would you purchase a SF home in Newton, Brookline or Condo in Boston? (2014, apartments)

[saturdays]

my daughter will start private school in Boston in the fall of 2014 and we would like to move closer to her new school. we fell in love with several SF homes in Newton, Brookline and a Condos in Boston and really can't decide. our current budget is at 1M. we currently live in SF but rarely use our yard for play or entertainment. we are seriously leaning for the Condo but I really can't decide as we've never lived with neighbors directly above us. what would you do? thank you for any advice and if the question seem a bit silly then you do not need to reply.

[millerm277]

Where in Brookline? There's a big difference in terms of urbanity between north and south, where south is basically a suburb and north is much denser and on the green line.

[Cantabridgienne]

It's not a silly question, but it is an extremely subjective one, based on your lifestyle preferences.

I've lived in apartments for the vast majority of my life, so I'm used to people living below/beside/beneath me, and sharing common spaces, etc. I can see that being a learning curve for others. To a large degree, it depends on the neighbors, though.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

It's not a silly question, but it is an extremely subjective one, based on your lifestyle preferences.

I couldn't agree more. Personally, I hated living in a condo. I like to live under my own roof where I make my own decisions and don't have to listen to the less than soft foot steps of my upstairs neighbor.

[CircleOfLife]

Often times the association fees for a condo are very high -- I would much prefer a SF home. I would think you would want some outdoor space for parties, etc with your daughter and her new college friends. Good luck in your decision!

[bostonguy1960]

As MikePru said, be aware that you'll hear footsteps above, dropped items, sliding door noise from a balcony, etc. Some have no issue with these noises, but it probably can be an issue in many places if living under another unit.

Then it's too late, especially if buying.

[sharencare]

Actually, you have to consider that you can also hear the neighbors below you. In older homes, if they have a sound system, you will hear the vibrations even if they are below you. You will also hear sliding doors and heavy footsteps if they are below you. Of course, they can hear you too, so you have to walk with a light step and be considerate too, especially if you have a younger child. If I had a million budget, I wouldn't be able to tolerate neighbors.

[thenewtexan]

In the Boston area, or any area with older construction, I would go with a single family home. Condo fees are the main reason. Updates are also tedious when you're dealing with HOAs. Also, with older construction, walls might be sound proofed very well. You might be stuck with a neighbor who sees the condo as nothing more than an investment opportunity. So, if you're unlucky, you could be sharing walls with loud renters, and you're stuck in a glorified apartment. The maintenance might be a pain, but go with the SFH. Newton and Brookline typically maintain their values well. If you decide to sell at some point, you expand your market to families seeking a good school system, something you can't really do if you're trying to sell a condo in Boston.

[thenewtexan]

Sorry guys, I meant to say walls might NOT be sound proofed very well.

[miu]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

It's not a silly question, but it is an extremely subjective one, based on your lifestyle preferences.

I've lived in apartments for the vast majority of my life, so I'm used to people living below/beside/beneath me, and sharing common spaces, etc. I can see that being a learning curve for others. To a large degree, it depends on the neighbors, though.

I've lived in apartment buildings also. The problem with a condo is that unlike a rental apartment, one is locked fairly permanently into living with the other tenants and their lifestyle idiosyncrasies... good or bad. And you've got mortgage payments, property taxes plus a condo fee and condo association rules to live with.

No. I will never buy a condo to live in. A single family home is always better.

And I think that the people who create condos are much more evil than anyone on Wall Street with their greed and their influence on our lives more negatively invasive. They are the main reason why affordable rental apartments are so hard to find in any US city.