What Is the Difference Between a Condo and an Apartment?

When you’re searching for a new place to live, you’ll likely come across both condos and apartments. While they might seem similar, there are key differences that can significantly impact your living experience. Condos are owned, apartments are rented, each with its own pros and cons. 

As you look for a condo in Chicago or an apartment in Reno, this Redfin real estate guide is here to help you understand the differences between the two and make an informed decision that aligns with your lifestyle and financial goals. By the end of this article, the answer to the question, “What is the difference between a condo and an apartment?” should become crystal clear. 

Ownership: condo vs. apartment

• Condominium: The most significant distinction between a condo and an apartment lies in ownership. A condominium, or condo, is a privately owned unit within a multi-unit building. While the individual unit is owned, the common areas of the building, such as hallways, fitness centers, and shared recreational spaces, are jointly owned by all the condo owners in the building. This shared ownership is managed by a homeowners’ association (HOA).
• Apartments: An apartment is typically a rental unit within a larger building owned by a single entity, often a corporation or an individual landlord. When you live in an apartment, you’re a tenant, and you pay rent to the owner.

Financial investment

• Condominium: When you buy a condo, you’re investing in real estate. This means you’ll have a mortgage, property taxes, and potentially the opportunity for your property to appreciate over time. Additionally, as a condo owner, you’ll pay monthly condo association fees. These fees cover the maintenance and repair of common areas, amenities, and sometimes utilities.
• Apartment: Apartment leases are typically for a set period, often 6 or 12 months, offering more flexibility if you anticipate needing to relocate in the future. While renting provides a place to live, it doesn’t build equity or offer the potential for property appreciation. Moving into an apartment usually requires a security deposit and the first month’s rent, which is typically less than a down payment and closing costs for a condo. Your monthly housing expense is primarily your rent, which remains consistent for the duration of your lease. You generally don’t have to worry about unexpected repair costs for the building.

Maintenance responsibilities

• Condominiums: As a condo owner, you are typically responsible for the maintenance and repairs within your unit. The homeowners’ association (HOA), on the other hand, is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of the common areas. This can include the building’s exterior, roof, hallways, elevators, and shared amenities like pools or fitness centers. Your HOA fees contribute to these collective maintenance efforts and a reserve fund for future major repairs or building improvements.
• Apartments: One of the biggest perks of renting is that your landlord is responsible for most maintenance and repairs within your unit and the building. If your appliance breaks or a pipe leaks, it’s usually not your financial burden to fix.

Rules and regulations

• Condominium: Condo associations, like HOAs, typically have a set of rules and regulations that all residents must follow. These can cover anything from pet policies to noise restrictions and architectural guidelines. However, as an owner, you generally have more freedom to customize and renovate your living space compared to an apartment renter.
• Apartments: Rules and regulations for apartments are typically set by the landlord or property management. These rules are outlined in your lease agreement and generally cover areas such as the lease agreement itself, pet polices, noise restrictions, maintenance requests, and shared amenity rules. Renters usually have limited ability to make significant changes to the apartment’s structure or appearance without explicit permission from the landlord.

Making the right choice for you

Ultimately, the choice between buying a condo and renting an apartment is a personal one that depends entirely on your current lifestyle, financial goals, and comfort with responsibility.

• Choose a condo if you prioritize: Long-term financial investment, building equity, stability, potentially having a say in your community’s management through an HOA, and the freedom to customize and renovate your private living space. You must be comfortable with the costs, mortgage, property taxes, and being responsible for interior maintenance and monthly HOA fees, if those apply.
• Choose an apartment if you prioritize: Flexibility, minimal costs, a lower commitment (shorter lease terms), and a desire to hand off almost all maintenance and repair responsibilities to a landlord. You must be comfortable with not building equity and having a limited ability to make changes to your unit.

Frequently asked questions:

Can you rent a condo?

Yes, you can rent a condo. Individual condo owners often rent out their units, similar to how a landlord rents out a house. When you rent a condo from an owner, you’ll still be subject to the condo association’s rules and regulations.

Which is cheaper, a condo or an apartment?

The cost can vary significantly depending on location, size, and amenities. Generally, the upfront costs for renting an apartment are lower than purchasing a condo. However, over the long term, owning a condo can be a financial investment that builds equity.

Do condos have amenities like apartments?

Many condos and apartment complexes offer similar amenities, such as pools, fitness centers, and community rooms. The availability and quality of amenities will depend on the specific building and its price point.

Is it better to buy a condo or rent an apartment?

The “better” option depends entirely on your circumstances, financial situation, and lifestyle preferences. If you’re looking for a long-term investment, stability, and the ability to customize your home, a condo might be a good fit. If you prefer flexibility, minimal maintenance responsibilities, and lower upfront costs, an apartment could be ideal.

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