Why You’ll Get a Bigger Loan on a House vs. a Condo

Question: “Maybe you can answer this for me. I talked with a lender who said I can buy a house for 490K, but a condo for only 450K. Why do I qualify for a higher price for a house than for a condo?” Answer: It’s because of the HOA fees. The lender adds them to
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Should You Buy a 1-Bedroom Condo?

Question: “Is buying a 1BR condo a bad idea because they’re hard to resell?” Answer: No. First of all, like any real estate, they’re not hard to resell if priced correctly. But if they were undesirable, that would (or at least should) be reflected in the form of lower prices.
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Who Pays for San Diego Condo Renovations?

Question: “I’m thinking about buying a condo that was built in the 1960s.  It’s fine right now, but what happens in, say, another 50 years? If it has to undergo major renovations or be rebuilt entirely, who pays for that?” Answer: Great question. It’s not likely that a condo complex or even individual buildings will
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What Should a Rookie Investor Buy?

Question: “I’d like to start investing in real estate.  What do you suggest for a rookie investor like me to buy?” Answer: I’d suggest keeping it simple and buying a small condo.  As a matter of fact, the first property my son bought was a condo that he rented out.  It’s worked out quite well
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Anyone Living on Your Property Quickly Gains Tenant Rights

Question: “A friend of a friend has asked to stay for free in my condo for a month while I look for a permanent tenant.  I’m kind of a softie, so I’ll probably say yes.  My only concern is that I’ve heard that after 30 days, they have the right to stay until you go
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Houses vs. Condos: Which Appreciate More

“Which do you think will appreciate more, a house or a condo?” Answer: For some reason, many people automatically assume that houses appreciate more. It’s probably because houses are generally preferred over condos. However, this preference is taken into account by the fact that a house will sell for more than a condo of the
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