CA Condo Living ~ How Private Can I Get? (Thousand Oaks, Empire: apartments, rent)

[dreamfollower]

This may sound like an off-beat question, but it is a major stumbling block for me in trying to choose a place to live here in CA {not renting, but purchasing}.

The only "communal" living I have experienced is in a 2-family house, where I resided on the second floor. The house was detached, so there were no shared walls, just a tenant on the floor below.

What is the reality as to the noise factor when in a condo. I have viewed some properties in various SO CAL areas where the structure looks like it will not even contain the sound of a sniffle. This worries me for I will regret it from day one. Of course, these are not high-end properties, just average looking structures common to most locales in CA.

How can I determine just from looking at the structure, by means of composition or archetectual lines, whether it was built to properly silence the common everyday noises of an occupied space?

I would think a townhouse style condo {where there are only neighbors on either side or just on one side if it is an end unit} is better than apartment style {where you have neighbors either above or below, plus to both sides or to just one side if an end unit}.

If I look at single family living, in terms of cost I am looking at the mountain areas or areas of the Inland Empire that do not interest me, and the commute then becomes a larger factor.

Aside from putting up "noise board" on shared walls, what other tricks are doable at a reasonable cost, and what type of flooring is better suited to
sealing out noise from the other unit(s)?

I was under the impression that newer buildings might be better built with this factor in mind, but that may not be so.

[f_m]

I was in a building (studios) where they were made of concrete. It seemed to be pretty good at noise isolation.

The condo conversions are probably not very good, since they were originally apartments then made a little "nicer" for condo sale. In truth it is going to depend from construction to construction.

One apartment I had the upstairs didn't really come through, but the walls came through a little. In another, the upstairs came through clearly, but the side walls not really.

You should look at the floor plan, if the shared walls are closets, bathrooms, kitchens, then that will help with some isolation. Once I opened my closet and I could hear someone screaming at someone else next door, but after I closed the closet I could barely hear it.

[RandalR]

Originally Posted by dreamfollower

I was under the impression that newer buildings might be better built with this factor in mind, but that may not be so.

You are right - newer buildings that were intended to be condos are pretty quiet - townhouses are also quiet. It's the old 60's-era apartment buildings that have been converted to "upscale" (ha!) condos that have the noise problem. Beware of ads with a lot of photographs of the pool, the trees, the sign out front, and the exercise equipment and almost no photographs of the actual units - chances are they are conversions, and there are a lot of them out there. They'll be the ones that look relatively affordable.

[A Blue Window]

I don't get these condos, it's basically like student living isn't it? You each have a bedroom and share everything else in the property? Why are these popular?!

[Paula Lynn]

Originally Posted by Ayava

I don't get these condos, it's basically like student living isn't it? You each have a bedroom and share everything else in the property? Why are these popular?!

No, you own your individual condo. It is not student living and you don't share other rooms. You do pay for a percentage of the common areas and exterior maintenance.

[SHNYROQ]

I'm an architect and we do a lot of condo projects. We have to achieve certain sound levels between all units, but this is a fairly recent requirement. Meaning that condos (built as condos, not conversions) built in the last 10 years should be very good. As others have stated, limiting your shared structure to walls only, and not floors/ceilings, would be best. The way the build some houses so close to each other, I know quite a few people who hear their neighbors more now that they are in a house than they ever did living in a condo.

[Roma]

If possible, I would try for a Townhouse for more privacy instead of a Condo and/or an end unit if you can. I lived in a Townhouse/Town home when we first moved to CA (Thousand Oaks). It was an end unit so it had only one shared wall and private (a golf course in front of us.) So there are lots of various options for you as for "private".

Good luck

[Pam-i-am]

I lived in a condo (actually a townhouse) for 14 years. The first 10 were fine, but the last 4, problems began to arise with neighbors. Rules being broken (and yes, condo's have rules) and tempers flaring. It got ugly and tense there. The nut-jobs that live there (who are small in number), cause 90% of the problems and make it impossible to live in peace. And there is a nut-job in every condo community We sold and moved - bought a house. We miss the low-maintenance aspect of condo-living, but love having our 'space' and not being so close to people with axes to grind.

Just a suggestion - if you think you may rent or buy in a condo community. Ask to see the meeting minutes for the last 6 months to see what major issues are going on.

Good luck!

[wisconsin woman]

I think condos arent much different from townhouses or apts...you still have neighbours right there. You will still have regulations and most likely, hoa telling you what trees you can or cant have, what flower garden, if any, is allowed...and surely no growing your own veggies and fruits. Whether its on top of, or below, your living room is connected to theirs. Privacy is in a house, where you have to actually walk more than 2 steps to get to your neighbours house. Condos, and multi-family dwelling, will consist of a 'community' rec room, pool, yard, etc. At minimum, a half acre is good. My 2c though.

[dreamfollower]

Thanks for all the input.

I will probably try for a single family because the notion of having problematic neighbors so close is too suffocating to me even though I guess the same can happen in any living situation.

And with this uncertain economy, the idea of handing over $200-$300 per month to an HOA is offensive. I will handle the upkeep of my home and if for some reason I cannot do it like clockwork every week, it can wait as long as it is not too much of an eyesore.

One should never disrespect the neighborhood and I hope for the same consideration in return.