Worthington Ohio real estate

Buying a Condominium Requires Doing Your Homework

 

Helping a client with the purchase of a townhouse recently has reminded me that a condominium purchase can actually be more involved than buying a single family home.  This is partially due to the fact that you need to be concerned, not only about the unit you are buying, but also with the strength and stability of the entire condominium complex. 

 

Before entering into the purchase of a condominium there are some important questions that need to be researched.  

1. Monthly condominium fees - Depending on the complex, these can be significant and they figure into your overall monthly expense of home ownership. You will need to find out what the fees are and exactly what they include.  Fees typically go toward the maintenance of common areas, landscaping, snow removal and the master insurance.
2. What is the percentage of renters vs. owner occupied units?  Being in an environment of rental properties can have a direct effect on resale value.  Additionally, depending on the type of financing you are seeking, your lender will want to know the owner-occupancy rate of the condominium complex.
3. Bi-laws and covenants - These rules can govern how you can decorate your home, pet ownership and whether or not you can rent out your unit.  It is not atypical in a condominium to have to control your noise levels or show a certain color, usually white, of window treatment from your unit.
4. What does the master insurance cover?  You will need to get a copy of the condominium's master insurance policy and examine it to see what your responsibility will be with regard to coverage.  Most condo owners have to insure their own personal belongings or everything within your unit's walls. This includes carpeting, flooring, appliances and your own fixtures.
5. Check recent resale values at the complex - Have sales of units been keeping up with the rest of the condo market?  How have the "days on market" fared?
6. What is the parking situation at the complex? When you have guests they will need a place to park. Most condominium complexes have some provision for guest parking.  How many spaces are there for your guests and where are they located?
7. Have unit owners been delinquent in paying their condo fees?  If there is a large delinquency rate of owners paying their fees this is sign that the complex could be falling into financial trouble and this will not bode well for any future repairs, improvements or resale value.
8. Are there any special assessments that are currently due?  When a condominium project has fallen short on their budget sometimes the onus for special repairs (new roofs, decks, common areas) must fall on the owners.  This will be in the form of a special assessment that needs to be paid either annually or monthly.  You really do not want this type of surprise.

In addition to the above, you will need to check out the management company and see whether or not it is professionally run.  This information should be provided by the listing broker or seller along with all of the condo documents as well as the financial statement and budget. All of this information should be carefully reviewed by your attorney.

Typically banks have a standard questionnaire that they require for all condominium purchases but if it is a cash deal you will need to come up with a list of your own and have the questions answered sufficiently by the owner or the management company prior to purchase.

For a more carefree lifestyle a condominium can offer some distinct advantages over single family living.  Just be sure to do your homework to ensure a happy and safe investment in your new home.

Copyright 2010 "Buying a Condominium Requires Doing Your Homework"

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Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, The Buyers' Counsel - (508) 881-6230

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Buying a condominium unit can be more involved than buying a single family home. This is because you have to worry about both the unit itself and the condominium project as a whole.

10 Questions You Must Ask Before Purchasing A Condominium Unit

To borrow from a famous phrase, not all condominiums are created equally. Some condominiums are very well run; some are quite poorly run and underfunded. Buyers interested in purchasing a condominium unit must do their homework:  not only about the condition of the individual unit they are interested in purchasing, but on the financial health and governance of the condominium as a whole. Remember, you are buying into the entire project as much as you are the unit, and your decision will impact your daily living and your ability to re-sell.

Here are the 10 questions buyers should ask when deciding to purchase a condominium unit:

1. What is the monthly condominium fee and what does it pay for? The monthly condominium fee can range quite dramatically from condominium to condominium. The fee is a by-product of the number of units, the annual expenses to maintain the common area, whether the condo is professionally managed or self-managed, the age and condition of the project, and other variables such as litigation. For budgeting and financing you need to know the monthly fee and exactly what you are getting for it.
2. What are the condominium rules & regulations? Condominium rules can prohibit pets, your ability to rent out the unit, and perform renovations. Make sure you carefully review the rules and regulations before buying.  Needless to say, the buyer's attorney should review and approval all condominium documents, including the master deed, declaration of trust/by-laws, covenants, unit deed and floor plans to ensure compliance with state condominium laws as well as Fannie Mae and FHA guidelines, as necessary.
   
3. How much money is in the capital reserve account and how much is funded annually? The capital reserve fund is like an insurance policy for the inevitable capital repairs every building requires. As a general rule, the fund should contain at least 10% of the annual revenue budget, and in the case of older projects, even more. If the capital reserve account is poorly funded, there is a higher risk of a special assessment.  Get a copy of the last 2 years budget, the current reserve account funding level and any capital reserve study.
   
4. Are there any contemplated or pending special assessments? Special assessments are one time fees for capital improvements payable by every unit owner. Some special assessments can run in the thousands, others like the Boston Harbor Towers $75 Million renovation project, in the millions. You need to be aware if you are buying a special assessment along with your unit.  It's a good idea to ask for the last 2 years of condominium meeting minutes to check what's been going on with the condomininium.
   
5. Is there a professional management company or is the association self-managed? A professional management company, while an added cost, can add great value to a condominium with well run governance and management of common areas.
6. Is the condominium involved in any pending legal actions? Legal disputes between owners, with developers or with the association can signal trouble and a poorly run organization. Legal action equals attorneys’ fees which are payable out of the condominium budget and could result in a special assessment.  In most states, you can run a search of the condominium association in the court database to check if they've been involved in recent lawsuits.
   
7. How many units are owner occupied? A large percentage of renters can create unwanted noise and neighbor issues. It can also raise re-sale and financing  issues with the new Fannie Mae and FHA condominium regulations which limit owner-occupancy rates. If your buyer is using conventional financing, check if it is a Fannie Mae approved condo. If FHA financing, check if it's an FHA approved condo. (Thanks Lou Corcoran for the links) 
   
8. What is the condominium fee delinquency rate? Again, a signal of financial trouble, and Fannie Mae and FHA want to see the rate at 15% or less.
9. Do unit owners have exclusive easements or right to use certain common areas such as porches, decks, storage spaces and parking spaces? Condominiums differ as to how they structure the “ownership” of certain amenities such as roof decks, porches, storage spaces and parking spaces. Sometimes, they are truly “deeded” with the unit, so the unit owner has sole responsibility for maintenance and repairs. Sometimes, they are common areas in which the unit owner has the exclusive right to use, but the maintenance and repair is left with the association.  Review the Master Deed and Unit Deed on this one.
   
10. What Does The Master Insurance Policy Cover? The condominium should have up to $1M or more in coverage under their master condominium policy. For buyer's own protection, they should always buy an individual HO-6 policy covering the interior and contents of the unit, because the master policy and condo by-laws may not cover all damage to their personal possessions and interior damage in case of a roof leak, water pipe burst or other problem arising from a common area element. Ask for a copy of the master insurance policy and don't forget to check the fine print of the by-laws.  Sometimes, there's language that would hurt a unit owner in case of a common area casualty.  Condominiums over 20 units should also have fidelity insurance to protect against embezzlement.

Often a standard condominium questionnaire will answer all or most of these questions. In Mass., where I practice, this isn't required by law, nor is a seller disclosure. If not, be prepared to generate this list and incorporate it into your Offer to Purchase or Purchase and Sale Agreement, as the case may be in your home state. 

Either way, do not have your buyer put earnest money down until satisfactory answers are received.  Good luck and happy condo hunting to you and your buyers!

For more great checklists and legal content, check out my main blog, The Massachusetts Real Estate Law Blog (www.massrealestatelawblog.com)