Consider condo fees when buying

One of the great things about living in a condominium is the low maintenance lifestyle it offers. You don’t have to cut the lawn, break your back shoveling snow, or worry about unexpected repairs on your roof for example. Instead you pay condo fees so someone else has to worry about it. 

Condo fees can be very reasonable and provide you with essential services like security, heating/cooling of common areas, landscaping, Property Management etc.  But before you buy, find out how much your condo fees will be, and what’s included. At some condos, you can pay up to twice as much each month depending on the amenities included.

Options For Homes has made it a priority to keep condo fees as low as possible for their homeowners. They only provide necessary services, and include amenities like a party room with kitchen, yoga room, library, and other features that cost little each month to maintain.

However, some developers focus on offering numerous amenities so people are more likely to buy. It may sound exciting that a condo has a pool, 24-hour concierge, and a fully loaded fitness club, but these features add significant costs to your condo fees, not to mention the price you pay for your home.  For the most part, people never end up using or needing these expensive amenities. You’d be amazed at how much it costs to heat and keep a pool clean each month, or to pay for the concierge guy to sit at a desk all day so he can smile at you on your way in. It’s rarely worth the cost to the homeowner.

So before you buy, find out what your condo fees will include and how much you’ll pay. It’ll be worth your while.

Options staff write regular blogs for the Red Pin Pulse.  Check out other posts here.

Options for Cars Members’ Party in the News!

A photographer from the SNAP Bloor West blog was at our Member Appreciation Party at the end of October!  Here’s what they had to say:

Weighing Your Options

Have you considered car-sharing? If so, you’re in luck. On October 29th, Options for Cars held a member appreciation event to thank all of their new members. The party, complete with live entertainment and light refreshments was held at Heintzman Place Condominiums at Keele and Dundas. Options for Cars is a non-profit car-sharing co-op with three locations: Queen Street East in Corktown, The Pocket near Donlands and Danforth, and in the Junction. While the party-goers celebrated inside, Daniel and Mark proudly displayed one of the co-op’s automobiles outside. To learn more about Options for Cars visit optionsforcars.ca

Click here to view photos from the event!

As published in SNAP Bloor West,http://www.snapbloorwest.com/?option=com_sngevents&id[]=331590&utm_source=email&utm_medium=snapd

We Did It!

Thank you so much for your tremendous support for the Low Carbon Condominium!  We are very excited to announce that our submission was voted in the top 10 and we will be moving on to the judging round!

To read the Low Carbon Condo submission, click here.

What Happens Next?

Options will be taking part in the ClimateSpark Accelerate venture development camp where expert advisors will discuss with us the best way to realize the development.  Then, we will present the idea in front of a panel of investors to win up to $500,000 in investment capital!

We will keep you informed of our progress in the competition as well as the progress of the Low Carbon Condo.

We can’t thank you enough for all of your votes and for believing in our vision.  We couldn’t do it without you!

- The Options Team