To each their own, but I will never share a wall again! I love the privacy of my own house with no mortgage, five acres, no HOA! I don’t even see my neighbors.
I hear you there! I grew up in a similar type of setup, so living here is on the other extreme. I can appreciate the unique things that both living situations bring to the table.
Nothing better than a single family home. However, multi family makes it more affordable for more people. In California, the cost to build is running as much as $1000 per sq. foot.
I lived in a Florida gated community/ it was rather a condo than a house, small backyard, tons of stupid rules, strict control over who is visiting etc. Today it doesn’t make sense, the main purpose security is largely available and non expensive , it is reliable and I sold this jail house to buy my own home, and can’t be happier
So you made me read all of this interestingly then just to flat out hysterically laughing at "jailhouse"🤣🤣. Please start writing movies, you have a gift 😃
I currently live in Brooklyn, I’m working and saving the 20% in order to move down to Coral Springs Florida by next fall . I’m going to go with the house option just because I’ve lived in Brooklyn all my life and I’m tired of having no privacy lol. Thank you so much for this video
Good for you for making the move and changing it up with a house. FYI, if you are buying a house in FL, you don't need to 20% (unless you want of course). Made a video about that recently which you can check out here if you want: ua-cam.com/video/joOqs6Omou4/v-deo.html
The other issue with condos is that you can get a BAD board! Some have been found to be corrupt and/or inept, which means you're gonna pay big! I took my association to court and prevailed. Then I reported them to the authorities in Tallahasse for fraud/ embezzlement!
My biggest mistake in my life is buying a condo with a HOA I just got a notice. On September 1 they are asking for additional $420 in addition to $315 monthly because they got sued for materials for a company. So I’m paying $735 for their legal issues for 4 months aren’t they suppose to have insurance … mind you it only includes water and security gate and garbage. No pool or gym . They haven’t sent me proof of their budget or where their money is going is this legal can I consult you sir I’ll pay a consult I have meeting at. 6 pm to argue about this
Too much can go wrong in a condominium building. It doesn’t matter whether it’s large or small older or newer. Elevators, swimming pools, water pumps, and central A/C when they go down can cost a fortune to repair/replace. Exterior walls and roofs are expensive to maintain also. HOA fees go up usually every year. The more staff the condo assn. employs the more you’ll pay in HOA fees. Always always always opt for a single family house with as much yard around it as you can find not part of any neighborhood association (usually gated community). Even Single family houses in gated communities can have ridiculously high HOA fees and unreasonable rules which owners must follow or be fined as was pointed out in the video. Very informative video.
My HOA is almost $800 for 900 sqf/ 1 bedroom condo in CA. 2 fires in other units in this year adding $100 on monthly HOA. This is why I am getting ready to move to FL. 🙃. There is no condo or house livable condition under $500k in CA.
A well-run HOA is imperative. Something to consider is how small your community is because it can be harder to tackle repair jobs. I lucked out 6 months after moving into my condo in 2020. They did a $2 million dollar repair project to replace dry rot. Due to reserves there was no special assessment. Otherwise it would have been 20,000 per person. I chose a less fancy condo to help keep my HOA cost down. It's very much no frills. And that's fine with me.
Yep that is a good point as well. Although smaller buildings can actually get bigger assessments too, because there are less people to pay for expensive jobs. Glad you dodged the 2 mil assessment 👌
HOA dues on a condo may by high, but it includes your base building windstorm and flood insurance. Not only will getting windstorm and flood insurance on your single family house cost a fortune yearly, your property is more likely to be flooded in a major hurricane. It's also been my experience in the Miami area that power is usually restored more quickly after a major storm in a condo building than they are in a single family home. It's also a bit of an oxymoron, but property along the water won't stay flooded as long after a storm because the water all drains off quickly. Homes in the western suburbs could sit in flood waters for days or week as it slowly drains.
All good points John. That is why I wanted to make this video, and glad people like yourself, are pointing out all of these important factors. And everything you said is correct, the HOA does cover a LOT if not most of your expenses related to maintaining the actual property and less susceptible to storm damage👌
Some friends from Baltimore bought a vacation home near Fort Myers, and they had squatters break into their house and make a mess of the place. They also had to go through the entire legal process of removing them from the house.
That is a nightmare and about as bad as it gets when owning a house. This is one reason I recommend most people who will use the place intermittently, opt for the condo for the added security when your gone
Thanks Michael. Great info for newbies. I rented for for years, bought a condo, sold that for another. I personally will be happy to rid myself of a mortgage, hoa and assorted extras and aggravation and go back to renting.
You're welcome! Glad you liked the video. Yes, sometimes renting is just the cheaper and more practical solution. I personally rent my place for the very same reasons
Good points you bring up, very thorough and accurate. The condo assessments can be a killer. A place here in Boca had a $40,000 assessment. That is not a typo. And that's per unit, so you have to pay it. Yes, you get a coupon book and pay it off, but it's a big pill to swallow. When we were looking to buy, I always asked the realtor to find out if there were any pending or expected assessments and what the assessment history of the building was to get an idea of how often they had them. Also, a reserve is important because if a building doesn't have it, it's just a matter of time before you get assessed. It's also good just to get a visual feel for the property because if it looks old and in decline there's a good chance they will be making repairs. I've owned both houses and condos through my years living in Florida. Both have pros and cons. A house will give you more privacy, but some communities have HOA's as well to pay the guard at the gate, pool upkeep, grass cutting etc. The other thing I didn't like about a house was taxes tend to be higher (at least Broward and PB) and the killer for me was the insurance on the structure i.e. flooding and hurricane coverage was insanely high. Regarding condo's. They have rules up the ying yang, some are good, some are nonsense but you have to live with them.
Thank you Keto! Everything you said is also true. Pros and cons to both and was very smart for you to make inquiries on the property regarding future assessments before deciding 👌
This was very informative, thank you! I'm about to pay off my student loan debt and start saving for a down payment. I've been doing my research and strongly believe a condo is right for me as I'm a single guy. After watching this video and reading the comments, it's making me second guess this purchase come 2021. The last thing I want is to overpay due to special assessments and high annual HOA increases. What to do, what to do...
Glad it was helpful for you. It is a lot to consider, but typically HOA dues do not rise dramatically year after year. Your taxes will probably go up every year but that has nothing to do with the HOA. Just make sure the building is in decent financial standing before purchasing and if they have reserves, then much lower chance of a big special assessment.
Michael thank you for your videos man. You make so much sense and your explanations are simple and to the point. Right now I am struggling to see if I should buy or rent in Sarasota. Given the fact that my wife and I will be living in Europe 5 months out of the year, condos make sense but you can get such nice houses for the same price, more space and we do have two cars (one being my weekend toy, 2011 Porsche 911S) that I like to have a garage for. The convenience however of locking up your condo and not really having to worry about it for 5 months (and those are going to be the summer months) is huge. Decisions, decisions.
Thank you very much! So glad you enjoy the videos😀It is a tough decision, especially when you can get even better SFH for the same money. But just remember, the place will be sitting empty for a long time, with that nice toy in the garage. So you really should have someone you trust nearby be checking on it regularly if you go the house route. But it is also a burden to place someone else. Let me know what you decide!
Great information. Recently subbed and glad I did. One of the best points for me was the inherent risks involved with partially-vacant homes. For that reason the best move will be to buy a condo to use for 3-4 months of the year and then (hopefully) upgrade to a home if and when I retire and move permanently.
i have no interest in moving to florida and i do not know why youtube recommended this to me, but this was a very informative and engaging video. nice job keep it up!
I do the same where I live, only because it makes more financial sense. I did make a video about that too😉 Thank you so much for watching and the compliment!
We recently bought a house in Largo and it's in an HOA, however it's only $28 per month and covers trash pickup and other small amenities. There are lots of rules about set backs and fences etc but because of it, the neighborhood has an expansive feel with no huge vehicles or weird structures piled on top of another. I think it' worth it! I owned a mobile home for 5 years in Clearwater and what a nightmare that can be!! Maybe you could talk about that a bit because I think people don't realize how they have almost no rights when leasing a lot. Thanks!
I agree that a small HOA feel like that can be totally worth it if it's fitting the lifestyle you're wanting out of it. How do you mean people having no rights when leasing a lot?
@@MichaelBordenaro the special assessment fee. That is tough. It's hard to imagine how that can be fair. You buy a unit with the understanding that there are amenities included. How can the upkeep be passed along to the tenants? Idk, maybe I'm naive but isnt the condo fee supposed to cover those items?
@@kevinkevin624 Well the amenities are included, it's just that sometimes the upkeep of the building can be a lot more expensive than anticipated and that is when the special assessments happen. And if you are renting out your unit, there is no way to pass this expense along to them. Because usually the building will be under construction (less desirable) combined with the fact that you can only charge for rent what the market will bear, and if you try to charge more, the tenant will leave, and the place would be sitting empty. It's a tough situation to be in as a landlord
Hi - enjoy your videos. One thing you didn't mention - perhaps this has been mentioned in some of your other videos - homeowner's insurance. I considered moving to FL about 2 yrs ago and got insurances quotes on a few condos in Delray Beach/Ford Lauderdale/West Palm area and was surprised to learn about things like "roof clips" (being up north, never heard of such a thing), and that anything built before 2005 (I think) was going to be heap more to insure. Also flood insurance - does the building carry it? Is the house or building in a flood zone? The flood zone maps change. A place that might not have previously been in a flood zone might now be in one. (Also beware of sink hole alley in the middle of the state over to Tampa area). A friend has a condo in a low rise building in South Beach and the 2017 hurricane caused a huge amount of very, very expensive damage down there. His unit is on the 5th floor of a modern building (built in '09, I think) and is cement (CBS I think it's called) yet still sustained tons of damage (water came pouring in thru the roof, damaging the crap out of elevators, and just about every unit from the top (8th) floor down.) He and his neighbors all found themselves battling it it out with their insurers on everything, and as a result it took a VERY long time for repairs to get done. One unit would finally be repaired, (new drywall, new flooring, etc) after several months, but some other units wouldn't be finished until nearly a year after the fact, so there was construction noise basically every day for about a year and a half in his building. And this was typical of all of the buildings in his neighborhood. I didn't ask, but I'm guessing his already sky high insurance premium probably went thru the roof after that (so to speak!) And this was after just one hurricane. FL has how many storms and storm surge events every year? People from other climes need to be aware of the FL insurance costs. It is a whole different and VERY expensive ballgame from what we are used to up north.
Very good point Curt. I mainly don't talk about insurance too much bc it is so specific to each individual property and so the price can vary wildly based on the specifics. That story about your friends condo in sobe, is the main reason I consider insurance for the most part to be a scam. Their goal is to collect as much as possible and payout as little as possible. On top of that, some people have nothing but good things to say about their insurance experience while others have gone through pure hell like your friend. This is an interesting topic to explore for me in the future👍
Im not sure if you already have but if not you should make a video about how the rising sea level problem is being dealt with. Im planning to move to florida in the next year and im scared to buy property especially since many say it will not be habitable in our lifetime. I love your videos man keep it up!
Thanks for watching and glad you like the videos! I like this idea, I can certainly cover it from the perspective of Miami Beach, since it's where I live and is essentially ground zero for this issue. Can't speak for the rest of FL, but it is an interesting video idea👍
Biggest mistake I ever made was buying a condo in south Florida... condo associations are a NIGHTMARE. developers are shady criminals. Couldnt wait to get the hell out of that overpriced craphole. Special assessments, reserve accounts...$$$ disappeared.. never again. Don't do it!!
@@tesiemarie8942 Yes every year condos have their financial line item budget and as an owner you always have a right to receive a copy for your review 👌
I’m a big fan of a corner townhouse structure in a condo community. I have one in Atlanta and only share a wall with one awesome and quiet neighbor. I’m thinking about moving to Yulee, Florida and getting something from DR Horton. You are a fantastic content creator and real estate professional.
Century village condos are cheap and the amenities are great...with so many for sale you can find a deal !!...or rent one first and see if you like it....truth is its quiet and half the units are empty most of time....
Hey Mike, It's James. I say both for reasons of equity and leverage for the equity toward more property. Currently and bo-humbug, I am still on hold for raising capital.
Hi Michael, my husband is very interested in moving from Boston to Miami. Tired of the long cold winters here in Boston. In perhaps 2 years, we will be visiting Florida.
Yes that is the smartest thing to do, probably also rules out 80% of condos in FL though LOL. Very sad, a lot of buildings are really not run very well financially
Dear Michael, Can you make a blog explaining what taxes the buyer of property has to pay. Please cover the cases for a brand new and not new property: house, townhouse, condo. Hello from Vancouver
It's not really good or bad, but it's important to get educated about what it is, and if your community is part of one. For more information, see this article: www.cfmcdd.org/questions/
Hello from the UK. Our aim is to buy a 2nd home (condo) in about 5 years. We have a program here that shows Brits looking to buy property in Florida and it seems to always concentrate on Davenport ?? We would like to be on a coast though not sure which one yet? I think we’d have to buy a condo as we would be aiming to go out there 4/5 times a years for only a few weeks at a time. We are willing to pay the monthly fees purely for the convenience of having to do nothing and most importantly, leaving a condo empty in a secure manner. I guess if we were to consider emigrating then we would buy a house. We’ve just started watching videos on Florida property and are glad we’ve come across this one as it really has helped us in that it reaffirms that buying a condo is the best thing for us. With regards to ‘rules’ is it ok for family/friends to fly over & stay in a condo when you’re not there? Thanks
Sounds like a condo is the right choice for you. Most of them will allow Friends And Family to stay there when you're not there but you usually need to put them on some sort of guest list ahead of time it can't be random people showing up all the time because that can be confused as renting short term which is usually against the rules in most condos
I know south west florida has really tightened up on its rental laws. I wonder if I could buy a condo on the Canal in Cape Coral and rent out the boat dock.
Definitely something you want to be aware of before buying. I know a lot of the buildings here in Miami that have boat docks, will allow you to rent them to someone else if you wish
Thank you for this video very helpful! The fines in our coop start at 500.00 such as if you don't wear a mask entering the building the stick 500 on your maintenance bill and if you dont pay it it goes to collections. But the security you get is a trade off. Florida sounds a little easier. I have neighbors that moved to Florida many actually and they say it is much easier to deal with and al live in condos. But whats not easier is the rainy season and high humidity not being able to go to the beach because it rains so often. But it is snowing every day in NYC and there is ice on the ground and we cant go anywhere and enjoy ourselves. We are like bears forced to hibernate, so the trade off is better in Florida.
You're welcome! Oh those are some hefty fines. I don't think I've heard any so severe up until now. It certainly is a trade-off. Florida is not my favorite place to be in the summer but right now it's the best place to be
A couple of million dollars for a pool deck? OMG. You gotta check the reserve fund when buying. I am more familiar with coops but am I correct that a condo building doesn't have a mortgage on the building? Condos have lots of rules..I once had a townhome condo. That was a mess. Now I have a fee simple townhome. Some rules but less..fees are low and I own the land. Thx Michael
Yep it was a huge project and took them over a year to complete it. The building itself does not have a mortgage. But individual unit owners may have mortgages on their units. They do have a lots of rules!
Definitely, they are less vulnerable to steep declines in prices for sure because they are more desirable and there are less of them especially here in South Florida. The condo market is much more volatile and prices dip significantly more in a downturn
Excellent and informative video,...again. The number #1 reason why my girlfriend and I will never buy in retirement is because you never know if an area will turn to s**t. If you just rent you can pack up and get out,....if you buy you could be stuck,......and if the area goes down fast (and they can) you are living a nightmare. With all the ''uncertainty'' in the world,...buy anything with extreme caution. Just my humble(but usually correct) opinion.
Agreed, I am actually surprised how much the buying activity has returned to normal since things have opened back up. I thought for sure the market would be dead here, and it's the opposite. Have to be careful
@@MichaelBordenaro I am probably the only person of your 3k subscribers who would enjoy watching a video where you compare what 499k gets you in Miami Beach compared to Rockford Illinois,.....just a thought.Lol
@@MichaelBordenaro Well shame on the 2999+ subscribers who don't know (or care) that Cheap Trick is from Rockford Ill,...Btw,...you should watch their Rock and Roll HOF acceptance speech from 2016 on UA-cam. It is very cool and moving and they do mention Rockford. Also,....when we watch your videos my bodacious girlfriend always asks about your accent. I tell her it is an upper midwest accent,......not quite ''Da bears'' /Ditka'',...but close.
Thank you very much! Good question, The HOA insurance usually covers the exterior of the building and common areas and the grounds. However, if you have damage inside your unit that is usually your responsibility.
I was 22 when I visited my dying father in the hospital. He was very weak and we weren't sure if he was aware we were there. I gently hugged him and held him. I whispered,," I love you Dad" and started to pull away when I felt him grab me with a rather firm grip and pull me back down. He said " look at me Son, I love you too and I'm very proud of the man you've become.....but please son....please promise me.......... you'll NEVER EVER............. let your Mom buy a property that has a HOA"
Thanks for reminding me to check about the reserves. My favorite condo I was looking at in Ft. Walton had a high association fee for what it was. But if it includes a good reserve, it could be worth it!
You're welcome! Yes it absolutely can be worth it. I am selling one now that has not had a maintenance increase in at least 6 years, because they have reserves and have been able to pay for all of the surprises that have come up👍
The building itself might not be properly maintained nor constructed for a humid tropical maritime climate. I would be wary of the building collapsing like Surfside fl, in Miami suburb. I will take a home anytime over silly rules of a condo , HOA fees only 1 parking space ect....
@@MichaelBordenaro Can you cover that as a topic in a video? As I live in Norway I have been wondering whether I should buy a condo in a hotel as it might be easier to rent it out
It could be possible, but probably way less likely as the residents are not sharing one big building that constantly needs repair. But it could be possible for something like a community pool, clubhouse etc
No the landlord pays the HOA away fees and for sure they've already calculated that into your monthly rent payment. So in addition to your rent you should only have to pay your cable and Internet bill your electric bill and possibly natural gas if there's a gas stove
Sounds like buying a condo isn’t worth it at all, if you are going to buy, get a house. personally I think renting is better than buying, a lot more freedom of movement, and in some cases it’s just flat out a better deal.
True cause rent covers most of the utilities you would be paying for with a house plus tax Maintanice etc. it’s a flexible option but I still think owning something will be a lot better for you and your family. Once it’s eventually paid off for you’re kinda free besides the basic needs. Then you can rent that out and go for something else
Hi mike, could you make a video in regards to those of us who have filed bankruptcy but want to move to Florida and how to do so? I think it would give you a good video to make.
The difference between chapter 7&13. How long would it take to be approved for a home loan in Florida as I am sure it is different from state to state. Reassuring them that they aren’t scum of the earth for claiming bankruptcy, yada yada yada.
Sorry please don’t take my comment as “scum of the earth” as me saying that’s how you feel. It’s just that’s how I feel after doing it knowing that I was doing it for the right reasons.
Maybe you have talked about this, but I am looking at property taxes on zillow, they seem pretty high in FL. Any ways to make that part more reasonable?
There's not really anything you can do about it, unless your property is going down in value, then you can get re assessed and pay less, but when property values rise, so do the taxes
@@MichaelBordenaro Yikes, I am thinking about moving down to FL and property taxes are seriously affecting the rent-or-buy choice. People tend to think in terms of mortgage vs rent payments but once you add HOA + property taxes, the calculations start to favor renting. And then there is insurance, with hurricanes and flooding presenting real risks... having seen your other videos, I think I don't want a sports car because of the flooding, I might just get an SUV and rent an apartment at least initially. THANK YOU, your videos are super-useful!
@@duerandaggi you got that right! Owning is great and does have its advantages but it’s becoming a less viable option for many people and even makes me question how much it makes sense a lot of times as a real estate agent. Really glad my videos are helping you with that😀
Dear Michael, what about countryside of north Florida? I mean surroundings of Jacksonville, Lake city or Gainsville. It seems that in this countryside and area there is less condos and more private houses, but no fences too much in these houses. These areas are less in danger from robbery and vandalism?
Hi I live in Citrus Springs Fla I moved here in July and I hate it . Yes it in a area where there is nothing but woods. If I knew that I would have looked for a more developed area. I really want to go back to Ny
Very very informative video, I have one question though you mentioned condos go down faster than single family home, what about appreciation does condos appreciate like SFH or it's bad investment if I want to sell after some years let's say 5 years? Thanks again for your video, I will start watching the rest of your videos. I am new to SF and you are helping me a lot 🙂
Hi Ahmad, welcome to Florida! Glad you found my videos 😀 that's a good question I would say the appreciation level for condos is roughly the same unless we're talking about specialty properties or places that are very high in demand like direct oceanfront condos for example. Those can tend to appreciate faster than houses but also depreciate faster in a downturn
Hmmm. Michael you forgot to mention the CONDO COMMANDO/s ... oh yeah EVERY BUILDING has one or more of these NIGHTMARES. Most people don’t realize that the Board decides if an ASSESSMENT is needed and once passed, YOU MUST PAY IT OR A LEIN WILL BE PUT ON YOUR UNIT. You make a very valid point ... if you’re going to be a snowbird ... condo is the only way to go. I’ve lived in both but would now only consider a house ... although it would never be in Florida ... land of the truly IGNORANT (save for the three South Florida counties). Question: Why does FloriDUH CONSISTENTLY vote against its own best interests? (aka voting Republican). Is it STUPIDITY? Is it IGNORANCE? Or is it the heat and humidity? And then when it goes horribly wrong, they pull their heads out of their hole and look up like a deer in headlights 🧐
Yes, those commandos exist in almost every building. But the good news as an owner, you almost always get to vote on a potential special assessments, and I see a lot of condo owners here are very hands off and just don't vote or take the time to give their opinion on these important decisions, and then have the audacity to complain about it later.
Michael, I was wondering if all you say about buying a condo - like possible assessment fees, etc., added to the regular monthly fees applies also to buying a single family home that has an H.O.A. Could you please clarify that for me as it seems that nearly all Florida homes on Zillow, Trulia, etc. have some sort of association fees. I would hate to have that hanging over our heads when we come to Florida and do eventually buy. Thanks.
Good question and the answer is yes. If you buy in ANY HOA community, you could face a possible special assessment at any time. Although, for a community of single family homes, the likelihood of it being a very high special assessment like a condo is pretty low. Rest assured, there are plenty of areas in FL that have houses that are not in HOA's
@@MacGregorLassie Absolutely! It is my pleasure. Makes me happy that people like yourself are helped by my videos and info I have to share. I feel like I have already helped more people 1 year on youtube, than I could help my entire real estate career. Super cool👌
There are not too many, there some but it's mostly condos. Well there are a couple of benefits but also drawbacks. Benefits are the property taxes and many of the building expenses are included in your monthly HOA. The drawback is I have yet to find a lender here who will finance one, so you pretty much always have to pay cash
You also didn't mention at least I did not hear you mention if several condo owners default and the condos get repossessed or foreclosed on the rest of the owners have to come up with the extra money to make up for the condo owners who defaulted and are not paying the condo fees.
So if I'm getting this right a home owner bought and paid for still pays around $2500 a month just to keep owning it? And condo owners also pay that much a month give or take?
If you are referring to the place I live in, they probably pay about $1600/mo to own this place since they own it outright, so no its not everyone. But if you were to buy here now, depending on the unit would cost between $3300-4200/mo with a 20% down payment
We pay about $2200 per month in rent to live here actually. So the owner makes a decent profit. But yes it’s expensive to live here in Miami Beach on the ocean!
I think it largely depends on the place. If it's mostly old people, you're probably gonna get some complaints. But where I live is a mix, and no one has ever complained. That being said, I only play once or twice per week for a couple hours at a time, I am not running a garage band out of the place LOL
Yes there is. A 55 and older condo is exactly that, a condo that you own and must be over 55 to purchase. Whereas assisted living is a business, and you essentially rent a spot there, and in exchange, they have many different services to help the elderly with everyday life. Most 55 and older condos do not offer any of these type of services. It's just a condo, geared towards retirees that want more peace and enjoyment and it also keeps the purchase price of these units down.
I have a question. I am moving to avemtura and eanted to but a condo there. Me my eife, my dog amd a yoirng kid. Is a condo a place where people raise families in south florida? Or is just for retirees? Thanks.
@@adrianocosta6760 You can find a condo in Aventura that will fit your needs. The biggest thing to look out for is to make sure the building allows your dog (size, breed etc) and that it is kid friendly and maybe some other families living there also.
You should charge extra money from your followers for this valuable information bro :) definetly the best comparison. Thanks a lot greetings from Turkey
I do charge for 1 on 1 consulting calls, but I am a believer in giving away your best info for free. I want people who watch me to trust me and feel comfortable spending some money with me when the time comes. I'm happy to know you enjoyed the video and found it helpful. Hello from Miami Beach!!✌️
@@MichaelBordenaro Thanks Michael what is the best way to contact you for 1 on 1 consulting I would definetly need a professional advise before I invest in not to spend all of my savings for nothing :)
@@cenkkalfaoglu5239 You're welcome! You can setup a one on one with me at this link here michaelbordenaro.com/book-service/ and I would happy to help you out 😊
@Scott Weaks I may do that one day! I already charge for consulting calls. People message me and email me all the time asking questions, and I tell them this is my rate 😎
Great advice, really like your Florida Real Estate videos. But... Why are you not covering the 2nd fastest growing city in FL for the last 5 years?.... CAPE CORAL. (Not Fort Myers) ... just the Cape. Thanks, Love your You Tube advice!
Thanks a lot! Only reason I don't cover the area is because I live in Miami Beach, and have worked here as a real estate agent for 11 years, so naturally it just makes more sense for me to cover this area more. But, I do plan to be visiting more new areas in FL, such as Cape Coral in the future, and I look forward to making videos about these places. Lots to come!
I looked everywhere in Florida prior to buying in Cape Coral. The primary reason was because it is still relatively small yet booming and the real estate prices are right... and its location to Sanibel Island, Marco Island Boca Grande couldn't be better amazing location amazing City and boaters paradise.
Do you have to surrender your key to someone else. In case of fire or whatever. What's the demographics of the people living in the building or area. Are they old. At some point will there be a large number of condominium units for sale in your area, is there a washer/dryer in the unit you're interested in; or will you have to queue to get your laundry done, is your area flooding often, do you depend on public transportation (Hint: it won't be as good as you're used to in DC or NYC), do the elevators break down or are out with a power outage, how often does the building/area get power outages, where's the building in relation to the storm surge (on Miami Beach you'll have to evacuate), can you get a ride to the medical center or doctor's office, .... I have a house, and would like to move back to a condo. A house is a time and money pit.
It is Florida state law that the condo needs to have a copy of ever unit's keys and they make sure they have them, every year. If you are asking all of these questions about Miami Beach, it is hard to answer them in a nutshell, because the demographics, amenities of the building and vibe of the neighborhood are drastically different, even just right here in Miami Beach. But as a quick rundown, we have W/D in unit at the place I live, so you have your own. Hardly ever any power outages. Demographics is a healthy mix between, young, old and in between. Public transportation is easy and readily available in MB. And we do get flooding during heavy rain, but not like its coming into the building or anything like that. The garage here does flood in some areas. Hope this is helpful!
@@MichaelBordenaro I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. I wasn't asking you. I was just mentioning some of the things that should go into prospective buyers calculations.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Now that you know the difference between buying a house or condo in Florida, which one would you buy?
Condo
Buy a house. Did the condo for 25 years. Maintenance was never done. Far too many arbitrary rules. I’d rather be my own boss.
With condo you have no control over condo fee , which is going up almost every year. And with the management company is even worse.
Yep!
Oh yes, definitely is the norm
To each their own, but I will never share a wall again! I love the privacy of my own house with no mortgage, five acres, no HOA! I don’t even see my neighbors.
I hear you there! I grew up in a similar type of setup, so living here is on the other extreme. I can appreciate the unique things that both living situations bring to the table.
Nothing better than a single family home. However, multi family makes it more affordable for more people. In California, the cost to build is running as much as $1000 per sq. foot.
I lived in a Florida gated community/ it was rather a condo than a house, small backyard, tons of stupid rules, strict control over who is visiting etc. Today it doesn’t make sense, the main purpose security is largely available and non expensive , it is reliable and I sold this jail house to buy my own home, and can’t be happier
Yeah all those rules can get super annoying in a hurry. I am with you and prefer the house with no HOA 👌
Jail house😂
Jailhouse? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I agree with you, I want out of my condo so bad.
So you made me read all of this interestingly then just to flat out hysterically laughing at "jailhouse"🤣🤣. Please start writing movies, you have a gift 😃
I currently live in Brooklyn, I’m working and saving the 20% in order to move down to Coral Springs Florida by next fall . I’m going to go with the house option just because I’ve lived in Brooklyn all my life and I’m tired of having no privacy lol. Thank you so much for this video
Good for you for making the move and changing it up with a house. FYI, if you are buying a house in FL, you don't need to 20% (unless you want of course). Made a video about that recently which you can check out here if you want: ua-cam.com/video/joOqs6Omou4/v-deo.html
Good luck. I left Manhattan for SOFLO. Take your time on finding your home.
That's funny you mentioned that, I come from the Bronx and I'm in sample rd near University drive.
Did you move already? I’m saving at the moment w my gf to leave early 2023(jan/Feb) ! Buying a house hopefully !
The other issue with condos is that you can get a BAD board! Some have been found to be corrupt and/or inept, which means you're gonna pay big! I took my association to court and prevailed. Then I reported them to the authorities in Tallahasse for fraud/ embezzlement!
So true and good for you for taking that action! More of that needs to be done here in SoFL👍
Excellent valuable info, that explains why some HOAs go up like 40% in just 3 years !
My biggest mistake in my life is buying a condo with a HOA I just got a notice. On September 1 they are asking for additional $420 in addition to $315 monthly because they got sued for materials for a company. So I’m paying $735 for their legal issues for 4 months aren’t they suppose to have insurance … mind you it only includes water and security gate and garbage. No pool or gym . They haven’t sent me proof of their budget or where their money is going is this legal can I consult you sir I’ll pay a consult I have meeting at. 6 pm to argue about this
So almost 3$ for 4 months when it normally would of been $1,240.00. And mind u they have done nothing to our building only seen my parking lot redone
In miami Florida las villas snapper village
Too much can go wrong in a condominium building. It doesn’t matter whether it’s large or small older or newer. Elevators, swimming pools, water pumps, and central A/C when they go down can cost a fortune to repair/replace. Exterior walls and roofs are expensive to maintain also. HOA fees go up usually every year. The more staff the condo assn. employs the more you’ll pay in HOA fees. Always always always opt for a single family house with as much yard around it as you can find not part of any neighborhood association (usually gated community). Even Single family houses in gated communities can have ridiculously high HOA fees and unreasonable rules which owners must follow or be fined as was pointed out in the video. Very informative video.
well, but most of houses are not on the beach. Do you like an idea of driving car every morning to see the ocean? What's the point?
I saw some monthly HOA are about $800/month, that's a rip off
Yep, it really depends on the building, location, amenities etc. Lots of things go into how much any given hoa fee is
Exactly 💯
My HOA is almost $800 for 900 sqf/ 1 bedroom condo in CA. 2 fires in other units in this year adding $100 on monthly HOA. This is why I am getting ready to move to FL. 🙃. There is no condo or house livable condition under $500k in CA.
That is very sad the extremely high barrier to entry for a "livable" house. That is a major problem CA needs to get under control
A well-run HOA is imperative. Something to consider is how small your community is because it can be harder to tackle repair jobs. I lucked out 6 months after moving into my condo in 2020. They did a $2 million dollar repair project to replace dry rot. Due to reserves there was no special assessment. Otherwise it would have been 20,000 per person. I chose a less fancy condo to help keep my HOA cost down. It's very much no frills. And that's fine with me.
Yep that is a good point as well. Although smaller buildings can actually get bigger assessments too, because there are less people to pay for expensive jobs. Glad you dodged the 2 mil assessment 👌
HOA dues on a condo may by high, but it includes your base building windstorm and flood insurance. Not only will getting windstorm and flood insurance on your single family house cost a fortune yearly, your property is more likely to be flooded in a major hurricane. It's also been my experience in the Miami area that power is usually restored more quickly after a major storm in a condo building than they are in a single family home. It's also a bit of an oxymoron, but property along the water won't stay flooded as long after a storm because the water all drains off quickly. Homes in the western suburbs could sit in flood waters for days or week as it slowly drains.
All good points John. That is why I wanted to make this video, and glad people like yourself, are pointing out all of these important factors. And everything you said is correct, the HOA does cover a LOT if not most of your expenses related to maintaining the actual property and less susceptible to storm damage👌
Hey can you do a video on 55+ retirement communities? The good and the bad.
Hi Nancy, what type of info are you looking for?
@@MichaelBordenaro the pros and cons of living in a retirement community,manufactured homes on the gulf side. Thank you
Some friends from Baltimore bought a vacation home near Fort Myers, and they had squatters break into their house and make a mess of the place. They also had to go through the entire legal process of removing them from the house.
That is a nightmare and about as bad as it gets when owning a house. This is one reason I recommend most people who will use the place intermittently, opt for the condo for the added security when your gone
If you’re going to live full time in your home then buy a house.
Update: Buying a Condo involves some risk involving structural engineering that may not be included in your inspection.
Yes this is correct, and will be on the radar from now on!
Thanks Michael. Great info for newbies. I rented for for years, bought a condo, sold that for another. I personally will be happy to rid myself of a mortgage, hoa and assorted extras and aggravation and go back to renting.
You're welcome! Glad you liked the video. Yes, sometimes renting is just the cheaper and more practical solution. I personally rent my place for the very same reasons
Good points you bring up, very thorough and accurate. The condo assessments can be a killer. A place here in Boca had a $40,000 assessment. That is not a typo. And that's per unit, so you have to pay it. Yes, you get a coupon book and pay it off, but it's a big pill to swallow. When we were looking to buy, I always asked the realtor to find out if there were any pending or expected assessments and what the assessment history of the building was to get an idea of how often they had them. Also, a reserve is important because if a building doesn't have it, it's just a matter of time before you get assessed. It's also good just to get a visual feel for the property because if it looks old and in decline there's a good chance they will be making repairs. I've owned both houses and condos through my years living in Florida. Both have pros and cons. A house will give you more privacy, but some communities have HOA's as well to pay the guard at the gate, pool upkeep, grass cutting etc. The other thing I didn't like about a house was taxes tend to be higher (at least Broward and PB) and the killer for me was the insurance on the structure i.e. flooding and hurricane coverage was insanely high. Regarding condo's. They have rules up the ying yang, some are good, some are nonsense but you have to live with them.
Thank you Keto! Everything you said is also true. Pros and cons to both and was very smart for you to make inquiries on the property regarding future assessments before deciding 👌
@@MichaelBordenaro Thanks brother!
@@BarefootVlogger my man keto watches mikes videos as well! Thats awesome my friends!
This was very informative, thank you! I'm about to pay off my student loan debt and start saving for a down payment. I've been doing my research and strongly believe a condo is right for me as I'm a single guy. After watching this video and reading the comments, it's making me second guess this purchase come 2021. The last thing I want is to overpay due to special assessments and high annual HOA increases. What to do, what to do...
Glad it was helpful for you. It is a lot to consider, but typically HOA dues do not rise dramatically year after year. Your taxes will probably go up every year but that has nothing to do with the HOA. Just make sure the building is in decent financial standing before purchasing and if they have reserves, then much lower chance of a big special assessment.
Michael thank you for your videos man. You make so much sense and your explanations are simple and to the point. Right now I am struggling to see if I should buy or rent in Sarasota. Given the fact that my wife and I will be living in Europe 5 months out of the year, condos make sense but you can get such nice houses for the same price, more space and we do have two cars (one being my weekend toy, 2011 Porsche 911S) that I like to have a garage for. The convenience however of locking up your condo and not really having to worry about it for 5 months (and those are going to be the summer months) is huge. Decisions, decisions.
Thank you very much! So glad you enjoy the videos😀It is a tough decision, especially when you can get even better SFH for the same money. But just remember, the place will be sitting empty for a long time, with that nice toy in the garage. So you really should have someone you trust nearby be checking on it regularly if you go the house route. But it is also a burden to place someone else. Let me know what you decide!
Great information. Recently subbed and glad I did. One of the best points for me was the inherent risks involved with partially-vacant homes. For that reason the best move
will be to buy a condo to use for 3-4 months of the year and then (hopefully) upgrade to a home if and when I retire and move permanently.
Thank you! I’m glad the info was helpful for you and thanks for subbing👌
i have no interest in moving to florida and i do not know why youtube recommended this to me, but this was a very informative and engaging video. nice job keep it up!
Wow, that is awesome! I appreciate the compliment, and glad you were able to enjoy the video, despite not wanting to move to FL 😀
6to
You are correct, South Florida is a whole other animal compared to most of the rest of the state.
It sure is!
Love your videos, you are realistic and detailed.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that 😀
The first of many videos I've seen. You are very detailed and very informative. I quickly subscribed. Thank you .
Awesome, thanks for subscribing and glad you enjoyed the video 😊
I would rather rent. Your very insightful. Thank you.
I do the same where I live, only because it makes more financial sense. I did make a video about that too😉 Thank you so much for watching and the compliment!
Michael Bordenaro Are there homes out there that have no HOA fees?
Great information. Even for a non first time home buyer. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much😀
We recently bought a house in Largo and it's in an HOA, however it's only $28 per month and covers trash pickup and other small amenities. There are lots of rules about set backs and fences etc but because of it, the neighborhood has an expansive feel with no huge vehicles or weird structures piled on top of another. I think it' worth it! I owned a mobile home for 5 years in Clearwater and what a nightmare that can be!! Maybe you could talk about that a bit because I think people don't realize how they have almost no rights when leasing a lot. Thanks!
I agree that a small HOA feel like that can be totally worth it if it's fitting the lifestyle you're wanting out of it. How do you mean people having no rights when leasing a lot?
I better start looking at Condos then.....
Cutting grass and maintaining yards is not for me.
Love your videos. Keep the good content and information flowing! 👊🏾
Thanks a lot! I certainly will✌️
Super insightful!! Thank you so much. I'm in the midst of deciding what to do for a fla home and this vid was extremely useful.
Excellent! Glad to hear that it will help with your decision 👌
@@MichaelBordenaro the special assessment fee. That is tough. It's hard to imagine how that can be fair. You buy a unit with the understanding that there are amenities included. How can the upkeep be passed along to the tenants? Idk, maybe I'm naive but isnt the condo fee supposed to cover those items?
@@kevinkevin624 Well the amenities are included, it's just that sometimes the upkeep of the building can be a lot more expensive than anticipated and that is when the special assessments happen. And if you are renting out your unit, there is no way to pass this expense along to them. Because usually the building will be under construction (less desirable) combined with the fact that you can only charge for rent what the market will bear, and if you try to charge more, the tenant will leave, and the place would be sitting empty. It's a tough situation to be in as a landlord
@@MichaelBordenaro thanks for the insight! I spent an hour delving into special assessment rights / laws. HAHA
@@kevinkevin624 That's good! Better to be educated about it, and that'll help you make the right decision👌
Very clear and helpful video. Thank you very much!
My pleasure!
Hi - enjoy your videos. One thing you didn't mention - perhaps this has been mentioned in some of your other videos - homeowner's insurance. I considered moving to FL about 2 yrs ago and got insurances quotes on a few condos in Delray Beach/Ford Lauderdale/West Palm area and was surprised to learn about things like "roof clips" (being up north, never heard of such a thing), and that anything built before 2005 (I think) was going to be heap more to insure. Also flood insurance - does the building carry it? Is the house or building in a flood zone? The flood zone maps change. A place that might not have previously been in a flood zone might now be in one. (Also beware of sink hole alley in the middle of the state over to Tampa area).
A friend has a condo in a low rise building in South Beach and the 2017 hurricane caused a huge amount of very, very expensive damage down there. His unit is on the 5th floor of a modern building (built in '09, I think) and is cement (CBS I think it's called) yet still sustained tons of damage (water came pouring in thru the roof, damaging the crap out of elevators, and just about every unit from the top (8th) floor down.) He and his neighbors all found themselves battling it it out with their insurers on everything, and as a result it took a VERY long time for repairs to get done. One unit would finally be repaired, (new drywall, new flooring, etc) after several months, but some other units wouldn't be finished until nearly a year after the fact, so there was construction noise basically every day for about a year and a half in his building. And this was typical of all of the buildings in his neighborhood. I didn't ask, but I'm guessing his already sky high insurance premium probably went thru the roof after that (so to speak!) And this was after just one hurricane. FL has how many storms and storm surge events every year?
People from other climes need to be aware of the FL insurance costs. It is a whole different and VERY expensive ballgame from what we are used to up north.
Very good point Curt. I mainly don't talk about insurance too much bc it is so specific to each individual property and so the price can vary wildly based on the specifics. That story about your friends condo in sobe, is the main reason I consider insurance for the most part to be a scam. Their goal is to collect as much as possible and payout as little as possible. On top of that, some people have nothing but good things to say about their insurance experience while others have gone through pure hell like your friend. This is an interesting topic to explore for me in the future👍
Great video, I had a discussion about the special assessments on another youtubers video, great video.
Thank you very much! It is an important thing to be aware of when buying a condo for sure👍
Liberal Thought, I believe you were talking with me on the other channel. Fancy seeing you here. ☺
Great video Mike a lot of good information,I will rent a beach condo
Awesome, glad you liked it 😊 Living on the beach is the best!
Im not sure if you already have but if not you should make a video about how the rising sea level problem is being dealt with. Im planning to move to florida in the next year and im scared to buy property especially since many say it will not be habitable in our lifetime. I love your videos man keep it up!
Thanks for watching and glad you like the videos! I like this idea, I can certainly cover it from the perspective of Miami Beach, since it's where I live and is essentially ground zero for this issue. Can't speak for the rest of FL, but it is an interesting video idea👍
Surf side building was just the beginning I bet 💯 I’ve thought about that before too confirmation
Perfectly described!! Thank you
you're welcome! Glad you got value from it 😀
Great video! Lots of valuable information!
Glad you enjoyed it and got value out of it👍
Man im dizzy lol so much to consider
Biggest mistake I ever made was buying a condo in south Florida... condo associations are a NIGHTMARE. developers are shady criminals. Couldnt wait to get the hell out of that overpriced craphole. Special assessments, reserve accounts...$$$ disappeared.. never again. Don't do it!!
That is a terrible experience, and I know people who have been through something similar.
Is there a way they let everyone know where the money is going. Like, do they provide receipts and proof of transactions?
@@tesiemarie8942 Yes every year condos have their financial line item budget and as an owner you always have a right to receive a copy for your review 👌
I’m a big fan of a corner townhouse structure in a condo community. I have one in Atlanta and only share a wall with one awesome and quiet neighbor. I’m thinking about moving to Yulee, Florida and getting something from DR Horton. You are a fantastic content creator and real estate professional.
The condos that feel private are the best! Thanks so much for your compliments Jed, much appreciated 😀
@@MichaelBordenaro Definitely. You are very welcome! Happy New Year!
@@jedfearon Happy New Year!
@@MichaelBordenaro 🎉🍾🎈
Century village condos are cheap and the amenities are great...with so many for sale you can find a deal !!...or rent one first and see if you like it....truth is its quiet and half the units are empty most of time....
Those are truly the highlights and best part of most of the 55+ communities👌
Hey Mike, It's James. I say both for reasons of equity and leverage for the equity toward more property. Currently and bo-humbug, I am still on hold for raising capital.
Both can be good investments if you've done your homework for sure 👍
I own a townhouse in New Hampshire and in the next few years I plan to sell it and buy a condo down there. This vid was pretty good info.
Awesome! Glad it helped👍
Nice video. Very informative. BTW is that a fuzz bass pedal behind you?
Thanks Patrick! The pedals you are seeing are a BOSS OD pedal, Wah, and my Delay and Chorus on the right 😎
Hi Michael, my husband is very interested in moving from Boston to Miami. Tired of the long cold winters here in Boston. In perhaps 2 years, we will be visiting Florida.
Nice Kim! I'm sure you guys are looking forward to the visit
Never consider a building with no reserve funding!!
Never.
Yes that is the smartest thing to do, probably also rules out 80% of condos in FL though LOL. Very sad, a lot of buildings are really not run very well financially
depends on your needs.
A condo is good idea if you will be living in 8 months a year. More secure.
That’s true. Home body is better for single home. Traveler is better for condo.
Great video! Lots of good information about buying in Florida!
Thanks!!
Dear Michael,
Can you make a blog explaining what taxes the buyer of property has to pay.
Please cover the cases for a brand new and not new property: house, townhouse, condo.
Hello from Vancouver
That is a good idea! I will put it on my list👌
Agree. Also important to explain Florida's homestead exemption & snowbirds.
@ Noted, will be coming in the future
I grew up near Tallahassee. North Florida, Gulf beaches are so much better than East coast or Miami.
Michael another great video, a lot of good info........Thank you.......
Thank you very much Jim! Glad you liked the video 😀
A new term that I encountered during my recently initiated FL home search is....
CDD.
What is this?
Good/bad, avoid?
Thanks!
It's not really good or bad, but it's important to get educated about what it is, and if your community is part of one. For more information, see this article: www.cfmcdd.org/questions/
Thank you Michael for you great explanation ‼️‼️👍
You are very welcome😀
In the US EVERYTHING costs an arm and a leg. 🤷🏻♂️
At least in the most desirable areas it does
HOA fees are through the roof in Miami Dade County!!!
It really depends on the building much more than the county. I know buildings here that have pretty reasonable HOA's and others are astronomical
It's crazy all over
Hello from the UK. Our aim is to buy a 2nd home (condo) in about 5 years. We have a program here that shows Brits looking to buy property in Florida and it seems to always concentrate on Davenport ?? We would like to be on a coast though not sure which one yet? I think we’d have to buy a condo as we would be aiming to go out there 4/5 times a years for only a few weeks at a time. We are willing to pay the monthly fees purely for the convenience of having to do nothing and most importantly, leaving a condo empty in a secure manner. I guess if we were to consider emigrating then we would buy a house. We’ve just started watching videos on Florida property and are glad we’ve come across this one as it really has helped us in that it reaffirms that buying a condo is the best thing for us. With regards to ‘rules’ is it ok for family/friends to fly over & stay in a condo when you’re not there? Thanks
Sounds like a condo is the right choice for you. Most of them will allow Friends And Family to stay there when you're not there but you usually need to put them on some sort of guest list ahead of time it can't be random people showing up all the time because that can be confused as renting short term which is usually against the rules in most condos
I know south west florida has really tightened up on its rental laws. I wonder if I could buy a condo on the Canal in Cape Coral and rent out the boat dock.
Definitely something you want to be aware of before buying. I know a lot of the buildings here in Miami that have boat docks, will allow you to rent them to someone else if you wish
Also,if you are out of state owner , you pay higher tax rate.
Very true if you do not have a homestead tax exemption in FL
Thank you for this video very helpful! The fines in our coop start at 500.00 such as if you don't wear a mask entering the building the stick 500 on your maintenance bill and if you dont pay it it goes to collections. But the security you get is a trade off. Florida sounds a little easier. I have neighbors that moved to Florida many actually and they say it is much easier to deal with and al live in condos. But whats not easier is the rainy season and high humidity not being able to go to the beach because it rains so often. But it is snowing every day in NYC and there is ice on the ground and we cant go anywhere and enjoy ourselves. We are like bears forced to hibernate, so the trade off is better in Florida.
You're welcome! Oh those are some hefty fines. I don't think I've heard any so severe up until now. It certainly is a trade-off. Florida is not my favorite place to be in the summer but right now it's the best place to be
A couple of million dollars for a pool deck? OMG. You gotta check the reserve fund when buying. I am more familiar with coops but am I correct that a condo building doesn't have a mortgage on the building? Condos have lots of rules..I once had a townhome condo. That was a mess. Now I have a fee simple townhome. Some rules but less..fees are low and I own the land. Thx Michael
Yep it was a huge project and took them over a year to complete it. The building itself does not have a mortgage. But individual unit owners may have mortgages on their units. They do have a lots of rules!
Do single family houses keep a better value ?
Definitely, they are less vulnerable to steep declines in prices for sure because they are more desirable and there are less of them especially here in South Florida. The condo market is much more volatile and prices dip significantly more in a downturn
You know there's such a thing as loss assessment coverage. Insurance that covers special assessments.
Never heard of that, but I would imagine its just like most insurance, good luck getting it to pay out once you actually need it
Thanks for the information I would rather buy a house 🏠 🏄
Very informative. Thank you.
Excellent, you're very welcome!
you pay the condo off and you can still loose it to H.O.A to me it's not worth it to rent
Yes it is possible if you stop paying your HOA dues long enough and they foreclose
Learned a lot. Thank you!
Glad to hear it!
Excellent and informative video,...again. The number #1 reason why my girlfriend and I will never buy in retirement is because you never know if an area will turn to s**t. If you just rent you can pack up and get out,....if you buy you could be stuck,......and if the area goes down fast (and they can) you are living a nightmare. With all the ''uncertainty'' in the world,...buy anything with extreme caution. Just my humble(but usually correct) opinion.
I agree...Things are in a state of flux, anything can happen......Better to be nimble and alert......Thank you...
Agreed, I am actually surprised how much the buying activity has returned to normal since things have opened back up. I thought for sure the market would be dead here, and it's the opposite. Have to be careful
@@MichaelBordenaro I am probably the only person of your 3k subscribers who would enjoy watching a video where you compare what 499k gets you in Miami Beach compared to Rockford Illinois,.....just a thought.Lol
@@Tonymanero1960 Yep, probably! Everyone else most likely has no idea where this place is LOL
@@MichaelBordenaro Well shame on the 2999+ subscribers who don't know (or care) that Cheap Trick is from Rockford Ill,...Btw,...you should watch their Rock and Roll HOF acceptance speech from 2016 on UA-cam. It is very cool and moving and they do mention Rockford. Also,....when we watch your videos my bodacious girlfriend always asks about your accent. I tell her it is an upper midwest accent,......not quite ''Da bears'' /Ditka'',...but close.
Thank you. Great information. I love your videos. Does the condo HOA covers the damage from a hurricane?
Thank you very much! Good question, The HOA insurance usually covers the exterior of the building and common areas and the grounds. However, if you have damage inside your unit that is usually your responsibility.
I'd rather just rent something there.
Sometimes that is the more sensible solution👍
Depending on the area, rents are obscene. Even outside of S Florida.
I was 22 when I visited my dying father in the hospital. He was very weak and we weren't sure if he was aware we were there. I gently hugged him and held him. I whispered,," I love you Dad" and started to pull away when I felt him grab me with a rather firm grip and pull me back down. He said " look at me Son, I love you too and I'm very proud of the man you've become.....but please son....please promise me.......... you'll NEVER EVER.............
let your Mom buy a property that has a HOA"
Haha, good one😉 I'm sure you got many all emotion there for minute....until they got to the end
Thanks for reminding me to check about the reserves. My favorite condo I was looking at in Ft. Walton had a high association fee for what it was. But if it includes a good reserve, it could be worth it!
You're welcome! Yes it absolutely can be worth it. I am selling one now that has not had a maintenance increase in at least 6 years, because they have reserves and have been able to pay for all of the surprises that have come up👍
The building itself might not be properly maintained nor constructed for a humid tropical maritime climate. I would be wary of the building collapsing like Surfside fl, in Miami suburb. I will take a home anytime over silly rules of a condo , HOA fees only 1 parking space ect....
Those are all good points to take into consideration Michael 👍
Condo is like a hotel once a month the maintenance guys open my door unit when I was not home and sprayed the pesticide all over or for other reasons
It can be, we even have condo/hotels here!
@@MichaelBordenaro Can you cover that as a topic in a video? As I live in Norway I have been wondering whether I should buy a condo in a hotel as it might be easier to rent it out
@@jovanmilutinovicstudentdad8138 Yes I might be able to do that, I like the idea so I will put it in my list👌
Michael Bordenaro awesome! Love your channel btw!
@@jovanmilutinovicstudentdad8138 Thank you !!
Do these "special assessments" also come into play in gated single home communities?
It could be possible, but probably way less likely as the residents are not sharing one big building that constantly needs repair. But it could be possible for something like a community pool, clubhouse etc
so, if you rent a condo, do you still pay the hoa fees, or is that incumbent to the owner of that specific condo unit?
No the landlord pays the HOA away fees and for sure they've already calculated that into your monthly rent payment. So in addition to your rent you should only have to pay your cable and Internet bill your electric bill and possibly natural gas if there's a gas stove
What's the average monthly penalty for cranking up that dual rectifier?
Haha average penalty is free concert tix for the whole building 😄
@@MichaelBordenaro Nice :) . I'll be bringing along a 50W single rectifier myself; key info here.
Sounds like buying a condo isn’t worth it at all, if you are going to buy, get a house. personally I think renting is better than buying, a lot more freedom of movement, and in some cases it’s just flat out a better deal.
Renting can definitely be a better deal, it certainly is in my case. But can also work the other way around. Totally agree on the house route👍
True cause rent covers most of the utilities you would be paying for with a house plus tax Maintanice etc. it’s a flexible option but I still think owning something will be a lot better for you and your family. Once it’s eventually paid off for you’re kinda free besides the basic needs. Then you can rent that out and go for something else
Thanks a lot really great informations.
You’re welcome Gilbert thank you for watching!
Thank you for this video👍, new subscriber here
You're welcome! Thanks for subbing 😀
Hi mike, could you make a video in regards to those of us who have filed bankruptcy but want to move to Florida and how to do so? I think it would give you a good video to make.
That could be an idea. What type of questions related to moving here and the bankruptcy would you have?
The difference between chapter 7&13. How long would it take to be approved for a home loan in Florida as I am sure it is different from state to state. Reassuring them that they aren’t scum of the earth for claiming bankruptcy, yada yada yada.
Sorry please don’t take my comment as “scum of the earth” as me saying that’s how you feel. It’s just that’s how I feel after doing it knowing that I was doing it for the right reasons.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks Criss, I will!!
Maybe you have talked about this, but I am looking at property taxes on zillow, they seem pretty high in FL. Any ways to make that part more reasonable?
There's not really anything you can do about it, unless your property is going down in value, then you can get re assessed and pay less, but when property values rise, so do the taxes
@@MichaelBordenaro Yikes, I am thinking about moving down to FL and property taxes are seriously affecting the rent-or-buy choice. People tend to think in terms of mortgage vs rent payments but once you add HOA + property taxes, the calculations start to favor renting. And then there is insurance, with hurricanes and flooding presenting real risks... having seen your other videos, I think I don't want a sports car because of the flooding, I might just get an SUV and rent an apartment at least initially. THANK YOU, your videos are super-useful!
@@duerandaggi you got that right! Owning is great and does have its advantages but it’s becoming a less viable option for many people and even makes me question how much it makes sense a lot of times as a real estate agent. Really glad my videos are helping you with that😀
Dear Michael, what about countryside of north Florida? I mean surroundings of Jacksonville, Lake city or Gainsville. It seems that in this countryside and area there is less condos and more private houses, but no fences too much in these houses. These areas are less in danger from robbery and vandalism?
I don't know those areas too well so I can't say how safe they are but I would imagine there are many more houses and condos out in the countryside
Hi I live in Citrus Springs Fla I moved here in July and I hate it . Yes it in a area where there is nothing but woods. If I knew that I would have looked for a more developed area. I really want to go back to Ny
Very very informative video, I have one question though you mentioned condos go down faster than single family home, what about appreciation does condos appreciate like SFH or it's bad investment if I want to sell after some years let's say 5 years?
Thanks again for your video, I will start watching the rest of your videos. I am new to SF and you are helping me a lot 🙂
Hi Ahmad, welcome to Florida! Glad you found my videos 😀 that's a good question I would say the appreciation level for condos is roughly the same unless we're talking about specialty properties or places that are very high in demand like direct oceanfront condos for example. Those can tend to appreciate faster than houses but also depreciate faster in a downturn
Hmmm. Michael you forgot to mention the CONDO COMMANDO/s ... oh yeah EVERY BUILDING has one or more of these NIGHTMARES. Most people don’t realize that the Board decides if an ASSESSMENT is needed and once passed, YOU MUST PAY IT OR A LEIN WILL BE PUT ON YOUR UNIT. You make a very valid point ... if you’re going to be a snowbird ... condo is the only way to go. I’ve lived in both but would now only consider a house ... although it would never be in Florida ... land of the truly IGNORANT (save for the three South Florida counties). Question: Why does FloriDUH CONSISTENTLY vote against its own best interests? (aka voting Republican). Is it STUPIDITY? Is it IGNORANCE? Or is it the heat and humidity? And then when it goes horribly wrong, they pull their heads out of their hole and look up like a deer in headlights 🧐
Yes, those commandos exist in almost every building. But the good news as an owner, you almost always get to vote on a potential special assessments, and I see a lot of condo owners here are very hands off and just don't vote or take the time to give their opinion on these important decisions, and then have the audacity to complain about it later.
Michael, I was wondering if all you say about buying a condo - like possible assessment fees, etc., added to the regular monthly fees applies also to buying a single family home that has an H.O.A. Could you please clarify that for me as it seems that nearly all Florida homes on Zillow, Trulia, etc. have some sort of association fees. I would hate to have that hanging over our heads when we come to Florida and do eventually buy. Thanks.
Good question and the answer is yes. If you buy in ANY HOA community, you could face a possible special assessment at any time. Although, for a community of single family homes, the likelihood of it being a very high special assessment like a condo is pretty low. Rest assured, there are plenty of areas in FL that have houses that are not in HOA's
@@MichaelBordenaro Thank you Michael for replying. You are so helpful and so are your vidéos.
@@MacGregorLassie Absolutely! It is my pleasure. Makes me happy that people like yourself are helped by my videos and info I have to share. I feel like I have already helped more people 1 year on youtube, than I could help my entire real estate career. Super cool👌
i see when looking at places in Miami beach there are many coops? whats your opinion on them?
There are not too many, there some but it's mostly condos. Well there are a couple of benefits but also drawbacks. Benefits are the property taxes and many of the building expenses are included in your monthly HOA. The drawback is I have yet to find a lender here who will finance one, so you pretty much always have to pay cash
You also didn't mention at least I did not hear you mention if several condo owners default and the condos get repossessed or foreclosed on the rest of the owners have to come up with the extra money to make up for the condo owners who defaulted and are not paying the condo fees.
Excellent video
Thanks Carlos!
So if I'm getting this right a home owner bought and paid for still pays around $2500 a month just to keep owning it? And condo owners also pay that much a month give or take?
If you are referring to the place I live in, they probably pay about $1600/mo to own this place since they own it outright, so no its not everyone. But if you were to buy here now, depending on the unit would cost between $3300-4200/mo with a 20% down payment
@@MichaelBordenaro wow so your paying 1600 a month not including mortgage for owning a fully paid condo. That's not even my monthly salary.
We pay about $2200 per month in rent to live here actually. So the owner makes a decent profit. But yes it’s expensive to live here in Miami Beach on the ocean!
@@MichaelBordenaro damn.
Thanks for the clarity. Good honest videos. Keep it up.
@@emileneslo5695 You're welcome! Glad you are enjoying the vids 😊
Can I be loud in a condo? I noticed your Mesa Boogie half stack and I too have some loud gear.
I think it largely depends on the place. If it's mostly old people, you're probably gonna get some complaints. But where I live is a mix, and no one has ever complained. That being said, I only play once or twice per week for a couple hours at a time, I am not running a garage band out of the place LOL
Is there much difference between condo, 55 and over condo, and assisted living?
Yes there is. A 55 and older condo is exactly that, a condo that you own and must be over 55 to purchase. Whereas assisted living is a business, and you essentially rent a spot there, and in exchange, they have many different services to help the elderly with everyday life. Most 55 and older condos do not offer any of these type of services. It's just a condo, geared towards retirees that want more peace and enjoyment and it also keeps the purchase price of these units down.
@@MichaelBordenaro thank you that is helpful info.
I have a question. I am moving to avemtura and eanted to but a condo there. Me my eife, my dog amd a yoirng kid. Is a condo a place where people raise families in south florida? Or is just for retirees? Thanks.
@@adrianocosta6760 You can find a condo in Aventura that will fit your needs. The biggest thing to look out for is to make sure the building allows your dog (size, breed etc) and that it is kid friendly and maybe some other families living there also.
Relative in west palm Beach condo was assessed $10k for hurricane damage one year, special assessment....no thanks I prefer St. Augustine!
Hurricanes can happen anywhere in FL though. Nowhere is untouchable
Thanks for the info 👍
You're welcome!
You should charge extra money from your followers for this valuable information bro :) definetly the best comparison. Thanks a lot greetings from Turkey
I do charge for 1 on 1 consulting calls, but I am a believer in giving away your best info for free. I want people who watch me to trust me and feel comfortable spending some money with me when the time comes. I'm happy to know you enjoyed the video and found it helpful. Hello from Miami Beach!!✌️
@@MichaelBordenaro Thanks Michael what is the best way to contact you for 1 on 1 consulting I would definetly need a professional advise before I invest in not to spend all of my savings for nothing :)
@@cenkkalfaoglu5239 You're welcome! You can setup a one on one with me at this link here michaelbordenaro.com/book-service/ and I would happy to help you out 😊
@Scott Weaks I may do that one day! I already charge for consulting calls. People message me and email me all the time asking questions, and I tell them this is my rate 😎
Is there any condos that don’t have HOA fees?
Unfortunately no. Probably better to buy a house if you want to ensure no HOA fees
Where can you be louder for recording at home?? Asking for a friend.
Definitely a house! I play this amp in my house, but I imagine if you want to record, it would be even louder. House for sure
Great advice, really like your Florida Real Estate videos. But... Why are you not covering the 2nd fastest growing city in FL for the last 5 years?.... CAPE CORAL. (Not Fort Myers) ... just the Cape. Thanks, Love your You Tube advice!
Thanks a lot! Only reason I don't cover the area is because I live in Miami Beach, and have worked here as a real estate agent for 11 years, so naturally it just makes more sense for me to cover this area more. But, I do plan to be visiting more new areas in FL, such as Cape Coral in the future, and I look forward to making videos about these places. Lots to come!
I looked everywhere in Florida prior to buying in Cape Coral. The primary reason was because it is still relatively small yet booming and the real estate prices are right... and its location to Sanibel Island, Marco Island Boca Grande couldn't be better amazing location amazing City and boaters paradise.
@@colemant6845 Definitely sounds like a great spot and sounds like you made a good choice! Looking forward to visiting there!
Do you have to surrender your key to someone else. In case of fire or whatever. What's the demographics of the people living in the building or area. Are they old. At some point will there be a large number of condominium units for sale in your area, is there a washer/dryer in the unit you're interested in; or will you have to queue to get your laundry done, is your area flooding often, do you depend on public transportation (Hint: it won't be as good as you're used to in DC or NYC), do the elevators break down or are out with a power outage, how often does the building/area get power outages, where's the building in relation to the storm surge (on Miami Beach you'll have to evacuate), can you get a ride to the medical center or doctor's office, .... I have a house, and would like to move back to a condo. A house is a time and money pit.
It is Florida state law that the condo needs to have a copy of ever unit's keys and they make sure they have them, every year. If you are asking all of these questions about Miami Beach, it is hard to answer them in a nutshell, because the demographics, amenities of the building and vibe of the neighborhood are drastically different, even just right here in Miami Beach. But as a quick rundown, we have W/D in unit at the place I live, so you have your own. Hardly ever any power outages. Demographics is a healthy mix between, young, old and in between. Public transportation is easy and readily available in MB. And we do get flooding during heavy rain, but not like its coming into the building or anything like that. The garage here does flood in some areas. Hope this is helpful!
@@MichaelBordenaro I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. I wasn't asking you. I was just mentioning some of the things that should go into prospective buyers calculations.
@@SportsIncorporated Oh ok, no problem. Either way, I gave the rundown 😉 But you are correct, all good things that a buyer needs to consider
It's beautfiul. But no thanks. I do not do hurricanes yearly
It's not for everyone. I don't like hurricanes either
Exactly what i needed, thank you!
Glad it helped! That is awesome 😀