House or apartment?

RubyXI

Hi looking to buy my first property. Personally I like the idea of an apartment but everyone else seems to think I'd be mad to go for an apartment over a house. I know it's a personal choice situation but I'd like to hear opinions of pros and cons of each.

the_syco

Reason why some people say house over apartment:

House: Free car parking space, back garden. May hear the next door neighbour.

Apartment: pay extra per month for car parking space, sometimes as much as the apartment rent itself, small balcony. May hear the people above you below you to the left of you to the right of you, and then some.

djimi

Without knowing much about you its a hard call to make. What age are you? Will you be living alone? Do you have kids? What hobbies do you have (ie do you need to be living somewhere that allows you to make some noise)?

Personally if I was looking to buy then Id only be looking at a house. Apartments are fine for renting, especially when you are younger, but if you are looking to get married and start a family then sooner or later you are going to want more space, so why not look at buying that house now, rather than buying an apartment and possibly having difficulty shifting it/taking a loss on it in 5 years when you need to upsize?

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Apartment pros
- cheaper to buy
- bins paid for
- a lot will have one free parking spot
- lesser heat/light bills

cons
- noisy neighbours (possibly)
- cannot extend property
- no parking for any guests
- no garden

For me personally it's a no brainer, a house all the way. Im living in an apartment at the moment but it's rented and , while its nice for the time being, I wouldn't even consider buying it.

shaunie007

jar_of_coins wrote: »

Apartment pros
- cheaper to buy
- bins paid for
- a lot will have one free parking spot
- lesser heat/light bills

cons
- noisy neighbours (possibly)
- cannot extend property
- no parking for any guests
- no garden

For me personally it's a no brainer, a house all the way. Im living in an apartment at the moment but it's rented and , while its nice for the time being, I wouldn't even consider buying it.

All the above, plus NO UTILITY!!! I genuinely cant believe how import they are. I play a lot of sport so the washing machine is constantly going!! Rent an apartment at the min and the noise drives me nuts when relaxin gin front of the tv!!

djimi

shaunie007 wrote: »

All the above, plus NO UTILITY!!! I genuinely cant believe how import they are. I play a lot of sport so the washing machine is constantly going!! Rent an apartment at the min and the noise drives me nuts when relaxin gin front of the tv!!

Depends on the apartment; my last place had a seperate utility room which was absolutely awesome. It also had a full sized storage room (a room about half the size of a normal box room). In fact, if it wasnt for the fact that it was in a kip of a development with serious antisocial behaviour problems and a management company that quite simply didnt care Id nearly go so far as to say it was the perfect apartment!

pawrick

Depends a lot on what you want - is it a long term commitment where you plan to have kids some day?

Personnally I'd go for a house but only if it stacked up well as a place to live/where you could see yourself having a family if it's a long term purchase.

I'm not against apartments if they fit your needs but you do have more scope to do things in general with a house compared to an apartment.

RubyXI

I am late 20's and currently living on my own in a rented apartment. I do not have any immediate plans for kids but obviously no-one knows whether this could change at some stage. I realise noise is a potential problem but it's possible with a house too. It does worry me that I could find myself stuck with a kid and have to move but you can never really plan for the unexpected.
What's the comment about no utility? Didn't understand that?

peter_dublin

phi3 wrote: »

I am late 20's and currently living on my own in a rented apartment. I do not have any immediate plans for kids but obviously no-one knows whether this could change at some stage. I realise noise is a potential problem but it's possible with a house too. It does worry me that I could find myself stuck with a kid and have to move but you can never really plan for the unexpected.
What's the comment about no utility? Didn't understand that?

He means a utility room with a washing machine and dryer, he most likely has an "open plan" sitting room / kitchen / Dinning room and as such the washing machine is on several feet away when he is trying to relax. In addition with utility room you can drump the washing and forget about it, hard to do when the washing machine is in your kitchen.

killers1

Big issue with apartments apart from space is management fees... You have no control over them and depending on where you are planning on buying they can be quite expensive. Although an apartment may be cheaper than a house to buy initially, 20 yrs of paying €2k per annum amounts to €40k so should definitely be a consideration...

RubyXI

peter_dublin wrote: »

He means a utility room with a washing machine and dryer, he most likely has an "open plan" sitting room / kitchen / Dinning room and as such the washing machine is on several feet away when he is trying to relax. In addition with utility room you can drump the washing and forget about it, hard to do when the washing machine is in your kitchen.

Yes i see how that could be a problem. In saying that a lot of houses I've been in have washing machines in the kitchen. I don't think it would bother me too much to be honest.

Management fees are a problem but I do kind of like the idea that there's someone to look after all the maintenance side of things.

D1stant

phi3 wrote: »

Hi looking to buy my first property. Personally I like the idea of an apartment but everyone else seems to think I'd be mad to go for an apartment over a house. I know it's a personal choice situation but I'd like to hear opinions of pros and cons of each.

Have you ever spent time in prison?

An apartment is a lot like that except you can choose your own decor

djimi

D1stant wrote: »

Have you ever spent time in prison?

An apartment is a lot like that except you can choose your own decor

Exaggerating much...?

Apartment living might not suit everyone but unless you buy an absolute shoebox then its hardly the worst way to live. Pretty much the only thing Id change about the apartments I live/have lived in would be to have a garden and the ability to put up a satellite dish. If youre in your 20s and single then chances are you have no need for 3-4 bedrooms and are going to have little desire to be decorating or changing the place; inside or out.

peter_dublin

Ah come on now, that is beyond over the top in terms of a statement to make. Your not going to be living in fear of dropping the soap in an apartment .

There is a point to be made re management fees though, they are often completly mis understood and viewed in a negative light.

At the end of the day, this covers your gardening, bins, insurance for the building, maintinance and sinking fund (think long term savings account) etc. It's not as if you will not have those same costs yourself if you live in a house as you will. For me this suits me fine, as much as the wife hates ironing and cleaning windows inside, I hate cutting grass, sanding and varnishing doors or removing moss from cobblelock. What I do like is sitting on a balcony drinking beer :-) as my leaking roof is repaired and knowing there is no bill be paid. A good management company is worth its weight in gold but a bad one as other posts here will show will break your heart.

StillWaters

peter_dublin wrote: »

Ah come on now, that is beyond over the top in terms of a statement to make. Your not going to be living in fear of dropping the soap in an apartment .

There is a point to be made re management fees though, they are often completly mis understood and viewed in a negative light.

At the end of the day, this covers your gardening, bins, insurance for the building, maintinance and sinking fund etc. It's not as if you will not have those same costs yourself if you live in a house as you will.

For me this suits me fine, as much as the wife hates ironing (we get some on in) and cleaning windows (managment company) , I hate cutting grass and sanding and varnishing doors or removing moss from cobblelock. What I do like is sitting on a balcony drinking beer :-)

That's true, I often think I'd prefer to live in an apartment as maintaining a house and garden can be a pain, especially if you're not handy.

I'd choose somewhere central though, 2 bed, with lowish management fees, and enough outdoor space for a table and some plants.

Btw I have a house and no utility, most older houses don't, or an ensuite for that matter. Neither bother me.

extremphonixx

I live in an apartment, the biggest killer is the management fees of 1500!! otherwise i dont like the lack of space and if i want to put a deckchair out if the sun comes up:mad: Otherwise its ok living.

I would worry about the resale, generally a house is easier to resell than an apartment. There are exceptions as with everything

If you were mid fifities, kids grown up etc, I would say buy an apartment. But the reality is that you are very likely to have kids down the line so you will either end up trying to sell the apartment to buy a house, or you will rent out the apartment and rent a house.

If you can buy somewhere now that you think you'll never move out of, then that's the better option and chances are that's going to be a house.

ProudDUB

I'm in an apt now. Biggest cons for me are the lack of storage, lack of parking and the tiny kitchen.

I just have the one spot for my car. There is no visitor parking. It puts a real dampner on friends and family coming over, as they risk getting clamped if they park on the curb or in someone elses spot.

The storage where I am now is ok, but in my last place I had to use a hard shell suit case as a coffee table, as I literally had no where else to put it. It wouldn't fit under the bed and the only wardrobe in the place was full of clothes and shoes. I couldn't even buy rugs for the place as there was no where to store a hoover. I threw my Xmas decorations away in mid January as I was sick of tripping over the box they were in. You don't realize how much stuff you have until you have no where to put it.

The kitchen is a tiny little box with no windows and very little counter space. Preparing meals is a pain in the neck. There is only room for one person at a time to be in it. Total pain in the you know what if 2 people are trying to prepare brekkie or dinner at the same time. I really miss having a proper kitchen with lots of counter space and room to spread out.

No community spirit. Don't know any of my neighbours. In houses, you do.

PROs

No garden to maintain. I have a nice balcony with a nice view to sit down on if I want some fresh air, and that is perfectly adequate for my needs.

I live right in the middle of town. All of its amenities, facilities, shops, restaurants, pubs, theaters etc etc are a 5 minute walk away. You won't have that in a house in the suburbs. Luas, Dart and loads of buses are nearby. My close proximity to all that has saved me a fortune in taxi fares before I bought my car.

Also love being right in the thick of things. I get to do and see lots of things that are happening all around me, just by virtue of living in town. There is a great buzz about the place. You can't really put a price on that.

Cheap electricity bills. The place is a doddle to heat, even in winter. No worries about all the heat going up into badly insulated attics or into halls and unused bedrooms. If I put the oven on to a roast chicken, that's the whole place heated for the evening. (Note:apt complex was built 30 years ago, when buildings were built and insulated properly. None of yer Celtic Tiger modern builds for moi !)

Convenient rubbish. Huge dumpster & recycling bins on site. You can toss anything in and bobs yer uncle. No worries about getting rid of stuff, putting bins out, paying for bins etc etc

RubyXI

D1stant wrote: »

Have you ever spent time in prison?

An apartment is a lot like that except you can choose your own decor

And the little fact that you can come and go as you please so apart from that I think a prison sounds ok, apart from the dodgy inmates, and they wouldn't be in the apartment either.

afkasurfjunkie

phi3 wrote: »

And the little fact that you can come and go as you please so apart from that I think a prison sounds ok, apart from the dodgy inmates, and they wouldn't be in the apartment either.

they may very well be next door though. a lot of apartments are rented out and some landlords arent too fussy about their tenants.

pawrick

Best thing to do is keep your options open and not rule out something just because it's an apartment or a house, no harm in considering both options.

At your age you are in the same boat as me pretty much - I had also thought of buying some time ago but I like to be close to everything and an apartment suits my current lifestyle. I can't see myself starting a family in one however to I'll continue renting for now.

Managment fees - some estates have these also, my sis pays one but no idea how much pa.

draiochtanois

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Ole Rodrigo

I live in a mortgaged apartment in the city center and unless you intend to say single I would advise buying a house instead.

Apologies to go off thread : draiochtanois, how did you take control back from the management companies ?

peter_dublin

afkasurfjunkie wrote: »

they may very well be next door though. a lot of apartments are rented out and some landlords arent too fussy about their tenants.

True but this is as likely to happen with a house as an apartment, I think certain areas in general will have more rented property than others and again it's down to the management company, a good one will have problems tenents out ASAP and by that I mean will bring pressure on the landlord. In a housing estate you have no such option.

peter_dublin

rocstar wrote: »

I live in a mortgaged apartment in the city center and unless you intend to say single I would advise buying a house instead.

Other half problems :-)

Apologies to go off thread : draiochtanois, how did you take control back from the management companies ?

Depends, if builder is still in control search boards for the MUD Act. Lots of info their. If you think your directors are not managing costs then speak to the other owners and put yourself up for election as a director at the next AGM.

By bringing in triple tendering, and retendering for each service yearly we went from a bankrupt to 5k in the sinking fund in three years and at the same time increased services (communial bins etc) and reduced management fees to 1100 for 1400 while putting 200 into the sinking fund which previously went of costs. We sacked the Management agent and run the entire complex ourselves.

Back on topic, I will say that I do have an apt with 900sq ft attic so storage isnt an issue but I do miss having a garden as we now have a small child, that said my current apartment is built facing into the district park so it's not too bad but I can see where others are comming from.

the_syco

ProudDUB wrote: »

No garden to maintain.

No garden is a major con if you have kids, or planning on having kids.

Mance Rayder

Apartments = neighbours partying at all hours of the night, Slamming doors, coming home drunk waking the whole building up, sound of TV coming through the wall at night, the list goes on. I have lived in several apartments and grew to hate them all because of the noise coming through the walls.

Not only that, a good portion of new builds have a social housing aspect. Imagine you bought an apartment and the one next door was given over to voluntary housing and they moved a load of jacintas in.

If you want a low maintenance house then you could opt for a townhouse type building with no gardens. Some even come with balconys, very like an apartment but without people living on top or underneath you.

draiochtanois

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P. Breathnach

I recognise that this is a general discussion rather than one of making a choice between a particular house and a particular apartment.

But I think that counting management charges as a major downside of living in an apartment is a mistake. Yes, you need to be aware of them, and budget for them. But if the management company is well-run (which is a point worth checking on) then you should be getting value for your money in insurance cover, maintenance programmes (short and longer-term), refuse disposal, possibly security, and so on; a householder has to fund such things as well, but in separate payments and sometimes in meeting unexpected large bills.

I do, however, see a problem with management charges. Very many people are not paying them, and some management companies are in difficulty because of this. It would not be nice to buy an apartment where the charges are, say, €2,000 pa and then find that 60% of the owners are not paying their share.

When one buys a house, it is considered wise to engage a specialist to conduct a buildings survey. I think it should equally be considered wise to have the financial health of the management company checked out if you are buying an apartment.

draiochtanois

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P. Breathnach

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

If I were to enter into a financial arrangement with a group of strangers that entailed my paying out €2k pa, probably increasing over time, for the indefinite future, I would require a fairly thorough examination of the setup - more than might fall within the ambit of the average solicitor's professional skill-set.

Catxscotch

I think the main advanatge a house has over most apartments is it's own front door. There is nothing as horrible as walking through bland usually dirty corridors to reach an apartment. No matter how nice, its difficult to beat having your own front door, like when you have loads of bags, you can just drop one inside before getting the rest?
Im living in an Apt with its own door, its great!

Lollymcd

It sounds like a lot of contributors here have been living in really crappy apartments! I suppose the most important thing is Location Location Location... Whether it's a house or an apartment where you are and who you're living next to will impact on your enjoyment of your home.

Personally I live in an apartment, I am fine with the space, it's good enough for me and my needs. The best things about it is the security, some may say this is psychological but I feel really safe knowing that we have 24 hour security people on call. On top of this I must get through a locked gate and a locked door before I reach my own front door.

You have more neighbours adjacent to you in an apartment but in a house you can still have two, I have read on this forum of neighbours who fill their gardens with rubbish, have dogs running wild and loud parties, there is good and bad neighbours everywhere in both houses and apartments alike. So far in 2012 there have been 2 parties in my apartment block, both finished at midnight.

At the end of the day only you can decide what will be best for you. If there is an opportunity to rent in the area before you buy there then that would be the best thing to do, otherwise you will find out about all the problems (or wonderful things) when you've paid your money down!

djimi

Catxscotch wrote: »

I think the main advanatge a house has over most apartments is it's own front door. There is nothing as horrible as walking through bland usually dirty corridors to reach an apartment. No matter how nice, its difficult to beat having your own front door, like when you have loads of bags, you can just drop one inside before getting the rest?
Im living in an Apt with its own door, its great!

Dont know where you are living but my apartment building is like a hotel; well decorated and spotlessly clean at all times :cool:

P. Breathnach

Lollymcd wrote: »

It sounds like a lot of contributors here have been living in really crappy apartments!...

That's because there are a lot of really crappy apartments out there!

There are a number of ways in which they can be crappy:
- lousy design, with layouts that don't suit people;
- poor build quality (soundproofing being a very common issue);
- neighbours that you wouldn't want;
- security problems;
- management companies that don't function very well;
- etc.

They distort people's perceptions, whose eyes are deflected from the decent quality apartments that also exist.

the_syco

phi3 wrote: »

Yes i see how that could be a problem. In saying that a lot of houses I've been in have washing machines in the kitchen. I don't think it would bother me too much to be honest.

In a lot of apartments, the kitchen and living room are the same room. Also, as some apartments are poorly made, you may hear the neighbours washing machine.

phi3 wrote: »

apart from the dodgy inmates

You get neighbours like that in apartments and houses, to be fair...

odds_on

the_syco wrote: »

In a lot of apartments, the kitchen and living room are the same room. Also, as some apartments are poorly made, you may hear the neighbours washing machine.


You get neighbours like that in apartments and houses, to be fair...

It's called open plan living and many modern houses and modernised houses also have it. Personally, I like it.

Lollymcd

the_syco wrote: »

In a lot of apartments, the kitchen and living room are the same room. Also, as some apartments are poorly made, you may hear the neighbours washing machine.


You get neighbours like that in apartments and houses, to be fair...

As I said I live in an apartment, it's open plan but my washing machine is in a storage room in my hallway, really a fantastic idea! I can't say I have ever heard my neighbours washing machine, the only time I hear them is if they are in the communal hall and are talking loudly.

ted1

odds_on wrote: »

the_syco wrote: »

In a lot of apartments, the kitchen and living room are the same room. Also, as some apartments are poorly made, you may hear the neighbours washing machine.


You get neighbours like that in apartments and houses, to be fair...

It's called open plan living and many modern houses and modernised houses also have it. Personally, I like it.

He is explaining why you hear the noise of the washing machine.

okiss

I lived in a apartment a few years ago. I agree with the lot of the other posters here in regards to apartments re lack of kitchen space, lack of storage, noise of other people next door or above or below you.
You also have to be prepared to pay €1000 plus a year maintenance fees.
Look the how much apartments have fallen in value since the downturn and now a lot of people who have families are stuck in them.
I would keep saving and buy a house when it comes to buying. Get a full survey done on the house before buying it. I bought a house and I put some money aside each month for maintenance and to have money there when my washing machine ect need replacing.

doughef

I love living in my apartment...

Me and the missus, one bed place.. very comfortable

I'll admit were lucky as the development is great. 24 hour conceirge, developer still contributing to the upkeep.. we even have a gym.

I forgot about the washing machine issues. Used to live in a small place with a girl who always seemed to put a wash on just as I sat down to watch a film...:mad:
As for an apartment v House... I wouldnt leave mine but if we get married etc down the line I might have too..
A friend of mine lives in a house, neighbours are a nightmare.. he can even hear them flushing the jacks so unless you live in a house in the country your gonna hear something of your neighbours!

the_syco

odds_on wrote: »

It's called open plan living and many modern houses and modernised houses also have it. Personally, I like it.

Most modern houses have a separate room for the washing machine, as they tend to be noisy.

ted1 wrote: »

He is explaining why you hear the noise of the washing machine.

At least someone saw this.

doughef wrote: »

A friend of mine lives in a house, neighbours are a nightmare.. he can even hear them flushing the jacks so unless you live in a house in the country your gonna hear something of your neighbours!

Like apartments, a lot of houses were built with corners cut. I know of apartments that the person could hear their neighbours loo flushing from their own bedroom! Same as everywhere: get the place looked at before you buy it. Some people "fell in love" with the look or the price, and ignored all the little things, but the little things are what annoy you over time.