FrontDoor.com

A wide array of amenities appeals to diverse types of buyers.

Step 1: Weigh the Pros and Cons

The condo lifestyle can be an attractive choice for a variety of buyers, such as families who like to be near parks and schools or the empty-nester looking to downsize, says Roy E. Carroll II, owner of The Carroll Companies, a Greensboro, N.C.-based real estate development corporation.

Advantages of living in a condo or loft building include:

• Sense of safety;
• Minimal exterior maintenance;
• Convenience;
• Sense of community;
• Resortlike amenities, such as concierge service, pools, fitness facilities, tennis courts, roof deck with views and valet service.

But expect to sacrifice some freedom.

"It can be a bigger process to get approval for renovations, and sometimes personal hobbies and entertaining may be curtailed, depending on building rules," says Tracie Hamersly, senior vice president of the Manhattan-based Citi Habitats, a real estate company specializing in lofts and condo spaces.

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