Have you been thinking about moving into a condo after seeing your friend’s new two-bedroom condo view of the city? You need more information before making such a huge decision. “Why are condos the thing now?” you wonder.

Selling Points of Condominiums:

• Amenities
• Location
• Price
• Health and Wellness

Modern condos are more prominent with extra square footage than the modest space of the older condo. Modern condos are the new family home with buyers and renters looking for a spacious three-bedroom unit.

Floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline is where you want to be as you sip a glass of wine and watch the sunset. Along with more modern space, condo residents wish to have a view–something that older condos did not offer.

Builders are incorporating conveniences such as walking trails, playgrounds for children, commons areas, and gardens for the owners to enjoy. Condos are also being constructed to fit families with sizable layouts. Some of the floor plans may include individual quarters to accommodate a nanny, mother-in-law, or guests.

Some condos are built according to the buyer’s needs. They are also being constructed to withstand weather conditions such as tornadoes or hurricanes.

As a buyer, do you have a kitchen design in mind for your new place? Talking to the contractor about your idea may land you your dream kitchen. For some families, the kitchen is a focal point and is built to suit the needs for entertaining, relaxation, and more.

One of the biggest trends in newer condos is an unfitted kitchen, according to New Home Source. With wanting a sleek and modern home, renters and buyers are looking for a kitchen with hidden appliances, center islands, and open shelving.

Buyers and renters want an up to date, modern home with custom colors, floors, and ceilings. Yes, a customized ceiling. The days are gone where the space overhead is wasted. Your ceiling may now come with accents, textures, and custom colors.

Are you a remote worker and need an office at home? Newer condos are built with smart-home technology. Maybe you need to get out of the house while you work. Buyers are looking at condos that offer community centers with WiFi or a co-working space.

With the popularity of condos growing, so does the demand for eco-friendly materials in the fabrication of these homes. Some of the eco-friendly ways builders are making condos green are through lighting, appliances, and the paint used.

LED light bulbs are installed along with Energy Star appliances in greener condos. Another green living component to condos is the use of flooring without adhesives. Bamboo flooring is one such popular material for greener living.

Community rooftop gardens are also favored in green living—-rooftop gardens aid in insulating the roof during the colder months. Garden patios cool the air during the warmer months.

Builders are using high-efficiency heating, cooling, and ventilation in the condos. Low flow faucets and toilets assist in energy efficiency. The walls of the home are eco-friendly, using materials made with recycled content.

You can find both small and large floor plans. Are you an empty-nester that wants a sewing room and a guest room for when the grandkids visit? Or are you a newly married couple starting a family? Present-day condos have a layout to suit your needs.

More and more millennials are becoming caregivers, and as a first-time home buyer, they are looking to have a mother-in-law suite to fit the needs of the parent(s). The needs stretch from a mini-apartment on the main floor to a single bedroom chamber.

Another major selling point for the millennial buyer or renter is a condo that focuses on fitness and health. Condo residents are turning to mind, body, and soul wellness near home. Some of the ways they are getting these benefits are through amenities like a gym, feng shui gardens, and massage rooms.

Location is a must when renting or buying a condo for owners. They want a modern home near their children’s school, close to a hospital, or near public transportation.

Sense of community and safety are high on the list for a renter or buyer. Morning coffee on a rooftop patio with your neighbor sounds like your cup of tea? Or a smile from a neighbor as you enter the elevator. These are a few ways that the community of condo living appeals to others just like you.

More buyers and renters are looking at the condo as a first family home instead of the usual land and home package.

Condo vs. House:

1. Condos are cost-effective and less than a house to purchase.
2. Exterior maintenance and repairs are someone else’s problems, which is ideal for the busy person.
3. House owners and renters have to travel for most amenities, whereas a condo has it all on the grounds.

Owning isn’t quite for you yet? Here are a few tips to follow as a renter.

Condo Renting Tips:

1. List out what you want and need in a home.
2. Meet with your realtor about your list.
3. Find out what your renter’s responsibilities are versus the owner’s responsibilities.
4. Visit the address more than once and at off times as well. The environment will be different after work than before work or on the weekends.
5. Discuss what your monthly rent will cover, and know what your other fees are for and how much.

Whether buying or renting, check out the top condos in your area. No matter what age or stage of life you are in, there is a condo design trend happening out there for you.