# Condo in a good neighborhood or house in bad one? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 13, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885 "2016-09-13T21:31:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/1 "2016-09-13T21:31:00Z")
So I’m tired of renting and I want to buy a place. I’ve always wanted a house (and the yard and freedom that come with it), and never really considered a condo, which I always considered to be pretty much equivalent to apartments. I am currently renting a second-floor condo and I hate it. Constant noise, my upstairs neighbor is apparently bowling in their unit, can’t have a dog, etc. Unfortunately, as a single borrower in a very expensive market, my choice boils down to a condo in a really safe, nice neighborhood/town, with excellent schools (I don’t have any kids but it helps property values), or a house in a…shall we say, up-and-coming neighborhood with a dumpster-fire school system. I mean, it’s not like The Wire, but somebody was just robbed at gunpoint the other day about 3-4 blocks from that particular house I’m looking at. Property values are rising fast there, though, so I’m thinking maybe the area will improve? I know people always say that you can’t change your home’s location, but gentrification can change your location, right? What would you do if you were me? I can only even afford a cheap condo in the nice town, so “buy the crappiest house in the nice neighborhood” is not an option. I can literally afford zero SFHs there. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/2 "2016-09-13T21:43:57Z")
My vote is personal safety over single family home. Get the condo in the nice neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/3 "2016-09-13T21:45:23Z")
You hate living in a muti-family unit, so why would you lock yourself into a 30-year mortgage to live in a different multi-family unit? Not the advice you’re looking for, but I’d say stay put and keep your eyes open for a better deal. And remember, you’re going to have to continue to spend money on a house. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/4 "2016-09-13T21:49:33Z")
Definitely the condo. The surroundings more than make up for any lack of house-ness about it. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/5 "2016-09-13T21:52:55Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > You hate living in a muti-family unit, so why would you lock yourself into a 30-year mortgage to live in a different multi-family unit? I’m afraid that if housing prices continue to outpace my salary at the astronomical rate they have been over the last few years, that I’ll be priced out of the market entirely. If I bought in now I could maybe have some equity to help buy my next one. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/6 "2016-09-13T22:00:58Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > I’m afraid that if housing prices continue to outpace my salary at the astronomical rate they have been over the last few years, that I’ll be priced out of the market entirely. If I bought in now I could maybe have some equity to help buy my next one. That’s a pretty good indication that you’re in a bubble. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/7 "2016-09-13T22:04:05Z")
If you really want a yard, you might want to consider a town home instead of a condo. Town homes are typically right against each other, but you have a small front and back yard. It’s 1/2 way between a house and a condo. You should not buy a house in a bad neighborhood as your first house. There are so many ways that can go bad. Not only because of the real estate market, but likely the house would not be in tip-top shape. The prior owners probably didn’t keep up with all the regular maintenance. If you’re not an experienced homeowner, you won’t know how to spot problems, such as drainage, roof issues, plumbing, heating/cooling problems, etc. And you won’t know how to fix all the problems it has, which means you’ll spend a lot on hiring people to fix it. After you’ve owned houses for a while, then you can buy a house in a depressed area. You’ll know how to spot the gems and how to make a lot of the simple repairs yourself. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/8 "2016-09-13T22:19:31Z")
Why not move to a different city? Is your occupation that specialized that you can only find a job in your current area? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/9 "2016-09-13T22:24:29Z")
A few months after I bought a house, a dead body was found in a neighbor’s front yard and another person was shot and killed just a half mile away. All on the same weekend. But my neighborhood is safe enough for me. I mean, I live in the friggin’ city, so of course there’s going to be some randomness. But I LOVE my house. I love that I live so close to work. I love that I can jump on the bus if I don’t feel like walking or driving. I didn’t choose the house based on the property values, but rather on whether the neighborhood suited my personality. So I think location is real important, but not all “good” neighborhoods are the same. Lots of people move out to the suburbs for safety reasons, but then realize they miss having sidewalks or trees-lined streets, buses that run regularly, and neighbors who mind their own business. I don’t mind passing by a few sketchy characters every so often as long as I can still maintain an easy commute. You may be the complete opposite. “Good” should be based on what appeals to you, not based on rising property values. Cuz what appeals to families doesn’t always appeal to single people. Just remember that neighborhoods can have high property values and still be rife with crime. Anyone who lives in the Fan in Richmond, VA knows this very well. “Everyone wants to live there” does not necessarily translate into safety. A condo would be a good bet as far as safety goes, but then there are other headaches you have to deal with (like the upstairs neighbors break-dancing at two o’clock in the morning.) ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/10 "2016-09-13T22:31:51Z")
I think you need to give a lot more thought to why you want a house. You say “a yard and freedom”, but will you be getting either of those with the two options you’re considering? If it’s for financial reasons, or because you want to have equity, you should check out a rent vs. buy calculator to make sure owning is a good choice for you. A lot of financial experts have changed their opinion on “owning is always better,” and many now recommend renting for people in a wide range of circumstances. The one thing I would say for sure is that you should not buy a house in a bad neighborhood in the hope that the neighborhood will get better. There are just too many uncertainties and variables to make that a sensible choice. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/11 "2016-09-13T22:46:13Z")
> [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](#): > > That’s a pretty good indication that you’re in a bubble. I’m in the SF Bay Area, so…maybe? People seem split. There is a LOT of money in this region and home inventory is miniscule. There are so many headwinds against new construction projects here. > [@filmore](#): > > If you’re not an experienced homeowner, you won’t know how to spot problems, such as drainage, roof issues, plumbing, heating/cooling problems, etc. And you won’t know how to fix all the problems it has, which means you’ll spend a lot on hiring people to fix it. Don’t the condo association fees/assessments make this a wash, at least from a financial perspective? > [@PastTense](#): > > Why not move to a different city? Is your occupation that specialized that you can only find a job in your current area? I’m moving into fintech, so a little bit specialized. I like it well enough here and I’m just tired of moving around and want some stability. I’m 35 and I’ve never even had a dog. > [@monstro](#): > > A few months after I bought a house, a dead body was found in a neighbor’s front yard and another person was shot and killed just a half mile away. All on the same weekend. A half mile is not too bad! ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/12 "2016-09-13T22:52:32Z")
I like the freedom, or chains of a house. Good neighborhood, bad neighborhood, meh. The neighbors are more important. What are they like? ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/13 "2016-09-13T22:52:53Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > If it’s for financial reasons, or because you want to have equity, you should check out a rent vs. buy calculator to make sure owning is a good choice for you. I plugged all the pertinent info into: [http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/upshot/buy-rent-calculator.html](http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/upshot/buy-rent-calculator.html) It said buying is better if you can rent a home for less than $1,336 per month, assuming I stay at least 9 years. And there is nothing in the Bay Area that is $1,336 per month. Renting beats buying if I stay in the house 3 years or less. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/14 "2016-09-13T22:59:37Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > The neighbors are more important. What are they like? It looked like a mix of yuppies and the guys from Duck Dynasty. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/15 "2016-09-13T23:02:16Z")
I second the town home option. Generally in the price range of a condo, no one lives above or below you, and they’re typically in nicer areas. What’s not to like? Buying a house in a bad area is just not a good idea, and you’re already complaining about the people who live above you so why in the world would you want to buy a condo? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/16 "2016-09-13T23:05:42Z")
Also, with a town home, generally, you have the option of a small back yard. I guess downsides with a town home are the HOA fees and corresponding rules. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/17 "2016-09-13T23:25:41Z")
We live in a townhouse in the Bay Area, and although I would LOVE a yard, it’s a pretty damn nice place to live. We do have two small patios front and rear, and large amounts of trees and greenspace between the homes, all taken care of by the HOA. The HOA is actually reasonable, although I’ve heard horror stories - a friend (who lives elsewhere) even got herself elected onto the board of their HOA to be the voice of reason, and has made great strides. Even though we share walls with two neighbors, I almost never hear them. Most of our neighbors are 9-5 professionals, some with young kids, or retirees. Everyone seems to respect the peace and quiet, which isn’t the case just a few blocks away… think people yelling, cars revving unnecessarily, loud music at all hours. No thanks. Even if you had a detatched house and yard, Bay Area yards are small enough that I bet you’d still be putting up with a lot. I also have a plot at the local community garden, which is biking distance away. This helps me live without a yard, and I’ve met some neat people from all over the world. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/18 "2016-09-13T23:44:47Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > We live in a townhouse in the Bay Area, and although I would LOVE a yard, it’s a pretty damn nice place to live. We do have two small patios front and rear, and large amounts of trees and greenspace between the homes, all taken care of by the HOA. The HOA is actually reasonable, although I’ve heard horror stories - a friend (who lives elsewhere) even got herself elected onto the board of their HOA to be the voice of reason, and has made great strides. My younger brother was elected President of his HOA. I wouldn’t live in a neighborhood my brother had sway over if you paid me. He is a bloody tyrant and the deference he is given by residents is disgusting. You can get things done without being a dick, believe it or not. My brother hasn’t learned this and, at this point, it is doubtful he will. Sorry. Rant over. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/19 "2016-09-14T00:21:41Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > We live in a townhouse in the Bay Area, and although I would LOVE a yard, it’s a pretty damn nice place to live. That is nice, those are hard to find. Almost all the condos in the burbs are these…I don’t know what you call them. Like two-story buildings with carports underneath them. I never saw anything like them when I lived back East. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885/20 "2016-09-14T01:27:20Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > That is nice, those are hard to find. Almost all the condos in the burbs are these…I don’t know what you call them. Like two-story buildings with carports underneath them. I never saw anything like them when I lived back East. Town homes have one-car garages on the East coast, not car ports, perhaps that is why you didn’t recognize them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condo-in-a-good-neighborhood-or-house-in-bad-one/765885.md?page=2)