Why do condo listings usually fail to list the Condo fee?

[GustavoFring]

franklymls.com and redfin usually include all sorts of great extra information such as previous sale records, HOA fees, annual taxes and tax assessments. Franklymls is literally the best site I've ever seen, but it doesn't update as quickly as redfin. If anyone is into manipulation of datasets, the best you're going to find is franklymls.

[635911]

[quote=FCNova;23572217]Where are you seeing these ads? The websites I use for real estate searches almost always have the condo fee info listed. Moderator cut: Please post only generic MLS sites, not ones owned by specific brokerages. Thank you.

CL ads which often leads me to other realtor links

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

You can't do that at my townhome, cause of the way this development is arranged, and where the parking spots are. OTOH in a condo you don't have to decide what to do when someone has surgery or is on pregnancy bed rest (but if you have one of those rare THs with a room suitable to be a first floor BR, you dont have to worry about that either).

I don't think theres any general rule for comfort. Its not only that its subjective, but all these TH and condo developments are different (there are developments in DC where you can go straight from the elevator into a supermarket without going outside - I'd say that beats driving to your front door with groceries.)

Theres a development in Tysons that allows this, it's Park Crest, with our own Harris Teeter. Screw parking at a grocery store. If I want ice cream at midnight, I get ice cream at midnight with all of a 1 minute elevator ride.

Anyways, sorry I did go on a tangent. I guess I was getting at the concept of why condo fees can be "large". Again, if land and area space is your priority then condos clearly are not a choice. But when you consider a lot of people use 200sf for a home gym, 150 square feet for a home office, a lot of a backyard for a pool, etc. The 1000 to 1600 sf you find in comparable condos starts seeming like a lot more, and for cheaper than actually buying all those things yourself. So because of all that, you really should compare them on equal, or atleast somewhat discounted footing (since they are shared among residents).

To spencgr point, I sorta goated you into stating my initial point, that houses have depreciation costs that most people don't budget. You choose to hire to do monthly upkeep, in otherwords, you are maintaining your home value by not allowing it to depreciate through preventative and aesthetic upkeep. That same cost, if you didn't do anything, would be counteracted as a depreciation cost of your home if it started to lose its looks, wear and tear, ect. If one was fair about budgeting for condo vs townhouse vs house these elements should be considered.

When I retire, I would love to have an authentic 10 generation farmhouse in the real countryside, so please don't take my comments as city vs house. I really just want to start addressing the stigmas attributed to condos that are simply a lack of experience in this region with the land use form.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by tysonsengineer

To spencgr point, I sorta goated you into stating my initial point, that houses have depreciation costs that most people don't budget. You choose to hire to do monthly upkeep, in otherwords, you are maintaining your home value by not allowing it to depreciate through preventative and aesthetic upkeep. That same cost, if you didn't do anything, would be counteracted as a depreciation cost of your home if it started to lose its looks, wear and tear, ect. If one was fair about budgeting for condo vs townhouse vs house these elements should be considered.

Well, of course they should be considered. I don't think anyone argued otherwise. I was just saying they can't really be quoted on a MLS listing, because the costs vary so greatly depending on the future owner. Condo fees, on the other hand, can be quoted, because they are the exact same for whomever buys the property.

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by spencgr

Well, of course they should be considered. I don't think anyone argued otherwise. I was just saying they can't really be quoted on a MLS listing, because the costs vary so greatly depending on the future owner. Condo fees, on the other hand, can be quoted, because they are the exact same for whomever buys the property.

Yep, then we are on the same page. Thumbs up.