Condo Living 101

Condo Living 101: What to Expect

More and more people are deciding to bypass purchasing a home in favor of buying a condo instead. Although condo living is becoming increasingly popular, many people still fail to realize the advantages of living in a condo and still do not fully understand what they can expect from condo living.

Mutual Ownership

One fact that you need to understand when you own a condo is that you will be sharing the building with other condo owners. Although you will own the actual unit in which you live, you do not own the building in which the unit is located. Rather, you and all of the other people that live in the condo are joint owners of the building.

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Screens – Or the lack thereof

Window screens more often than not prevent insects from entering your condo or home but they can be a source of dust should they not be regularly cleaned so vacuum them regularly or wash them down to remove stubborn dirt. They can come in steel mesh, aluminum mesh, plastic or fiberglass, the later two being prone to decay when exposed to direct sunlight but the first two will also suffer corrosion as time progresses.
Do you know that dirty window screens can prevent fresh air from getting into your home, leaving it warmer than usual? Keep them clean so you get the benefit of less energy on cooling and warming, allowing air from the outside to normalize with the air within or outside.
The small things we do can indeed help mother earth in the long run for the smallest things can amount to a lot when combined with the rest of the earth-friendly measures you and others take.

Recycled Insulating Products

One of the most expensive parts of the home is the insulation which keeps the warmth from the heating system in during the colder months and keeping the cooled air within during warmer months. There used to be widespread use of cellulose wall insulation that is basically virgin paper trimmings mixed with an adhesive and some preservatives that prevents pest infestation but now, there are more recycled cellulose fillers that are good as the virgin pulp products and are very much environmentally friendly.
They are blown into the walls as they are being put up, just before they are closed up with all electrical and plumbing fixtures and pipes (please include access panels and provisions for additional installations). Adding more that you really need in terms of electrical conduits, greatly reduces the need for extensive work on the walls when they are indeed needed.

Earthy Homes – Efficient Homes

There is a constant revision of the way our homes are constructed and what do you know, we are again turning to technology that has been in use for millions of years till now in impoverished homes in Africa and elsewhere. A move to make earthen homes again all the rage is one of the the best solutions to the energy crisis for the many enticing advantages these homes offer us. First, they are made of dirt and straw so they can be way cheaper. They can be made to work with current modern framing technology, that can only get better with the advantages of a better understanding of what needs to be addressed. They are naturally insulated from external temperatures so they mostly maintain a proper balance of moisture making them a joy to live in. You may have to trim down on the painting and rich colors for they work best left natural hence they may lose their insulating properties. Earthen homes was one of the earliest forms of home construction that served our ancestors well, why can’t it serve the same purpose for us now?

Green Roofs – Worth It?

The many concrete buildings and structures we have been erecting since the beginning of the industrial revolution are not only some of the most polluting structures but some of the most drab and lifeless we have ever come up with. In an effort to bring more green into our city’s, planners and building administrators are studying the feasibility of green roofs or gardens that allows the green to return while we keep our concrete jungle below. Property owners have been finding that developments besides such green roofs are more favorable and clients often haggle for a view of such structures. Continue reading Green Roofs – Worth It?…

Planting Wisdom

There are more and more green developments that are mixing the use of plants, more for decorative use to more active roles such as natural climate and pollution control. Such new radical developments can be seen in the many architectural proposals where plants and trees are a vital part of a high-rise’s structure that they are providing natural air conditioning. Plants have long been known to keep the air cooler as their leaves absorbs most of the sun’s rays turning them into life giving oxygen, Continue reading Planting Wisdom…

Condo’s – Manifestation of Hectic City Life

You might find it hard to accept the fact that the condo you bought and have been living in for the past few years has become a tad bit too small for your current needs. But this is one of the most fundamental qualities of condo’s which balances maximizing land usage within a bustling city center. Though cheaper than most homes, they are quite heavy on the budget for they require monthly fees and other payments that have to be settled promptly.
The space or lack of it is part of the trade-off between living near the city center and the convenience of a short commute. Access is also a determining factor for you are near everything, the mall, supermarket, theaters and many more so just sit tight and stop complaining, you’re glad to still have a place to call home.

Condo Garden Space

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Despite the limited gardening space in your condo or loft, you can still make room for a “patch of green” in your condo. Even if very minimal sunlight streams through your window everyday, there are still some types of edible plants that you can grow like carrots, kale, Swiss Chard, arugula, turnips, French Sorrel and parsley. Under a strong sunlight, you can grow cherry tomatoes, onions and shallots, peppers, eggplant and zucchini. Herbs are also a great choice for small garden spaces – something you can just pluck from your window sill. Some herbs have medicinal properties like oregano, they are also make good tea like tarragon, others are used as spices like basil, cilantro, thyme, mint, fennel and dill.

Some Costs Involved When Securing A Mortgage

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There are a number of direct and indirect costs included in obtaining a mortgage. Maybe not all of them are applicable in your situation but it is useful to know them.

• Appraisal Fee is shouldered by the borrower. The lender usually gets its appraiser to know the value of the security for mortgage purposes.
• Property Inspection Fee. Inspection is done to assure the borrower that he/she is buying a house in the condition he/she expects..
• Survey Fee. A survey is usually required so the lender knows the exact dimensions of the property to be used as security. This is also done so the lender knows if the building meets the requirements for set backs according to the law. A survey is normally required of older buildings. If you are buying a new or relatively new property, then you could request that the survey requirement be waived .
• Mortgage Insurance Fee is paid if and when required by the lender.
• Fire and Liability Insurance Premiums. Primary lenders require borrowers to have sufficient fire insurance to cover the amount of mortgage and that they be paid first. Secondary lenders have the same requirement except that they must be paid second, so on and so forth. The borrower must have ample replacement insurance and must indicate to the lender’s lawyer whether the lender will be paid first or second.
• Renovation, Repair and Redecoration Costs must be factored into the purchase price. Major repairs need a substantial amount of money, therefore the borrower can bargain for a lower price to cover the cost of repairs.

Conquering Clutter

Small living spaces, like condos and apartments may be easier to clean, but it’s also harder to find space to hide your stuff in. Oftentimes, the small closet that comes in with your closet isn’t enough to hold all your possessions. Living in a messy home can be aggravating, though, and even dangerous. So make an effort to control your clutter with these tips:

Get creative in finding storage space. Do you have an oven you rarely use? Use it to store extra dinnerware or foodstuff. The space behind your bedroom door can be a great place to hide a shoe rack.
Choose furniture that can do double duty. There are a lot of cool, new furniture in the market today that are designed to have multiple uses. Such as an ottoman that can be a coffee table, extra seating and has room for storage. Or sofa beds that can transform into a comfy bed at night, with storage space for beddings. Or dining tables that can expand to accommodate extra guests.