What does condo living look like in real life?

[knohrhyn04]

Condos everywhere! Beautiful, clean, impecabble design. Especially that of model units. But Im super curious what does it look like when people actually live in it? How about those young families with kids? Condo dwellers, give us an idea or sneek peak how it is. We might move into one soon and Im trying to gather all ideas/visuals I can get. Thanks!

[rasee16]

^well it depends on the condo that you got. Who was the developer? Who were the target market when they were selling it? What is the building density? How good is the property management in implementing condo rules?

As for me, I am happy with it so far. Security, amenities, property management, are all satisfactory. There are a few concerns with undisciplined neighbors, but nothing too serious though.

[barbillie]

For me, pros on condo-living:
- security, amenities
- minimal living (less space, less gamit needed)
- prime location (near sa malls, transpo hubs etc.)

What I miss:
- I cannot do gardening.
- I have issues where to hang my laundry.
- Bumabagyo na, di ko pa alam na umuulan pala.
- Di kami makapag-house party kasi maliit lang yung space.

We have no kids yet, but if I were to choose, I'd like to raise my kid in a community. Bahay talaga, where children can play outside and enjoy the sun and make friends with neighbors.

[winkar22]

Nice thread!

I haven't tried living in a condo but one of my worries is noise from the neighbors. My brother rented before and he said that you can really hear the noise from the other room (talking, TV, radio, etc).

What I look forward to is the amenities, security and accessibility to my workplace. I look forward to reading more inputs here before we decide to buy a unit. 

[ishopnowfeelguiltylater]

cons
we cannot buy new things without first throwing something out.
nakakaburyo sa loob kasi really there is not much you can do
our condo is far from malls, hospitals, schools, etc. kaya mura. at malayo din sa mga CBDs.
hindi sound proof ang walls, malas na lang kung maingay talaga ang katabi.
some do not install rangehood, amoy through air well yung niluluto nila. or i don't know, feeling ko kahit may rangehood, may amoy pa rin sensitive lang talaga ako.

pros
tahimik, probinsya feels
pero since mura for a 30sqm unit, starting families talaga halos lahat. so madaming kids, madaming kalaro ang anak ko.
secured, lagi namin naiiwan bukas ang pinto, minsan nga nakasaksak pa ang susi hahaha

we're a couple, one yaya, and a toddler, i can't imagine kung may other kid pa kami, sobrang sikip na siguro.

[syana]

pros:
1. malapit sa work so di problem ang traffic. nilalakad lang ni hubby going to office so tipid sya sa transpo
2. dahil malapit sa office, ok lang gumising ng late sa umaga compared kung nasa cavite kami, 4:30 pa lang bangon na
3. malapit sa malls, may grocery at mga kainan sa baba
4. maganda amenities

cons:
1. masikip
2. di masyadong makapagluto kasi kahit may rangehood, nangagamoy pa din
3. additional expense pa laundry kasi walang masampayan sa loob
4. pag may mga ipapagawa sa condo (i.e. repairs, installation), kailangan magleave pa sa work kasi weekdays at 8 am-5 pm lang  ang allowed time
5. di makapag garden

so far, we're happy naman sa condo kasi we only stay there during weekdays...

[Rory_Lorelie_Gilmore]

Tried living in Condos whenever I go home for my annual vacation (I'm based abroad), yes comfortable in a sense na 24 hrs airconditioned ka if you want to, tahimik, malinis, superb amenities, 24/7 security pero can't see myself buying a unit and living there ng matagalan, unless penthouse suite ibang usapan na yun haha. Or magstay lang talaga for a limited period of time, students ganyan or working in the CBD for XX years lang. 

I felt confined, ang liit maski gano pa kalaki unit na we rent, wala magalawan or makilusan halos, parang di ka papawisan ng normal unless mag work out ka, nakakataba haha puro labas din ending namin kasi bored na din wala ka marinig na kapitbahay, walang iba gagawin kunde manuod TV, magphone, we can't even bring our friends masyado since masikip. Usually pag nagluto ka amoy na amoy na sa buong bahay, kung isda or bagoong, good luck sayo maski buksan mo pa bintana or terrace mo. Walang marinig na mga bata and dogs barking, or magtataho sa umaga haha, felt, really really weird.

[yonamarie]

I don't live in a condo, but I have cousin's who does.
I guess, living in a condo na malapit sa work yung is really the main reason why.
plus, you get to use other facilities (ex. gyms, swimming pool etc.)
Pero when you have a big family, masikip. Ang hirap maglagay ng gamit and parking is exclusive for homeowners lang.

There are times na, my cousins will throw a party, di kami makapagdala ng car because of parking. At since, malapit sa mall yung place nila. Kapag payday (even regular days) super traffic.

Conclusion: It is good for a starting family plus maganda din na investment in the future.

[khriseeee]

Pros
24-hour maintenance staff available to fix any minor repair
24-hour security
Walking distance to mall, grocery and drugstore
Fortunately we live in an older condo, so only 6 units to a floor. Unit next to us is empty, only used for guests of owners, other is a business, so quiet after office hours and weekends.
Doesn't get as hot

Cons
Limitations on when renovation/work can be done
Limitations on delivery and removal of furniture
Smaller space for laundry drying
Not much storage space
Association dues can be a big chunk of your budget
For some reason our electricity and water rates are more expensive than residential
Takes FOREVER to get neighbors to repair what they damaged (for us, water leak damaged our ceiling and it's been years already but neighbor has not repaired it yet)

[hisana]

Fortunately we live in an older condo, so only 6 units to a floor. Unit next to us is empty, only used for guests of owners, other is a business, so quiet after office hours and weekends.

Oh my, this is so ideal. Swerte!

[shinies]

Try niyo magstay sa condo para mafeel niyo kung para sa inyo ito. Siguro mga isa o dalawang linggo? Para kasali yung paglaba haha. Yung mga DMCI, may mga AirBNB sila.



Depende kasi talaga sa tao yan eh. Kung ikaw yung tipong tao na kailangan ng espasyo, hangin, lupa, etc. di para sayo ang condo..
Pag starting family pa lang, pwede pero pag lumalaki na yung mga bata, lipat na.

Kami sobrang ok kami sa condo  Yung mga cons, hindi dealbreaker para sa amin.
Di namin gusto ng sobrang laking space kasi mahirap din imaintain.
Ok lang sa amin na sakto lang yung gamit at kung ano lang kailangan namin. Minimalistic ba
Gitna yung location namin madali umikot sa Metro Manila tapos may mall sa baba. Importante ito kasi ang traffic lagi
Ok yung building mismo, ok yung nagmamanage, maayos naman mga kapitbahay sa floor namin. Mga pamilya sila.
Gusto ko na may lobby/reception kasi pag wala kami, pwede nila receive mga ipapadala sa amin.

undisciplined neighbors

Importante ito kasi kahit gaano kaganda ng condo mo, mabbwisit ka pa din kung walang manners ang mga kapatibahay mo.
Hindi ito controllado pero sabi ng agent, kung yung mga bumili ng unti ang titira, mas ok.
May papel din yung association kasi kung nireregulate nila yung pagrent ng mga unit, pwede mafilter yung mga ok na kapitbahay..

hear the noise from the other room (talking, TV, radio, etc).

Ibig mo ba sabihin from other unit? Yung mga ganyan naririnig ko galing sa mga SMDC kasi tipid yun sa materyales.

Ito yung unang tinignan ng mister ko. Kinatok katok ang mga dingding kasi nga maingay kung manipis lang pagitan ng mga unit.
Hindi namin marinig yung kabilang unit at hindi rin nila kami marinig

Yung sa corridor lang maririnig kasi may siwang yung pinto pero saglit lang kasi dumadaan lang naman mga kapitbahay dun. Paminsan minsan lang may mga batang naglalaro pero sinusuway din naman sila ng mga yaya/magulang nila.

we cannot buy new things without first throwing something out.

Oo hehe o kaya yung pagiisipan mo kung kakasya ba sa balak mo paglagyan

nakakaburyo sa loob kasi really there is not much you can do

Kulang ba sa amenities? O dahil sa espasyo ng unit?

some do not install rangehood, amoy through air well yung niluluto nila. or i don't know, feeling ko kahit may rangehood, may amoy pa rin sensitive lang talaga ako.

Dapat kasama na rangehood sa unit eh.. Kahit na meron at kahit na max na, hindi siya sapat. Tapos parang may mga oil napupunta sa mga gamit.
Di ko sigurado kung kailangan tipong high-powered rangehood para walang ganito?

[hisana]

Try niyo magstay sa condo para mafeel niyo kung para sa inyo ito. Siguro mga isa o dalawang linggo? Para kasali yung paglaba haha.

This is a great suggestion for you, TS.  Actually kami nga we had to rent it out for a year pa, noon kasi no AirBNB pa di ba.  Better check it out yourself kung okay ba sayo yung target condo mo, yung unit kung matino naman ba, anong impression mo sa mga residents, yung admin, the noise level, the surrounding areas nung condo, etc. Do not be fooled by the trendy and inviting lobby and pool areas, LOL. Not all condos are alike obviously and you have the luxury of choice, so choose wisely.

[drag0nfly]

Pros:

- Round-the-clock security
- Accessibility to commercial centers
- Usually may convenience stores and other services sa baba ng building

Cons:
- Assoc fees
- Parking fees
- Hindi agad-agad makababa kung madaming floors and limited ang elevators.
- Minsan gusto mo din ng sariwang hangin and actual space/ground to move around in.

We're actually considering moving back to a condo next year kasi aalis na yung ate kasambahay namin and I told my husband I cannot keep our house as neat and orderly as ate bilang busy ako sa day job and I don't want to get another maid na tuturuan ko pa all over again.  So next best option is to buy a condo unit big enough for the two of us.  Kaso yung mga nakikita namin online masyadong maliit tapos ang mamahal.  May alam ba kayong old condos na okay ang price?  I think old condos are usually bigger than the modern ones sold today.  Di importante samen ang mga snazzy amenities.  Mas importante space and fewer units per floor, preferably low-rise buildings.

[omneecka]

^where is your preferred area sis?

😊

[winkar22]

^ I suggest DMCI condos. Their minimum is at 50sqm. Mostly mid rise din. We bought one at Maricielo Villas in Las Pinas. Its not new as well pero we chose it since sya yung pinakamalapit from both our work areas.

[drag0nfly]

@omneecka - QC area, sis.  Pwede San Juan, Cubao or Katipunan, naglalaro sa boundaries nyan.

@winkar22 - Thanks for the tip.  Check out ko DMCI.

[kaythrielle]

My family and i rented a condo unit for 10days thru Airbnb. It's one of the DMCI condos at Acacia estates (yung sa dulo)

-need ng car because it is not easily accessible.

-space is ok na din for 4. (2 adults & 2 kids). More than that masikip.

-kitchen is so tiny isa lang ang kasya. Pwede 2 like 1 nagluluto, 1 sa lababo, pero wala ng personal space. Lol

-may amenities like swimming pool at gym, malapit lang grocery.

[omneecka]

^^@ sis dragonfly - sa Pasig East sana suggestion ko sis, dun kasi madaming low rise condos like from dmci and filinvest.

😊

[drag0nfly]

^Check out ko yan, sis.  Salamat!

[bea31]

Pwede bang masama sa cons yong 50years lang ang condo tapos idedemolish na? So hindi siya lifetime and parang sayang yong pera mo na binayad don? Thinking of getting one kasi ang layo ng cavite for a house and lot. Any inputs? Tia.