You've decided to buy a condominium in Tacoma, Washington. Congratulations! Which one? If you have no clue what the answer to this question is, you're not alone. Tacoma has so many different condominium developments these days that the listings are comparable in length to the listings for Mississauga condominiums in greater Toronto. So how do you choose? What factors should play into your decision? A certain amount of it will have to do with how you feel about a given property, but you shouldn't neglect to think every decision through carefully. It may help to write down information about each one in these four headings and compare to find the most suitable one.
Price
This is the most important factor and the one you will have to consider first because a hefty price tag can instantly kill a condo's chances of being chosen. You should have worked out a budget in advance to determine how much you can spare for a down payment and how much you can afford in monthly mortgage payments. Whether you're buying at 100 Yorkville in Canada or here in Tacoma, you should never plan to devote more then about 30% of your monthly income to mortgage payments. Use these figures to determine the price bracket in which you will be looking and decide whether you can deal with a smaller size if it means saving money.
Size and Features
The size of the condo in terms of square footage and how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has is another important aspect to take note of. You may decide that after living in a one-bedroom Toronto condo you would like your new Tacoma condo to have two bedrooms so you can have an office. You should also note the overall condition of the place when you do your home visit and decide whether you're willing to sacrifice a little in the condition in order to obtain a larger space. Often size and number of bedrooms are traded up or down to meet your price bracket when you switch neighborhoods, so you should consider size in conjunction with:
Location
It's important that you feel comfortable in your new neighborhood, so make sure to walk it both during the day and night so you can get an accurate picture. Upscale condo neighborhoods in Tacoma comparable to Bloor West Village in Toronto will have a higher average price per condo, so in order to get into a better neighborhood you may have to trade down in size or number of bedrooms. Conversely, a shabbier or less safe neighborhood will have cheaper properties, offering you the opportunity to buy a larger place if you can handle the neighborhood conditions.
Amenities
The amenities in the building can often break a tie between two condos of similar size in similar neighborhoods. Most condo complexes or high rises have communal features such as parking, weight rooms, laundry, swimming pools, or TV rooms. Charlie Condos in Toronto, for example, has a garden patio and a dining lounge. By making a list of possible building bonuses in the order of your preference, you'll be able to compare and contrast two similar properties to find the one that's a better fit for you.
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