One in four buyers these days is a single female, and new home marketing is
actually starting to reflect that. Women may be ready to jump into the
commitment of home ownership but not all are willing to give up their valuable
free time to do outdoor chores. Thus, single women tend to look for homes
that require little or no maintenance with an option to plant container gardens.
Sound familiar ladies?
The easiest and most popular way to hold on to a maintenance free lifestyle is
to purchase a condominium. Its problem-free upkeep and unencumbered
lifestyle is an obvious benefit to people who don’t want to be tied up every
weekend with chores – there are no lawns to water and mow, and no leaves to
rake. No yard means there’s no fence or deck to repair, and no driveway to
shovel in the winter. Choose a condo and you’ll never have to worry about this
stuff. Condominium members are charged a flat monthly fee to cover
maintenance of the common areas as well as provide prompt service by
reliable tradespersons if there are maintenance problems in your individual
unit. Heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical problems are handled
by maintenance staff or service agreements set up by the condo association,
so good help is available at a moment’s notice.
Security is also an important consideration for single women living alone, and
the condo lifestyle can offer such measures as restricted access, a concierge on
duty screening visitors, closed circuit TV monitors, patrolling security guards
and panic buttons in garages to add peace of mind.
Some single women still prefer a more traditional home as their first property.
The appeal of having an outdoor space of your own to entertain, putter about
in a garden and relax can be inviting. A single family home usually offers more
privacy and is also better suited to larger pets. (If you have a pet and decide
to purchase a condo, make sure to check if your pet will be warmly received by
the condo board first – they uphold the rules that the condo owners have set in
place.)
In the end, the style of home you choose (e.g. condo or single family home)
will depend on your lifestyle and your needs. Identifying your needs and
requirements from the very start will help make the process of searching for
your first home easier.
(Article by Sandra Rinomato - hgtv.ca)
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