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St. Kitts and Nevis Information
Buying a Condo in St Kitts or Nevis? Ask These Questions First
2011-02-09 13:46:01 by Jim Reed
Here are 10 Questions you should get answered by the condo board of the complex where you want to buy, or through the documents they give purchasers before closing. In the process, you?ll learn how responsive, and organized, the board and its members are. You?ll also be alerted to potential problems with the property.
1. What percentage of units is owner-occupied? What percentage is tenant-occupied? Generally, the higher the percentage of owner-occupied units, the more marketable the units will be at resale.
2. What covenants, bylaws, and restrictions govern the property? What grandfather clauses are in place? You may find, for instance, that those who buy a property after a certain date can?t rent out their units, but buyers who bought earlier can. Ask for a copy of the bylaws to determine if you can live within them. Have an attorney review property docs, including the master deed, for you.
3. How much does the association keep in reserves? Find out how that money is being invested.
4. Are association assessments keeping pace with the annual rate of inflation? Smart boards raise assessments a certain percentage each year to build reserves in order to fund future repairs. To determine if the assessment is reasonable, compare the rate to others in the area.
5. What does and doesn?t the assessment cover? Does the assessment include common-area maintenance, recreational facilities, trash collection?
6. What special assessments have been mandated in the past five years? How much was each owner responsible for? Some special assessments are unavoidable. But repeated, expensive assessments could be a red flag about the condition of the building or the board?s fiscal policy.
7. How much turnover occurs in the building? This will tell you if residents are generally happy with the building and their investment.
8. Is the condo building in litigation? This is never a good sign. If the builders or home owners are involved in a lawsuit, reserves can be depleted quickly.
9. Is the developer reputable? Find out what other projects the developer has built and visit one if you can. Ask residents of the complex you are considering about their perceptions. If the roof, windows, and pool aren?t in good repair, they become your problem once you buy.
10. Are multiple associations involved in the property? In very large developments, umbrella associations, as well as the smaller association into which you?re buying, may require separate assessments.
Your Coldwell Banker agent can help obtain and explain answers to all these questions, so you will be an informed and responsible condo buyer.
1. What percentage of units is owner-occupied? What percentage is tenant-occupied? Generally, the higher the percentage of owner-occupied units, the more marketable the units will be at resale.
2. What covenants, bylaws, and restrictions govern the property? What grandfather clauses are in place? You may find, for instance, that those who buy a property after a certain date can?t rent out their units, but buyers who bought earlier can. Ask for a copy of the bylaws to determine if you can live within them. Have an attorney review property docs, including the master deed, for you.
3. How much does the association keep in reserves? Find out how that money is being invested.
4. Are association assessments keeping pace with the annual rate of inflation? Smart boards raise assessments a certain percentage each year to build reserves in order to fund future repairs. To determine if the assessment is reasonable, compare the rate to others in the area.
5. What does and doesn?t the assessment cover? Does the assessment include common-area maintenance, recreational facilities, trash collection?
6. What special assessments have been mandated in the past five years? How much was each owner responsible for? Some special assessments are unavoidable. But repeated, expensive assessments could be a red flag about the condition of the building or the board?s fiscal policy.
7. How much turnover occurs in the building? This will tell you if residents are generally happy with the building and their investment.
8. Is the condo building in litigation? This is never a good sign. If the builders or home owners are involved in a lawsuit, reserves can be depleted quickly.
9. Is the developer reputable? Find out what other projects the developer has built and visit one if you can. Ask residents of the complex you are considering about their perceptions. If the roof, windows, and pool aren?t in good repair, they become your problem once you buy.
10. Are multiple associations involved in the property? In very large developments, umbrella associations, as well as the smaller association into which you?re buying, may require separate assessments.
Your Coldwell Banker agent can help obtain and explain answers to all these questions, so you will be an informed and responsible condo buyer.