Before buying a condo unit, fully investigate the complex

By Dan S. Barnabic, May 4, 2015

Check your prospective unit carefully but even more important, check the well-being of its condominium complex.

Are Condos on the Way to Becoming Glorified Apartments?

By Dan S. Barnabic, May 01, 2015

Back in the mid-1960s, when condominiums were born, they were meant to become an affordable housing alternative to traditional homes. Because of their low prices, many renters aspired for better quality living arrangements and bought a condo unit.

How to deal with a condo board run amok

The Globe’s Rob Carrick speaks with Audrey Loeb, lawyer at Miller Thomson LLP, about your options in a disagreement with your condo board.

Direct link.

Globe and Mail, April. 20 2015

Too many renters are a bad sign in a condo complex

By Dan S. Barnabic, April 27, 2015

Back in the mid-1960s, when condominiums were born, they were meant to become an affordable housing alternative to traditional homes. Because of their low prices, many renters aspired for better quality living arrangements and bought a condo unit.

Buying a preconstruction condo unit is a dicey move

By Dan S. Barnabic, April 20, 2015

Buying a condo unit during the preconstruction phase might seem to be a straightforward proposition. Future unit is bought from the architectural drawings at the developer’s sales site. However, in real life, buying a unit before it’s constructed may work out to be anything but straightforward.

Should You Buy or Lease a Condo?

By Dan S. Barnabic, April 16, 2015

The idea of buying a condo might have crossed your mind, but before you rush into this trendy alternative housing arrangement, keep in mind that vacancies may start climbing later on this year and consider the most recent warning of housing market correction by the Bank of Canada. In any event, let’s examine some basic pros and cons of condo ownership, and compare buying versus leasing a condo unit.

Condos and Houses Are Like Apples and Oranges

By Dan S. Barnabic, April 10, 2015

To many buyers and unit owners, condominium ownership may still be ambiguous and convoluted. Since condos aren’t based on the same ownership structure as street-level traditional (freehold) homes, comparing condos to traditional homes is like comparing apples with oranges.

For condos, make sure you can afford the carrying costs

By Dan S. Barnabic, April 3, 2015

Before buying a condominium, consider that, aside from mortgage payments, you’ll be responsible for condo association maintenance fees, real estate taxes and special assessments.

Buying a condo? Always make a low offer

By Dan S. Barnabic, March 30, 2015

Before making an offer on any condominium, check with other local realtors to find out how much the unit would fetch on the open market if offered for sale.

How Long Will Condos Last?

By Dan S. Barnabic, March 28, 2015

Every time I am approached by condo buyers and owners alike, the most asked question is on the future of condominiums.

Practically speaking, condos will exist as a real-estate ownership option for as long as there are buyers willing to buy them — notwithstanding their inherent ownership related problems.

Beware of condo bargains with high fees

By Dan S. Barnabic, March 24, 2015

If you come across a condo unit that’s selling at a rock bottom price, but with an unusually high maintenance fees, think twice before signing the contract.

The Present State of Real Estate in Canada

By Dan S. Barnabic, March 19, 2015

This year promises to be particularly exciting for real estate investors. For the first time in many years, we may actually see the interest rates creep up from their historical lows.

How to know when to buy a condo

By Dan S. Barnabic, March 16, 2015

To understand how important it is to buy at the right time, just think of condominium units that, only a few years ago, sold at very high prices but lost their value — many of them as much as 50% or more — as a result of the real estate collapse of 2007.

10 rules for condo buying

By Dan S. Barnabic, March 09, 2015

The overall prices of real estate are still 16% down from their peak in 2006. What the future may bring to the U.S. real-estate market is still debatable given its slow recovery and uncertainty about consumer confidence.

Do Your Homework

By Ilene Denton, March 2, 2015

Pondering a condo purchase? Consider these tips from the author of The Condo Bible.