Questions about Top Floor/Corner Unit Condos

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joostfan_IHB

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Hello. New to the forum but have been learning a lot! I've been looking at some condos and was wondering a few things that the experts can probably help me out with -



1) Is it worth it to pay extra to live on a top floor, where you don't have anyone stepping on your roof? How much extra?



2) Is it worth it to pay extra to live in a corner unit, where you only had one shared wall, as opposed to two? How much extra?



Thanks in advance.
 
It depends who you ask. I would pay more to live on a first floor than top floor. I don't like lugging heavy things up stairs. I've done it before and I'll never do it again. Top floor would be my last choice, but again - it depends on who you ask. I would always pay more for a corner unit. I'm in an apartment and I do pay more for that now. You get more natural light and less noisy neighbors & other downfalls of shared walls.
 
I rent a first floor unit and love the convenience but the overhead footsteps and strange thumping sounds at random times are really annoying although pyschologically it's okay since the rent is much cheaper than owning and I figure the noise is part of the low cost package. But f I owned a condo unit and have to pay mortgage, HOA, property tax, maybe mello roose, and on top of that have to deal with noisy neighbors above I'd go nuts.
 
I own a top floor end unit condo in Costa Mesa. The 29 steps to my front door get old, but I really like being on top.



Another thing to think about is water damage. A copper pipe in my kitchen wall sprung a leak, and it devastated my downstairs neighbor's kitchen. I had almost no damage at all. She (a renter) was without a kitchen for 3 months.
 
[quote author="joostfan" date=1237964304]Hello. New to the forum but have been learning a lot! I've been looking at some condos and was wondering a few things that the experts can probably help me out with -



1) Is it worth it to pay extra to live on a top floor, where you don't have anyone stepping on your roof? How much extra?



2) Is it worth it to pay extra to live in a corner unit, where you only had one shared wall, as opposed to two? How much extra?



Thanks in advance.</blockquote>


Top floor is always better except for the walk up inconveniences. Women do not like the top floor because for them a longer walk meant more exposure to danger.



Ground floor units are easily accessible but at he same time experience more break in through the ground floor. Rape and robberies also occur more on ground floor vs third floor.



Third floor has a better view and air ventilation. Air is stagnant and choked by the buildings at ground level. Third floor also gets more sun exposure since shadow from adjacent structures is cast to the ground floor unit.



Just a note for you how is it possible for a corner unit with just one shared wall with the neighbor. Is the other wall adjacent to the stairs?
 
Funny you should say that Bk. Most women I know don't want the ground floor unit because its so much easier to break into. My old condo was on the 2nd floor of a second story garden style condo building and it was ideal. Not a lot of stairs and really only one way in. Plus the stairs in a garden style unit aren't enclosed so you are always in sight to your neighbors.



Despite living in a very nice neighborhood there were a couple incidents at my condo complex of attempted break-ins. Both where women living alone that saw a man trying to get in their first floor sliding glass doors. One woman had just returned from a walk with her dog so it appeared the man had followed her. Thank God neither time the person got in since the doors were locked. But I imagine it was a horrific scare either way.



Now I don't live in an apartment and all the ground level ways to get in the house freak me out a bit if I stop to think about it :). Then again I don't live alone anymore.
 
[quote author="NewToOC" date=1238031013]Funny you should say that Bk. Most women I know don't want the ground floor unit because its so much easier to break into. My old condo was on the 2nd floor of a second story garden style condo building and it was ideal. Not a lot of stairs and really only one way in. Plus the stairs in a garden style unit aren't enclosed so you are always in sight to your neighbors.



Despite living in a very nice neighborhood there were a couple incidents at my condo complex of attempted break-ins. Both where women living alone that saw a man trying to get in their first floor sliding glass doors. One woman had just returned from a walk with her dog so it appeared the man had followed her. Thank God neither time the person got in since the doors were locked. But I imagine it was a horrific scare either way.



Now I don't live in an apartment and all the ground level ways to get in the house freak me out a bit if I stop to think about it :). Then again I don't live alone anymore.</blockquote>


Women definitely do not like the ground floor and the third floor. Second floor is their preference.



In places like Belmont Shore many single women living at the second level have a sense of false security and often left the window open for night or daytime ventilation since most near by ocean units do not have AC.



Rapists and robbers also gain access through the second floor open windows by using a recycle trash can as step stool.



I would recommend hanging a small wind chime with a suction cup hook on to the operable leaf of the window. It is considered good feng shui. It is also a good deterrent for burglars to move on to another prey.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1238031742][quote author="NewToOC" date=1238031013]Funny you should say that Bk. Most women I know don't want the ground floor unit because its so much easier to break into. My old condo was on the 2nd floor of a second story garden style condo building and it was ideal. Not a lot of stairs and really only one way in. Plus the stairs in a garden style unit aren't enclosed so you are always in sight to your neighbors.



Despite living in a very nice neighborhood there were a couple incidents at my condo complex of attempted break-ins. Both where women living alone that saw a man trying to get in their first floor sliding glass doors. One woman had just returned from a walk with her dog so it appeared the man had followed her. Thank God neither time the person got in since the doors were locked. But I imagine it was a horrific scare either way.



Now I don't live in an apartment and all the ground level ways to get in the house freak me out a bit if I stop to think about it :). Then again I don't live alone anymore.</blockquote>


Women definitely do not like the ground floor and the third floor. Second floor is their preference. </blockquote>


I wonder if that should be qualified with "single" (for the safety) or maybe "childless" (for the convenience) women. I feel like once you have children, the idea of climbing stairs up to your front door while holding a baby, a purse, and a grocery bag with refrigerated items is a deal-breaker. Before I had kids, I did like my 2nd floor apartment for the reasons you describe. When you have toddlers, you also do not like the idea of them falling down the stairs as they resist to go down with your assistance. I have never lived alone, so I don't know what I would prefer then. The wind-chime idea is a good one. I did have a peeping Tom prowling outside of my first-floor apartment once. I had gardening tools on the window sill - he knocked them over and ran. BTW - our IAC apartments do have an electronic chime for when the windows or doors open. This relieves some anxiety about prowlers getting in to your first-floor bedroom without your awareness.
 
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