The pros - and prices - of buying a condo
The basics of maintenance fees, prices and upgrades.
The details of buying a condo can be tricky. You're trying to have less stress and maintenance, and then you realize you don't know what the average maintenance fee is, or even what it covers. We've gone through it -- plus some upgrades that are sure to help your house sell.
Maintenance fees
Don't want to have to mow your lawn or repair your roof? That's part of the lure of condo living -- the services on offer that are covered by monthly maintenance, or common expense, fees.
These costs, which are determined by the board of directors of your condo, are based on the common expenses of the corporation and will vary, depending on any number of factors, including the type of condo you live in and the
square footage of your unit. For example, in a small building like a low-rise with few services, the costs may be equal to or greater than a highrise since the costs are spread over fewer units.
Maintenance fees can include:
HIGHRISE
• Insurance premiums, waste disposal,
landscaping, hydro, gas; utilities for common areas such as elevators and corridors; in an upscale condo, concierge service,
pool maintenance, security (homeowner responsible for unit; condo corporation responsible for everything outside unit).
TOWNHOUSE
• Depending on what's written in the condo corporation's declaration, the owner may be responsible for repairs both inside and outside of the home; for example, repairing a fence or
roof.
COMBINATION HIGHRISE BUILDING AND
TOWNHOUSE UNITS
• Although a townhouse will have a larger square footage, the monthly common expenses may be lower.
How much?
Like so much else in Canada, prices for condos* vary from province to province. Here's the scoop on six major cities.
Montreal $188,000
Toronto $227,228 (east), $245,873 (west)
Winnipeg $106,009
Edmonton $127,286
Calgary $149,745
Vancouver $137,150 (east), $208,060 (west)
Must-have upgrades
When it's time to sell, these are points that will attract prospective buyers.
• A steam shower and Japanese soaking tub in the
bathroom. -- Mitchell Freedland, Vancouver
• Countertops in a solid, integrally coloured, scratch-resistant natural material like granite, limestone or marble, or man-made Corian. • A
light, bright look that's captured with the use of colour and strategic lighting, ranging from a chandelier to pot lights. -- Tara Wells, Richmond, B.C.
• Stainless-steel
kitchen appliances that are the right depth for the room for a built-in look. -- Paul Lavoie, Calgary
• Hardwood
floors, and kitchen cabinetry made of melamine, lacquered MDF, or wood (in order of increasing expense). -- UW: Design Group, Toronto
source from :
http://realestate.sympatico.msn.ca/The+pros++and+prices++of+buying+a+condo/NEWContentPosting_SAH.aspx?isfa=1&newsitemid=232981&feedname=TRANS-STYLEATHOME&show=False&number=0&showbyline=False&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=False
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Lina Feng 冯莉娜
Financial Services Manager
Bank of Montreal Safeway Instore
1950 Foul Bay Road
Victoria, BC, V8R5A7
Tel:（250）405-5339
lina.feng@bmo.com 
