Choosing Between Condo and Landed Property.

11th October 2009
If you have the choice of living in a condominium in the heart of a city or a terrace house in the suburbs, which would you prefer? Both have their good – and bad – sides and nobody could fault you for taking your time to decide.

It’s different strokes for different folks, though to many, especially parents and aunts, landed property has the edge over a condo anytime.

"Owning land itself is a plus point," said businessman and father of two grown-up children Hisham Ahmad.

"No matter how small the plot, you can do more in a terrace house … you can also be free from the restrictions that come with condo living.

"Some people feel a more complete sense of ownership with landed property."

Convenient city condos Quite a number of households in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, however, prefer highrises as they like the convenience they provide as well as the ability to interact more closely with the city and all the lifestyle it has to offer.

"After a hectic day at work, some people, especially the younger bachelor types, like to spend their nights with friends until the wee hours," said upwardly mobile business development manager Marco De Booij.

"I, for example, am not the kind who wants to tend to gardens and worry about locking and unlocking gates and grilles... to me, a city condo is ideal as it comes with a host of facilities literally at my doorstep.

"These include a swimming pool, badminton, squash and tennis courts, a sauna and restaurants.

"I don't have to jump into the car and fight traffic to use any of these facilities.

Moreover, De Booij said city condo living promotes social bonding as "residents of various backgrounds and cultures can mingle and get to know one another at the swimming pool or the courts".

"This is important for racial integration the government is encouraging," he said.

Housewife Deslie Ang agreed, saying she feels secure living in a condo as it offers a number of layers of protection, from perimeter fencing to guarded entrance and card-access system to main door security.

"I don't have to worry about canvassers ringing my doorbell, which I would have to if I lived in a terrace house," she said.

However, Ang admitted that living in a highrise has its annoying moments, such as when a neighbour moves furniture around or "when he indulges in karaoke singing at two in the morning".

"But it's not the fault of the condo," she said. "It can happen anywhere there are people with poor social conscience".

The terrace as home For soon-to-be-wed freelance copywriter Elyas Ezanee, there’s no two ways about it: A terrace houses – preferably a bungalow – in a gated-andguarded residential estate is his idea of the perfect home.

"I'm thinking of having children soon. Living in a house with land would be more conducive.

"In the future, I want my children to be able to run around a park and grow up with a sense of space.

"I realise many new condo projects have landscaped gardens and playgrounds, but they’re common areas... nothing beats having space to call your own."

Elyas is not worried about the security element in landed living since "there are a number of gated-and-guarded terrace schemes available now, which provides security as good as that of a similarly priced condo".

Additionally, he said a landed property allows him to "park my car right in front of my door, where it is in front of my eyes".

"A home with land is for the long term; a condo is more suitable for the shorter term as it appeals mainly to the younger set: Bachelors and young families," he concluded.

"Once they outgrow their home, they’ll want to move to a place with land."

From a condo to a terrace Marketing executive Johan Jaafar, who just moved out of a condo to a terrace house, said he "moved to a condo soon after I got married".

"It was just my wife and I then, and we felt it best suited our lifestyle, since we are both working professionals.

"Four years later, though, when we started planning for a family, the thought of upgrading to a landed property came to mind.

"We decided on a terrace... not only would it be larger, it would also enable us to 'create a home', instead of just 'living in a house'," he said.

"Living in a condominium is like driving an automatic car, which will do most things for you...

"Living in a terrace house, on the other hand, is more like driving a manual.

"Although more energy is put into the effort, the fun and enjoyment you get is much greater."

Source: NST