A Condo Unit Close to the Skies or the Ground?

Do you enjoy the majestic view from the top floors of Vancouver’s condos? Do you find condos closer to the ground more convenient for your kids and daily baggage?

There’s no concrete answer as to whether ground or top-floor condo units are better. In the end, they’re just like your average living space, just situated multiple floors away from one another. Upon closer look, however, both ground and top-floor units offer practical advantages you can consider when you’re in the market for a condo unit.

Condo units closer to the ground enjoy the benefit of easy access. If you often carry heavy bags, it won’t take you as long to get home to your ground-floor unit than a top-floor one. In addition, you’re generally safer in a fire because you can reach the ground more quickly and escape the building. Ground-floor units are also good if you have kids; they may get tired even in the elevator ride.

Top-floor units have their own pros. A day in Vancouver can get really noisy, but people living on top-floor units will barely hear the sounds of progress. Add the fact that dust is less likely to settle on top-floor units and you have a clean, low-maintenance unit at your disposal. There are also instances when people living closer to the skies can predict the weather more accurately.

Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a House

Condos are great for when you're single. However, when you get married and start a family, your once spacious single bedroom condo may not be large enough to accommodate the jump in the number of residents. As such, most people begin to look into purchasing a house off the real estate market.

Before looking at houses, it would be a good idea to get an updated copy of your credit report. A good credit standing can help attract sellers and real estate agents. This also makes applying for mortgage loans a faster process, and allows you to correct any mistakes.

As always, location is important when it comes to real estate. Try to choose a house in a convenient location for you; know how far it is from your office, your child's school, etc. Homes that are too far may require you to spend more for transportation which will only inconvenience you.

Also, it's advisable to be present as the house inspector goes from room to room in order to get a clear understanding of any problems present in a house. This will give you a better sense of any repairs or changes that may need to be made if you decide to purchase a house. The results of a house inspection can also be used as a bargaining tool. If the owner or agent does not allow you to hire a house inspector to assess the house, cross it off your list and move on.