A mostly serious examination of the pros and cons of buying a condo in the Toronto Real Estate Market.

Pro
Easy living. Nothing to mow, shovel, prune, or plant. No pesky furnace, roof, sump pump, windows or any of those annoying and expensive things to replace. Ever. Which is awesome.

Con
You have to pay condo fees. They kinda suck, and they tend to increase over time. You end up paying for stuff you never use or don’t care about – like a swimming pool (you’re not twelve anymore, so who cares), the gym (ha!) and a maybe even a “movie theatre”. Keep in mind you’re super easy lifestyle comes at a price. This is it.

Pro
Did I mention it’s super easy? Want to go away for 6 weeks following a travelling circus around South Eastern Europe? Just lock the door and hit the road. The added security and no street entrance means no one is likely to break in. No need to arrange for someone to mow, shovel or prune – no basement to flood. Life is good.

Con
You have to be around lot’s of other people. Gross. The neighbours you share a wall with fight all the time, the concierge only shops at the jerk store, people occasionally engage you in conversation in the elevator. Not for everyone.

Pro
They are less expensive than a house! Want to live in the heart of downtown and don’t have like $800,000? No problem – a nice little one bedroom in your favourite neighbourhood can likely be yours for around $300,000.

Con
Some people worry that the condo market is going to go tits up and your unit won’t be worth more than a tin can and the lint in your pocket. I don’t personally think that this is going to happen, but what do I know, I’m a real estate agent with my own best interests at heart. In all seriousness, there are ways to “buy smart”, think smaller boutique buildings on main streets with transit just outside. Or conversions, they aren’t making many more of those. Avoid areas that don’t have the infrastructure to really support the level of construction. Or areas where there are like a thousand other very similar buildings a stones throw away. Hint, an area that I would personally avoid rhymes with City Face.

Pro
Underground parking is the sh*t! It’s cold in the winter and you won’t have to spend 30 minutes deicing your car. Plus, the added security means fewer broken windows and a reduced chance of having your favourite Duran Duran CD swiped. Just kidding, I know no one owns CDs anymore.