Tips and Traps When Buying a Condo, co-op, or Townhouse
Product Description
Steer clear of money pits and target the top properties in this hot investment sector! Condos, co-ops, and townhouses account for more than one-third of real estate sales in the United States. Fully updated to address the many changes that have occurred in the market since the first edition, Tips & Traps When Buying a Condo, Co-Op, or Townhouse, Second Edition, covers all the bases to help you navigate the process of buying into a shared-ownership deve… More >>
If you are even thinking of even buying a condo, townhouse or condo, this book is a definite buy. It’s definitely worth the price to educate yourself about some things to look out for when looking to buy. It is in a question/answer/tip/trap quick and to the point format. I bought the book because it was recommended as one of the top ten real estate books to buy in the real estate section in the Washington Post for 2000. Highly recommend.
Rating: 4 / 5
As a prospective first-time property purchaser, I found this book to contain some good information on the particulars of condos and townhouses. I did not read the section on Co-ops however. Parts of the book seemed to contain redundant information, not necessarily for emphasis. Perhaps the chapters were intended to be somewhat self-contained. “Buying a home for Dummies” has been my first resource. I’d recommend reading something like it first in order to fully appreciate the differences w/condos and townhouses described in this book.
Rating: 4 / 5
As a board member of a homeowner asociation I found this book very useful in explaining the rights of homeowners and the function of the board. Good advice about dealing with the board as a homeowner, and some examples of dealing with homeowners as a member of the board. Very readable–a good, quick guide that will help me explain the board’s actions to homeowners.
Rating: 4 / 5
This book showed me the “red flags” to look for when evaluating a shared ownership developement and helped me to avoid buying into a nightmare. Ohhh, I’m so glad I read this book.
I read 4 other books on buying a condo and this book was by far the most practical and answered my questions. The format is easy to read and quickly search.
The tips and traps opens your eyes to what you’re getting yourself into. Learn from the experiences of others and make the right choice for your lifestyle. Don’t buy into a dysfunctional developement. It can be a legal, financial and emotional nightmare.
Thanks to Robert Irwin’s advice, I passed on several developements and kept searching until I found the right condo developement for me. It has been a great choice. The book was a helpful resource during the buying process. Highly recommend.
Rating: 5 / 5
As someone just getting in the market, I really had no idea what differentiated condos from single-family homes other than the way they looked. This book really helped me think about the pros and cons of both types of homes. I found myself drawn to condos because you don’t have to worry about any exterior elements, like yards, community areas, etc. All of that is taken care of for you. But, that comes with a cost. This book shows you how to decide if that cost is worth it, what to ask about so that you don’t end up in a building with a bunch of lawsuits pending (that you might end up paying for) and how to know if your building is prepared for disasters, new roofs and other such events. It was really eye-opening!
Rating: 5 / 5