Advantages of buying a Property within a Owners Community in Spain

25th November 2022 · 4 min. read

When it comes to becoming the owner of our new home, we must take into account certain important factors. For example, our lifestyle, our plans for the future, the area we want to live in, the atmosphere we like, how many parking spaces we need, what budget we have, etc.

In this article we want to show you the elements to take into account when choosing to buy a property in a community of neighbours or an independent home in Spain.

As in most situations, everything has advantages and disadvantages. For this reason, in addition to the aspects that we are going to deal with, it is important to bear in mind that in a community it is always necessary to make a greater effort to live together in harmony.

Let’s take a look at the fundamental aspects to consider when choosing whether to live in a community or individual home.

The budget for living in a property (electricity, water, municipal taxes, rubbish, staff…) depends, of course, on the characteristics of each property. But, in most situations, the costs of apartments in owner-occupied communities tend to be lower than those of individual dwellings. This is because the costs are borne by all the neighbours and managed under the supervision of an administrator.

However, this rule does not apply one hundred percent when it comes to super-luxury urbanisations, as they have all kinds of high-end services which will require higher monthly and annual expenses because they offer a very special quality of life.

One of the advantages of an apartment in a community of owners is often the heating. Properties that are a few years old are designed with central heating and this greatly reduces the cost of heating the property in winter. Newly built apartments, on the other hand, often include air-conditioning, underfloor heating and individual heating systems, all of which increase the heating bill considerably, although the thermal sensation is better.

Even so, the numbers tend to be lower in terms of energy expenditure in blocks of apartments than in individual dwellings. For example, a villa-type property has more rooms and more floors to heat, as well as more metres of façade, which has an impact on the thermal conditioning of the house.

The same applies to garden maintenance. A community will have a gardener on staff who will be paid by the monthly expenses contributed by all the owners. Individual homes have to bear the cost of the gardening or maintenance staff privately, which raises the costs considerably.

Neighbourhood communities are the perfect choice for young couples with children or with plans to expand the family. If the relationship with the neighbours is cordial, these places are a safe and perfect place where children can play while parents enjoy themselves without leaving the house. What more could you ask for? Living in a community makes it possible to “make friends” with other members of the community and to have a more active social life.

In individual housing, on the other hand, there is more privacy. But there is also often room to invite friends or family over at certain times of the year. That is why many villas include a guest room or even a guest house. Some residential areas also have a gym, social club, health and wellness area… which also facilitate interaction with other residents.

The comfort and cosiness of an apartment versus the spaciousness of an individual villa is one of the main factors to take into account when choosing the perfect home. But it depends on what type of apartment we are talking about. If it is a penthouse or a duplex, for example, it can offer the advantages of both.

These are some of the factors to consider when choosing the property that will become your home. Think carefully and consider your needs. Whether you are looking for the tranquillity of a property on the outskirts of the city or whether you prefer a city centre property surrounded by restaurants, museums, parks, for a more social atmosphere, you should consider the advantages of both types of property. From  Christie’s International Real Estate – Madrid, Malaga & Marbella we will help you to find the best option. Do not hesitate to contact us.