A lot goes into finding the perfect home.
This is especially true if you're looking for condos, as dozens of variables can be at play.
While you may have most of them under control, don't forget one of the most important ones: the condo association.
You'll find this can make or break your future happiness with this property.
The Condo Association While it differs all over, the basic premise of a condo association is that the group is made up of condo owners who all meet to decide and discuss rules to live by.
They also go over certain decisions that need to be made about the properties, in general.
Essentially, they're a democratically-elected governing body whose goal is to look out for their property values.
This group can either be your best friend or your worst enemy, so it's important to know what you're getting into to ensure they're the former.
Speak with the President and Other Members As soon as possible, speak with the president of the condo association as well as other key members.
For some of you, this won't be hard.
They'll actually want to meet with you prior to letting you sign papers to live nearby.
Either way, make it a priority and get a feel for the people in charge.
Just because you don't like one of them doesn't make it an automatic bust.
As a president or high ranking official, you may not actually see them on a regular basis or really have to deal with them one-on-one.
But you'll need to decipher this for yourself.
Look Into the Minutes Do your best to get a copy of the condo association's meetings' minutes.
This is a record of all their meetings, both what was on the agenda, what was discussed and what was decided.
Their meeting minutes will give you a far better idea of what the condo association is really like than any meet and greet.
From these minutes, you should get an idea of whether or not you'd fit in and/or like living there.
Ask for a Copy of the Rules Every condo association sets rules for owners to live by.
So even though you own your own condo, there are still rules you need to follow that the condo association believes lead to more harmonious living.
You'll definitely want a copy of these long before you ever sign to purchase a condo.
Some of the rules may be harmless enough.
Many may even be common sense things like keeping the noise down and cleaning up after your animals.
However, others might affect modifications you can make to your condo and even how many people you can have over at once.
So get a copy and go through them first to ensure you won't have any immediate issues with their laws.
Buying a condo is always an exciting adventure, but it's one you need to take your time with if you're going to do it right.
One important factor to think about is the condo association as they can easily be an issue or a benefit.