Posts for Syndication

The warming days of spring are the perfect time to bring some light and air into your home. Whether you are planning to sell your home now or sometime in the future, having clean bright windows gives a home a whole new look and transform a dull interior into a bright living space. Take the time to get yourself a few good tools and you can make window washing a breeze. Clean your windows when the sun is not shining directly on them since the sun will heat the glass causing your soap’s suds to dry too quickly and streak. So if you have a lot of windows that might take you most of the day, start on the South and West sides and move to the North and East as the day progresses, or choose an overcast day. And if you wish to have replacement windows, then make sure to contact your local window dealers for home window replacement services.

Find a Soft-Bristled Brush

Throughout the winter, windows collect grime and stains from the weather, masonry run-off, fingerprints and even the dog’s inquisitive nose. Instead of wearing yourself out rubbing those stubborn spots with a sponge or rag, get a brush on a telescoping pole so that the tops of the windows are within easy reach.

A Bucket of Soapy Water

For the first step, you’ll want to use warm, soapy water with a detergent that dissolves grease and stains. A good dishwashing liquid will work, but choose one with fewer suds. Remove your window screens to protect them and give you access to your windows. Fill your soft-bristled brush with soapy water and gently rub the glass and frame to loosen debris, grime and stains. For hard-to-remove stains, use a stainless steel scrubbing pad to rub the stain without scratching the glass.

Hose with Sprayer Nozzle to Rinse

You can use a garden hose with a good spray nozzle on the end to rinse the loosened grime and soapy water from your windows. Be careful not to set the spray jet too strong since you might loosen the seals around your window.

Get a Good Squeegee

There’s a reason professional window cleaners use squeegees. If you have picture windows or large single-pane windows, you’ll want a larger squeegee. If your windows have multiple panes, you’ll need a squeegee the size of the smallest pane. Clear water and remaining soap from large windows by dragging your squeegee from the top left or right of your windowpane in an “S” or reverse “S” from top to bottom of your window. After every sweep of the squeegee, wipe the rubber blade with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Natural Chamois or Synthetic?

Professionals use a chamois to wipe off that last bit of water and polish out any remaining streaks. A natural chamois is made of soft sheep leather and has both drying and polishing properties. If a natural chamois is out of your price range, many synthetic chamois or drying clothes will work just fine. Use the chamois on the glass, but dry the sill with a soft cloth.

Clean Your Window Screens Too

While your screens are off the windows, they are easy to clean. Using your warm soapy water and your bristle brush (remove the pole), gently brush screens from both sides. To rinse, spray with water using a medium-strength nozzle and allow to air dry before putting them back up.

Now that your windows are shiny and bright, give us a call and we’ll help you determine your home’s fair market value and get you on the road to a sale.

Sometimes selling a home can feel like a big job – one with a thousand small tasks required to get it done. But many sellers make the job harder by ignoring or avoiding some of the biggest factors that contribute to a faster sale. Use this list to see if your house is truly ready for that “sold” sign.

1) Price is paramount.

With the housing market climbing out of its slump, many sellers are banking on higher sale prices. Just make sure you don’t reach too far when pricing your home, and rely on a good agent to help you find the “sweet spot” for your listing. Go too high and you’ll risk slowing down buyer traffic. And once your home has sat on the market for a long time, buyers automatically become suspicious. Even though your home might look great, buyers will notice the listing’s “time on the market” and naturally wonder “What’s wrong with it?”

2) Tour your home like a buyer.

Thousands of sellers make the mistake of looking around their home with the eyes of someone who knows it well and loves it dearly. But buyers won’t see it that way. So walk through your home as if you’re seeing it for the first time, taking note of everything that might give you pause as a skittish buyer. Never assume that a potential buyer will be able to overlook what you perceive as small flaws in the house.

Stage your home with the help of a professional stager (or a friend who’s great at interior design and organization) to create positive word-of-mouth with Realtors. While you’re staging the house, put away all or most of your family photos and other trinkets that make it “yours.” Your goal is to make it look like a model home so buyers can envision themselves living there. Don’t wait until an Open House is scheduled for your property to do repairs, staging, cleaning such as stone cleaning, and de-personalizing. Do it before your house ever gets listed online. As Realtor.com President Error Samuelson said, “Web appeal is the new curb appeal.” According to a study done by Trulia.com, homes with six photos posted online are twice as likely to be viewed by buyers as homes with fewer than six.

3) Let them in!

Nothing is more frustrating for an agent than a seller who doesn’t want to let potential buyers in to see it. Yes, last-minute requests for showings are a hassle. Yes, it’s a real pain to keep the house clean all the time. Yes, it’s tough to do showings when you have babies or toddlers at home. But the homes that sell fastest are the ones people are able to see quickly and easily. If you have lots of requirements for showings or long wait times, agents are likely to skip your house and go on to the next.

4) Be social.

We live in an increasingly social world, so take advantage of connections by inviting your neighbors to tour your house. It’ll encourage them to spread the word to friends who may be looking for a house in the area. And ask your Facebook friends to help out by sharing a great photo of the house you’ve posted on their timelines. Some sellers even create video “love letters” to their homes and post them on YouTube to endear the home to potential buyers.

With the right price, the right look, accessibility and social connections, you’re well on your way to the “sold” sign you’re working toward.

With many older neighborhoods experiencing revitalization and renovation with the help of a home remodeling contractor, an older home might be a smart investment. So, whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to flip a house for cash, an older home in an established neighborhood might be perfect for you. Here are some things to think about when comparing an older home to a new house.

Location, Location, Location

Urban neighborhoods with older homes often provide easier access to public transportation and easy access to shopping, schools, places of worship and local businesses. Most older neighborhoods have sidewalks, mature trees, and loads of character and charm. Some even have rear alleys, which allow moving driveway and garage access to the rear, and making front yards, sidewalks and boulevards safer for children. New construction tends to be further from shopping and downtown workplaces, and often cannot access buses or trains.

Taxes

There are two types of tax savings you might find in an older neighborhood. The first is a tax beak or tax abatement. Sometimes a municipality uses tax breaks and abatements as an incentive to buyers to move in help revitalize an older neighborhood where empty houses and vacant lots can lead to crime and blight.

Another tax break is freedom from new-construction taxes imposed on new developments to pay for infrastructure such as water and sewer lines, roads and drainage and schools along with other municipal costs.

Property taxes on older homes may seem higher upon first perusal, but taxes on older homes have less chance of massive increases than a newly constructed home. Typically, you pay property taxes in arrears, so you pay on the property assessment from the previous year. Unless you make massive changes to the property such as adding an addition or a second story, your tax rate should remain relatively stable year to year, only rising with a new levy. In new construction, the first year’s taxes may be based on undeveloped land, but at the second year, the full taxation for the house and developed property will kick in and could raise taxes four-fold or more.

Ambiance

Many older homes have the charm of certain eras of construction: Craftsman, Cape Cod, Colonial, Victorian, Tudor or Cottage-style homes often populate very old neighborhoods, while other neighborhoods may sport traditional ranch homes, or “contemporary” styles built in the 1950s through 1970s. If these styles appeal to your personal esthetic, you’ll find an older neighborhood may suit you well. Older homes, ranch-style homes in particular, lend themselves well to additions and upgrades. Check out these ranch remodel photos. In addition, you may find several of these styles all in the same neighborhood, offering a unique eclectic vibe.

New construction, conversely, typically adopts one style (French Country, brick traditional, etc.) with variations on the same theme. While this give a new neighborhood continuity, it doesn’t offer much individuality.

So, if an older neighborhood appeals to you, we can help you find just the right one for you. Give us a call and we’ll get started.

With all of the tools available online and off for finding your new home, you can spend lots of time thinking about the type of house you want, planning how many bedrooms, what type of flooring, what appliances come with the kitchen, and if it has a fireplace. But… before you get that far, perhaps you should stop and consider the neighborhood you want to live in first. You can find the perfect house, but if it is in the wrong neighborhood, it can be like a badly fitting shoe: very stylish, great to look at, but so uncomfortable you rarely want to wear it.

Figure Out What You Want

Start by making a list. In the first section, write down what is important to you now about where you live. If you are single, it might mean access to activities, nightlife, colleges or universities. Determine how long of a commute you prefer, if public transportation is necessary, or if parking is important. For many people, living in the perfect home in the perfect neighborhood means a longer commute, or extra expenses for a vehicle and parking. It may be worth it to you, but make sure you actually consider its impact on your lifestyle.

Do you care if your home is in a walkable area? Check out a potential neighborhood’s walkability. If you prefer easy access to shopping, that eclectic coffee shop or local eateries and other amenities, don’t fall in love with a house in a neighborhood that requires driving to everywhere. You’ll love the house, but won’t spend much time there. On the other hand, if you like a quiet, rural setting away from the noise and bustle of the city, that beautiful old Victorian might not work for you. Older homes tend to be nearer to the center of the city with its accompanying sounds, traffic and narrow streets.

Determine What You Don’t Want

Along with what you desire in your neighborhood, make sure to determine what you won’t or can’t live with. So check out crime statistics, sex offender registries, and search on “noise pollution” and your city’s name to see if your potential neighborhood has noise levels rated. If you work from home and need quiet, make sure to check out potential neighborhoods for daytime noise. If you need quiet to sleep, make sure there are no factories with night shifts, or all-night clubs in earshot.

Plan For the Future

A home purchase isn’t just about what you want today, it is about what you want tomorrow and next month and next year. Living out in the country or on a hillside is great in the summer, but do you want to plow snow from your half-mile long driveway to get to work in the winter? Choosing a hip urban neighborhood is great for today, but what if you have a baby in a year or two? Will late-night music drifting from the local hot spot keep her up all night? Most importantly, you should also be checking the crime statistics of the area you are going to transfer to. Ask yourself if you need to install cctv cameras, security system installation, or security gates for your family’s safety and protection.

Talk to a Professional

We’re here to help you through all these details, so talk to us before you fall in love with that ill-fitting shoe. We’ll show you how to find the one that fits perfectly.

Sometimes the idea of getting your home ready to sell can seem daunting, and you might be tempted to sell it “as is” instead. Adding a little curb appeal, however, will help your home sell faster and for more money. There are many improvements that add that visible first impression value without taking weeks of labor, or breaking the bank.

We can discuss specific ideas with you when we inspect your home, but here are some ideas to freshen up your home’s exterior that you can complete on your own for less than a hundred dollars, on a weekend:

Start With the Front Door

Whatever your tradition, a bright, freshly painted front door gives a sense of welcome and vitality to your home. So, make sure your front door is clear of grime and clutter, and give it a fresh coat of a deeply hued paint that blends or contrasts with the rest of the exterior. If you have time, refresh the paint on the shutters as well. Even vinyl doors and shutters accept the correct paint, so check with your local DIY store for advice on the best paint for your door and shutters. Be sure to clean the paint off the doorknobs, knockers and hinges.

House Numbers

Buyers often drive through neighborhoods that interest them, looking for the perfect opportunity. New, bright, clearly readable house numbers can put your home on the map. So, brighten up that brass, repaint the numerals, or replace them with decorative ones available at most hardware stores.

Planters and Flowers

Seasonal flowers in window boxes, pots, container gardens or hanging baskets make an eye-catching addition to any house. Make sure the pots, planters and baskets are in keeping with the house’s architectural elements. Keep an eye on the blooms, and remove any that are past their prime. To simplify upkeep, install a simple drip or micro-irrigation system (available at most DIY stores). According to the EPA, micro-irrigation systems save water and are more efficient than sprinklers.

Exterior Lighting

Clean up or replace an old porch light. Make sure the bulbs in the fixture cast an attractive glow over your entryway. Enhance your evening curb appeal with easy to set up solar LED landscape lighting along the walkway or driveway, or to highlight a particularly beautiful plant or garden statue. Solar LED lights are easy to install, have no wires, don’t use any electricity from the power grid, rarely require maintenance and come in dozens of styles and colors. Properly placed landscape lighting adds dramatic interest to your home. The expert landscape lighting design in Bucks County, PA can help you with your exterior lighting.

Clean Up Your Landscaping

Spend the weekend doing lawn maintenance, removing dead plants and shrubbery, bush and tree trimming, mowing the lawn and removing weeds. A cared-for lawn has automatic attraction for prospective buyers. It gives them the impression that your home is well cared-for and well loved. It might make them want to love it too. If you are planning to change your current landscaping design, then you may consider getting help from an expert in Residential Property Landscape Design Installation.

If you’re considering selling now that the housing market outlook is improving, take a few moments to consider how buyers have changed what they look for in the home buying process. During the past six years, changes in how buyers communicate, share information, research, and decide what they’re looking for, mean that you need to provide them with the information and buying experience they seek. We can guide you in each of these areas because we know the strategies that are working best in your home’s neighborhood.

Today’s younger homebuyers have survived the housing turbulence just as you have. They have watched prices go up and down and up again, foreclosures rise, interest rates drop, rules and requirements from mortgage lenders change, and the availability of information increase. According to USA Today, they are beginning to buy, but they are both smart and cautious. Most of all, they are used to waiting. Research supports the idea that Gen X and Y homebuyers begin investigating as much as a year and a half ahead of when they’re ready to buy. That indicates you won’t find a sense of desperation: instead, you’ll find that they will research, compare and make careful offers. Since we are professionals with inside information on the local market, we can help you navigate the new terrain.

Set the Right Price

A wrong price can derail a home sale, adding days to its time on the market and making it less desirable to savvy buyers. The mistake many sellers make is setting the price too high. Of course, you want to get the most from your home that you can, but if you choose too high a price at first, a potential buyers’ online search criteria might exclude it. Assuming buyers will make a lower offer from which you can negotiate does not take into account the vast amount of data now available to buyers. These days, homebuyers can see what the home originally sold for, what price all the houses in the area most recently sold at, if the home was ever a rental, and a vast amount of information about both the property and the neighborhood.

Conversely, lowballing the price in hopes of a quick sale make turn off many prospective buyers. Their inherent skepticism will make them suspect potential problems that they have neither the time nor inclination to deal with. Since we deal with pricing information all day long, rely on us to help you set the right price to get your home sold.

Pay Attention to Images

Online shoppers make quick decisions based on the images they see. If the photos of your home are blurry, busy, cluttered, or dark, they may pass over them in search of home postings with better, brighter photos. Worse yet is a listing with no photos at all. Gen X and Gen Y homebuyers are skeptical of listings without images. We can guide you in how to prepare your home for a photo shoot. Remember, for many modern buyers, the online images are their version of an open house, so take time to put away personal objects, clean windows to make the inside brighter, and pay attention to curb appeal. When online images don’t satisfy homebuyers, you won’t get them to look further.

Staging Your Home

The information age and reality TV have changed younger buyer’s perceptions of how a home should look. Be sure your home looks it’s best before you put it on the market. You may consider contacting a power washing company for pressure washing services or having tree trimming services with the help of a professional tree service to enhance your curb appeal.

According to Money Smarts, savvy online shoppers may use older images via Google Street View or Bing 3D to check out curb appeal, nearby homes or businesses, and to see if the home shows improvements. Check out the street view yourself by searching on your address in Google or Bing and choosing the various views. If the street view is out of date—such as old fencing or exteriors, overgrown landscaping, or empty lots, make sure your description addresses the improvements and changes.

Put yourself behind the buyer’s computer screen. That is, make sure you know that the buyer is seeing before you put your property on the market. Remember that younger buyers’ caution means they arm themselves with information before they make an offer. We can help you address any issues relating to how your home shows up in searches, images, and other online locations, so give us a call and we can get started.

If you’ve lived in your home for some time, you notice when the neighborhood around you is changing to a younger demographic. Thinking this might be a good time to sell, you wonder what was so appealing about the house down the street to the young couple that just moved in.

The first thing you need to understand is that trying to put Gen Y’s—or so called “Millennials”—into a box may only lead to frustration when trying to sell your home. According to Forbes, the millennial generation, those born between 1980 and 2000, accounts for 4 in 10 of the US population. So before you run to the local DIY or call a contractor, talk to us first. We can help you determine the most important changes, upgrades or improvements to put your home on the Gen Y radar. Using recent comparables in your neighborhood, we can show you how your home stacks up, and recommend the appropriate fixes.

Functional Spaces

The most important prized priority in a home is functionality. Informality rules the day and a flexible layout strikes a positive chord with millennials that want room for a home theatre, game space, and home office rather than a formal living or dining room. So, even if you have formal spaces in your home, staging them so that a Gen Y buyer can see dual or multi-purpose can add appeal. They may not otherwise visualize an office in the corner of the dining room opposite a game table if your formal dining suite completely fills the space. Add shelving and a small desk area to a corner of the living or dining room, or even in a kitchen nook.

Entertainment Space

The second item a younger buyer looks for is entertainment space. For some, a patio with a hot tub and barbeque pit fills the bill, while others prize an open kitchen with room for guests to socialize over food preparation. Stage your kitchen with a mobile island and stools, if they’ll fit.

Bright Hues

Generation Y tends to lean toward brighter colors and signature pieces of art. If your home already has color, just refresh it with a new coat of paint. Conversely, if your home is mostly white, consider changing up the color to a warmer hue like these, or adding bright pops of color with pillows, strategically placed flowers, a bowl of apples or pomegranates.

Retro-Style

Many millennials are drawn to older styles in homes, decor and even vehicles. Many have adopted decor from the 60s and 70s in to their homes, and some even draw inspiration from the 50s. If your home is older and has original craftsmanship, detailing, or fixtures, don’t be afraid to highlight those when describing your home’s features. In fact, if you have covered over some of those architectural details, now might be the time to revisit that decision and bring them back out in the open.

Low Maintenance Exteriors

When thinking about changes to the exterior of your home, consider reducing the amount of upkeep required. This generation is all about the experience of life, so while they may want to put in their own vegetable garden, they usually don’t want to have to worry about annually repainting the house. If you are thinking of replacing siding, for instance, consider fiber cement siding that mimics wood, brick or stone, but is impervious to termites and fire, doesn’t require painting, and won’t rot. Additionally, make sure not to forget about having roof repairs or roof replacement, you may consider hiring roofing experts for this. And if you want to improve your landscape, you may consider installing landscape lighting and bollard lights. Before making a change, though, talk to us about the best return on your investment, not just its appeal to one group of buyers.

We can help you put your home in the best light to appeal to Generation Y, Generation X and even Boomers, so give us a call and we can talk about what you need to do next to sell you home.

Compliments of Virtual Results

With NCAA Final Four Basketball finals coming up, basketball themed bedrooms, game rooms, theater rooms and garages stoke dreams of future champions. Give a makeover to a space in your house and score big time with March Madness fans and upgrade your home’s real estate value at the same time.

Put in an in-door basketball hoop like this mounted basketball hoop. Hoops come in various sizes and mounting options, so decide if you want your hoop on the wall, over the door, or on its own stand. Freestanding hoops typically adjust for height so your hoop can grow with your child.

Home value tip: An over-the-door hoop can damage the top of the door, so use thicker foam padding under the hoop’s bracket to protect the door. Be sure that the “basketball” is made of non-marking material. That way, you will have less repainting to do if you place your home on the real estate market.

If you are looking at a media or game room makeover, consider all the age groups that will use the room. Place your basketball hoop as far opposite of your television screen as possible. Your makeover will not seem as fun if a stray ball or elbow damages your big screen. If you do not have a media room, or separate room for a basketball retreat, I can help you find a home for sale that better meets your needs.

Home value tip: Adding a fully automated media room may not add value to a smaller home, especially if it takes away from essential living space. According to an article in Investopedia by former real estate agent and award-winning author Jean Folger, while luxury home buyers in certain areas and age groups look for the addition of IT and AV technologies when searching for a home, others homebuyers will not consider paying more for specialized spaces over more generic living space. I can help you decide if a home theatre is the best remodel option for your home when considering your home’s resale value.

Think about replacing carpet with hardwood or wood-look laminate like this home’s indoor court. Add basketball-themed peel-and-stick decals to flooring to make removal and changes simple. That way, when your budding WNBA-star decides to be a ballerina instead, you’re not worried about damaging your new flooring with hard to remove paint.

Home value tip: Hardwood may increase the value of your home, and choosing a sustainable or eco-friendly option may make your home more attractive to a potential home buyer. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America suggests replacing carpeting with hardwood, vinyl, linoleum tile or even slate, since carpeting often is home to dust mites and pollen and other allergens. I can help you find a qualified contractor to install your new flooring and help you determine the best choice of flooring for return on investment when you place your home for sale, so just give me a call.

Your extra garage space might be the optimal location for a basketball makeover. You can see a great example in this garage makeover. A three-car garage space can double as a half-court basketball area, complete with a scoreboard clock, painted-in lines and a larger hoop than you would use inside the house. Garage ceilings often are higher and can accommodate larger hoops, but most still are not high enough for a full-sized hoop at regulation height.

Home value tip: Finishing your garage floor with high-quality epoxy paint, if done right, can add value to your home. I can help you find a qualified professional to refinish your garage floors and help you determine if it will add value to your home.

Outdoor courts continue to be popular with families for the obvious advantages of keeping the noise outside and protecting the home’s interior from damage. Make sure to place your hoop in an area that avoids direct contact with windows and exterior surfaces on your home that are prone to damage—such as metal roofs, garage doors and gutters—and potential health hazards such as fragile asbestos siding. Consider a freestanding basketball hoop and place it far away from exterior surfaces that might sustain damage like the one on this patio or this fenced in one. If your exterior area is full of trees, you can hire a Crane Tree Removal service before you put a court.

Home value tip: If your home has asbestos siding, or you are considering purchasing a home with asbestos siding, I can advise you on regulations and ordinances regarding removing, repairing or covering your siding. A professional contractor with specialized training in asbestos removal is usually the best option, so call me for referrals. Any siding replacement may change the value of your home. According to Remodeling‘s annual Cost vs. Value trends, the siding you choose makes a difference when considering your return on investment (ROI). So contact me and I will help you decide what will increase your home’s value most.

If you are looking for a home for sale to host your March Madness parties, give me a call. I will help you find just the right property for you.

Extended families living in one home are more the norm these days. When looking for a home to share with your older parents, consider that while they may be completely mobile now, in the future they may need assistance to maintain balance, negotiate stairs, utilize a wheelchair or walker, or enter or exit the bath. If you inform your real estate agent and pay attention to these important requirements when house-hunting, you will save yourself costly remodeling in the future:

1. In addition to entry doors, doorways to bedrooms, bathrooms and all family rooms need to be at least 32 inches wide to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs, and 36 inches wide if the chair needs to turn to enter or exit the room. If the door’s maximum opening is 90 degrees (i.e. against a wall), be sure to use the larger door size.
2. At least one external entry door should include a threshold ramp, and be accessible without stairs. Even entryways with shallow steps should be capable of accommodating a wheelchair ramp if the need arises.
3. Hallways should be at least 42 inches wide to accommodate both wheelchairs and walker. Handrails should be on both sides of the hallway, if possible.
4. Look for a home with at least one bedroom on the ground floor. Adding elevators, chair lifts, and stairlifts are also possibilities, but add more expense to your home alterations.
5. Bathroom modifications can be expensive, so first, look for a home with a walk-in shower to simplify the bathing process. If a walk-in shower is not available, consider remodeling one bathroom to include a walk-in bath.
6. The bathroom should accommodate a comfort height or ADA compliant toilet, along with a grab bar (not a towel bar), to insure your family member can sit and stand with ease. Make even a small bathroom handicap accessible with the right remodel.
7. Consider electrical needs of an older relative. Easy access to power outlets for personal and medical devices, and easy to operate light switches are important considerations as well. Extension cords and trailing electrical cords are trip hazards, so the rooms they occupy need plenty of installed outlets at accessible heights. Have an electrician add an outlet above the nightstand, or consider getting a lamp with built-in outlets.
8. Pay attention to faucet, door, and cabinet knobs. Hard to operate knobs on lavatories and bath/shower stalls should be replaced with single handle or touchless options. Replace round doorknobs with lever-style knobs, and change out friction pull cabinet closers for soft-close or magnetic ones.

Property owners may need financial help to remodel or update their homes to accommodate the handicapped and elderly. Grants funded by several government agencies may cover the construction and renovation costs, including labor and administrative expenses. They may cover purchases of equipment and supplies necessary to make your home accessible for your loved one.

Most of all, be sure to inform your professional realtor about your needs from the beginning of your home search. Your real estate agent will focus on homes that consider all your requirements, including meeting the needs of all generations living in the home.

Which is which?

Although all are part of the common-interest housing category, condos, co-ops, townhouses, and apartments may mean different things to different buyers, so here is a breakdown of what each word means and the advantages or disadvantages of one over another for the homebuyer.

First, let’s get the low-down on what makes up the common-interest housing real estate category. Common-interest housing is composed of areas owned individually and areas shared by all owners. The shared or common areas typically include landscaping, pools, parking, and clubhouses, but may also include exteriors, fences, and roofs of certain types of properties. Any community development that has shared property, including individually separate homes in developments with shared playgrounds and pools, falls into this category. Often, a management service or homeowners’ association manages the common areas.

Specifically, a condo—or more properly, a condominium—is a single housing unit within the shared property owned by the homeowner. This may be a unit in a tower building (also called an apartment) or a conjoined house with its own ground floor exterior entry (often called a townhouse, although a townhouse is not always a condominium), a single family home or a mobile home in a planned community. The term “condominium” is a legal term in the United States and so is governed by laws of real estate ownership.

In a condominium-style common-interest development (CID), the homeowner owns the interior space of the property independent of the other units and may buy or sell the real estate property as the sole owner of that specific unit.

A co-op—or cooperative housing development—differs in that “owners” own shares in the corporation that owns the real estate development rather than owning an actual unit. Each shareholder has a vote in the real estate corporation and share ownership authorizes the occupancy of a specific unit. Typically, shareholders pay a “share” of the monthly expenses of the real estate corporation. As with a condominium, cooperatives may be apartment-style units in a single building, townhomes or patio homes, single family homes, or even mobile homes. The legal term “cooperative” refers to the real estate ownership structure rather than the property type.

So, what is an apartment? Or a townhouse?

A townhome is a style of house connected on at least one side of the structure to another house. It may be individually owned real estate or part of a CID. A true townhome will have independent sidewalls even though they may touch the walls of another townhome. That being said, many condominium, cooperative, and rental unit designs mimic townhomes, with individual groundfloor entries, back patios or yards, and even differing faces and rooflines. These units may share a wall or roof, however, as part of a single structure.

An apartment is another matter. In common usage, “apartment” is a rental unit rather than privately owned real estate. The person occupying the unit does not own it, but leases it from the owner of the entire real estate development. But in legal terms, an apartment is a part of a residential structure occupied by one housing unit (family, roommates, etc.). An apartment, regardless if it is a studio apartment or a 2 bedroom luxury apartment, then, can be a rental, but it may also be a condominium unit (homeowner owns the interior space and shares the other spaces) or a cooperative unit (owner owns shares of the entire development equal to the unit being occupied) that can be designed just how to the tenant wants, it is also very recommended that if you plan on moving into an apartment to make sure you have everything you need to live a cozy lifestyle, an example would be apartment window shades, make sure to buy enough necessities for the size of your apartment, if you live in one of the 2 bedroom apartments then you’re going to need twice as many shades, light bulbs and even cleaning supplies that can be used up in no time with all the cleaning being done in all the rooms.

Consult your real estate professional to see which type of CID is the best fit for your circumstances in your local real estate market.