Situations when a condo might be the right choice for you Condo living has a number of benefits for people of all stages of life. There are many condo buildings currently being built or being transformed from previous historic warehouses in downtown Winnipeg, and this is an excellent time to begin thinking about living in a condo. Condo living might be right for you if… 1) You’re a new or first-time home-buyer. Buying your first home can be daunting. There’s a lot involved in owning a home that can be overwhelming if you have never been in this situation. Why not make your life that much easier by making your first home a condo? With a condo you can work with your condo board and condo agency to determine the big decisions, such as how to deal with damaged property, and a caretaker will be available to clean the outside of your building (including everything that you won’t personally own, like the hallways). 2) Your kids have moved out. Thirty years ago you bought a nice big house in anticipation of having several children. But now that they’ve moved out, it feels like there’s a whole lot of empty space and rooms that you just don’t need. This is the perfect opportunity to transition to a condo that’s more suited for you and your spouse. 3) You want to make the transition from renting to buying, without the hassle of caretaking for the building. Washing outside windows. Shoveling the snow off the driveway. Caring for the lawn. Cleaning the eaves troughs. All of this takes a lot of time and effort, and they are all tasks you dread (or don’t know how to do). Purchase a condo and you won’t have to worry about any of these chores! 4) You are looking to downsize in general. How much “stuff” do any of us really need? You might have roomfuls of things that you haven’t used in years. By the time you get rid of all of it and clear your house of the clutter, you might see that the amount of space you have is just too much. Downsizing to a condo can be a nice way to get rid of old things you don’t need and just keep what you really want – and give yourself some peace of mind. 5) There is only one or two of you in your household. Condos are ideal for one- or two-person households. You might be too busy to take care of a big home or it might just feel too empty, as in the above reason of kids moving out, in which case living in a condo will feel like just the right size for you. 6) You travel frequently. Why deal with the headaches of arranging for people to take care of your home and yard while you travel when you can live in a condo? Condo living allows you to simply lock the door and walk away – after asking your neighbour to take in your mail, of course. You can also trust that your home will be very secure and safe while you travel due to the extra locked doors between the door to your condo suite. 7) You’re interested in living in the heart of downtown Winnipeg. This was right at the top of my personal reasons for choosing a condo – there’s nothing quite like living in the centre of a city, and with the many condos popping up all over downtown Winnipeg, now is the time to buy! https://vimeo.com/54712796 Sagan Morrow owns an open-concept condo in Winnipeg’s Exchange District and loves downtown living. She writes the blog Living Healthy in the Real World, is the Executive Director of the Food Label Movement, and is the Dig In Coordinator / Acting Youth Outreach Coordinator / Development Coordinator for Food Matters Manitoba. Sagan is a freelance writer and editor as well as a Certified Holistic Nutritionist. She enjoys taking in the theatre and culture of downtown Winnipeg during her spare time. Is Condo Ownership A Good Investment, Condo Ownership