The wonderful and bewildering search for a new home in the Northeast Fl real estate market usually begins with setting a limit on the price you want to pay for your new or resale home. After that, as a homebuyer you will usually look at the geographic area you want to live in and start narrowing your search by excluding certain areas. Imagine you live in Jacksonville Fl and work near Gate Parkway and J Turner Butler. As your Jacksonville real estate agent, we would discuss how far and how much time you expect to spend commuting to work each day. In our scenario, you decide that there is a maximum 10-mile and 25-minute commute. With those parameters, it is reasonable to look in Southside/Intercoastal Jacksonville, Arlington/Ft Caroline Jacksonville, and Riverside/Avondale Jacksonville. Looking at a map of Jacksonville Fl, the areas that best meet your criteria appear to be real estate southeast of the St. Johns River and north of Race Track Road.

Next, we need to look at the type of housing you would like to consider. A Jacksonville Fl  home, a townhouse, or an apartment complex residence. The townhome or apartment complex residence may be a Jacksonville condo. All of the above have their advantages. Today, let's examine the appeal and versatility of condo living.

The single family home may not be the ideal purchase for every homebuyer. Townhomes and apartment style condominiums may be exceptionally appealing to certain groups of Florida’s First Coast home buyers. If this is your first home purchase, you may be overwhelmed with the notion of doing all the upkeep of a single family detached home as well as giving up all the amenities provided in your former residence.

If you are an empty nester or a soon to be retiree, you may favor townhomes and apartment style condominiums. Condominium living definitely simplifies life while providing luxury affordable amenities. Empty nesters may be ready to downsize and may be looking for a more “Lock and Go” lifestyle. The thought of having no exterior maintenance responsibilities and having the freedom to take off at the drop of a hat to visit the grandkids or to travel is very appealing. If the thought of no yard work and the freedom of no exterior maintenance seems like a positive feature, then condominium living may be right for you.

How is owning a condo different from owning a single-family home? When you own a condo you own the space within your own living quarters. All the owners of the condominium own the common areas in the community, such as the parking lot, roof, green areas, hallways, pool and other amenities. Condominium owners pay a monthly condo association fee to help defray the cost of the maintenance, repairs and the amenities of the common areas. When buying a condo, you need to consider the cost you would pay for your gym and pool membership, what it would cost to mow your own lawn and do your own exterior maintenance. When comparing these expenses to your monthly condo fees, you may find that the condo fees are a good value.

In the Jacksonville Fl condo real estate market, there are two basic styles of condos. The garden apartment style has apartments on either side of your unit, and there may be a unit below or above. Some of these complexes have garage parking, while others provide covered parking and still others provide parking spaces.

The townhome style condo has either single or multiple levels and one or two common walls shared with neighbors. Attached garages, covered parking or parking spaces may be available. Both of the above communities feature a variety of recreational amenities.

Some greater Jacksonville Florida apt complexes  are converted from rental units after having undergone extensive updating. These complexes may feature wonderful amenities and upgrades.

Purchasing a condo may enable you to purchase a residence at a lower monthly cost then what it would cost to purchase a single family detached home. Buying a condo may allow you to start building equity in a home and realize the tax advantages of owning your own home.

Northeast Fl and the greater Jacksonville area offer wonderful condo complexes at very reasonable prices. There are also a wide variety of high-end luxury communities offering yacht and country club environments, oceanfront, river view and urban condos.

If you need a starter home, in our scenario, we might look for  Jacksonville Fl real estate for sale in Chatham Woods, Avanti, Esplanade at Town Center, Montreux, Timberlin Parc, Williams Walk or the Preserve at San Jose. If you want a more spacious home, then Wolf Creek, Windsor Pointe, Villas of Estancia, The Overlook, The Reserve at Point Meadows, Point Meadow Place, Mirabella, and Il Villagio may be for you.

If you want an upscale, luxury condo with waterfront amenities then Marina San Pablo, Mira Vista at Harbortown, VillaRiva, and Cove St Johns may be communities that you would consider.  If an urban setting is attractive, Berkman Plaza, Downtown Condo, San Marco Place, The Peninsula and Shipyards will be added to the  condo communities in Jacksonville Fl being considered even though most of them are located in downtown Jacksonville.

As with any issue, there are pros and cons to owning a condo. Some homeowners feel like they are giving up some of their privacy when they live in a condo. Other homeowners may be limited by the rules of the condo association. For homeowners who want to rent out their homes, they need to consider whether this is allowed.  

Condo living may be the perfect type of residence for you. Consider the pros and cons; and if condo living is the right choice, please call James Angelo today so we can explore the wonderful Jacksonville Fl condo real estate market.