Grant- There's a lot of truth to your amusing comments, and I think Florida could be especially bad in this respect. Our proposed condo is only 8 units; there is little turnover; most owners are 50+ and no kids (to make noise). We been inside several times and walk past the building frequently....never a noise issue from inside or outside. One of the owners is the "manager" and takes care of maintenance; the monthly fee has not changed in 4 years or more...yet it's well-kept.

Nothing is ideal, but we REALLY want a place where we can close the door; lock it; and travel for weeks or even a month in the "sun". Once you start the "cleanout" of closets, basement, garage and attic areas....it's AMAZING how much crap is hidden away. We're not even serious about it yet...but Kathy has come up with at least 6 boxes of CLOTHING to give to Purple Heart.

We ALREADY live in two places with community decision-making in one way or another. The main house is an fore-runner of an HOA with common ownership of central park area, roads, sidewalks, trees and landscape; annual meeting, board of directors, spring/fall workdays; it works pretty well with only minor conflicts among the 35 homes. Our summer cottage is on 25 acres of wooded property owned in common among 6 families...also works pretty well...except for one country yokel with GTO's and parts always spilling out of his garage This COTTAGE still gives us lots of place to garden and enjoy the outdoors...whereby both of those features will be very limited if we do the "condo move".

On Sunday April 26, the prospective "cash buyer" who is interested in THIS house is dropping in for a visit. While we're not officially "staging" this place, we are doing a little bit of that de-junking to avoid making rooms look small (b/c they are overstuffed). It's sort of an adventure and will see how it turns out over the next two months of "due diligence" on both transactions. No MOVE until 2016...if then

 

Grant, condo's are not for everyone for the reasons you mention and I agree with your solution. I've a good friend who "could not wait" to end yard work and after 2 years he hates it. And, they travel; in fact, he just got back from 6-weeks out West. Still, he's sorry. And, he's in a small complex too. The "rules" drive him nuts along with the age of many of his neighbors. I've got another friend who just moved in to one. It will be interesting to see what he says after a couple years.

 

I've lived in a condo since 1996 (same building - two apts), after 24 years of owning various houses. I love it. Maybe this condo is different. I don't find there are that many rules, at least any I have a problem with. The location is fantastic and the view is, too. Maintenance staff takes care of any smaller problems. Near the airport so travel is easy. Walk or subway almost everywhere. The residents are all ages from college students to retirees. Locking the door without worrying is a big plus - 24-hr manned desk and a convenience store in the basement that also has a dry cleaning service. It's hard to beat. The +1 loves it, too, and we have no plans to leave - ever.

 

We're on the inexorable march towards downsizing which I dread.
I know we need to do it but I'm not looking forward to it.
I don't do rules well. I hate waiting in line. I like my space.
If I want to be loud, I want to be loud.
It would not appear that a condo will do me well.

 

UPDATE:

Things have moved along a LOT since I posted in April. We now have a very motivated cash buyer for private purchase of our "too big" house, with sales agreement in process and Home Inspection scheduled for next week. The buyer is in LOVE with our house and willing to delay settlement until spring 2016....giving us time to de-clutter from 30+ years of accumulation! I worked very hard to develop COMP figures with assistance from a friend who is a vintage real estate agent; they accepted my "high spot" price w/o any question. Our little town of Narberth is a hot commodity right now. The prospective buyers have already sold their MUCH LARGER (2.5X) house; have the cash in the bank; and are looking at our house as a down-size

What could go wrong?

 

Jerry, downsizing

 

Congrats! That's great! Hope it all goes well for you.

 

I hope it all goes well. That's got to be a pretty big change after 30 years.


fltsfshr

 

So, going to be moving to Ray's neighborhood? Remember, tax-free shopping, low real estate taxes, mild winters, and great neighbors. What more could you want?