Condos, Co-ops, and Townhomes: A Complete Guide to Finding, Buying, Maintaining, and Enjoying Your New Home

Affordability. Location. Amenities. Convenience. Low maintenance. Community. These are just some of the reasons why property buyers across all regions and all demographic categories are making the markets sizzle for townhomes, condominiums, and cooperatives. Addressing the unique challenges to successfully buying these kinds of homes, broker and developer Mark B. Weiss brings his insider's depth of experience to mentor potential buyers. Sharing the knowledge and experience gained in more than 15 years dealing with every type of real estate, Weiss presents comprehensive how-to information and brings it to life with true stories from his files. Weiss explains the pluses and minuses of condos, co-ops, and townhomes and the pros and cons of purchasing new construction versus preowned property. He outlines what to consider in detail for every step-from starting to look to financing to eventually selling-and provides sample forms that illustrate the process. Throughout, he provides the answers to such common questions as: *What are the differences between condos, co-ops, and townhomes? *Can these properties be financed? What are the special considerations? *How do assessments affect affordability? *Can the unit be rented as an investment? *What is a homeowners association and why is it important? *Who insures the common areas? With mortgages more affordable than ever, those seeking the shelter of a first home, a retirement home, or urban luxury, without the hassles of commuting, are turning to association-managed communities. Condos, Co-ops, and Townhomes provides the comprehensive road map needed to avoid pitfalls and make life-enhancing choices for this popular type of home.