Difference Between Condominiums and Apartments

Though the terms are often used interchangeably, condominiums (commonly known as condos) and apartments are not exactly the same thing. Certainly, condos and apartments are very similar, but there is one main difference. Legally, each property type is different, as can be seen from the following definitions:

• Condominium — A type of ownership in real property where all of the owners own the property, common areas and buildings together, with the exception of the interior of the unit to which they have title. Often mistakenly referred to as a type of construction or development, it actually refers to the type of ownership. [Real Estate ABC Glossary]
• Apartment — A room or set of rooms fitted especially with housekeeping facilities and usually leased as a dwelling. [Merriam-Webster Dictionary]

All right, so those are the "dictionary" definitions...but what is the difference really? To understand the difference easily, consider it this way: a condo is property that you own while an apartment is property that you rent. The apartment space inside a set of condominiums is privately owned, while the common space (i.e., hallways, elevators, exterior, etc.) is controlled by the association of owners. Ah yes, now the difference sounds much clearer. But what about when someone says something like, "I'm renting this Condo out on Cape Cod." Didn't we just establish the difference between condos and apartments and realize that condos are bought, not rented. Well, in this scenario, another individual must own the condo and has probably decided to rent it out.

Typically, you would buy condo for many of the same reasons you would buy an apartment. Generally, there is still a homeowner's fee associated with a condo, which goes toward general maintenance and upkeep for common areas (such as the building's exterior, landscaping, any security, etc.). There are, of course, a number of benefits to buying condos. If you're looking to buy property, then condos are often more affordable than purchasing homes or other types of real estate. It's also possible, as referenced above, to purchase a condo and then rent it.

If you're looking for a condo, there are a number of great resources at your disposal. A number of online resources, and even some realtors, actually specialize in helping you find a condo (rather than showing all types of real estate, including as apartments). For example, there are a few good Web resources to help you find an affordable condo in Jamaica Plain (Boston, MA).