That’s not how it works with condominium ownership in the US, once the units are sold originally. The building is owned, collectively, by the owners of the units.
For example, I own, as part of the collective condominium association, 1/36th of the building and grounds. I can’t sell that individually except as part of selling my entire unit to someone else. I, along with the other 35 unit owners, get to elect a volunteer board of directors for the condominium association each year.
Now the Association may decide to hire a professional management company to do the bookkeeping, the repairs and maintenance, etc., but that management company works at our board’s direction - not the other way around.
As to why anyone would choose to buy an “apartment” in a condo building (or larger complex of buildings)? In much of the USA, especially in urban, suburban, and even exurban areas, a condo is the only affordable home type for sale for retirees, young workers, even multiple-earner families. Where I live in the southeastern United States, a condo starts at about $150,000 while even a small single family standalone home that isn’t falling apart costs at least $350,000.
At least with owning a condo instead of renting a similar apartment, I actually own something, and benefit from rising property value as increased equity, rather than as increased rent bill. Yes the condo fee for that collective management and maintenance can and does go up with increased costs (as voted by our elected board) but the value of my property goes up faster (mostly). And as an owner, I can pass it down to family, I can take a home equity loan against it if that makes financial sense to me, I can rent it out if I move but want to keep it in the family.
That’s not how it works with condominium ownership in the US, once the units are sold originally. The building is owned, collectively, by the owners of the units.
For example, I own, as part of the collective condominium association, 1/36th of the building and grounds. I can’t sell that individually except as part of selling my entire unit to someone else. I, along with the other 35 unit owners, get to elect a volunteer board of directors for the condominium association each year.
Now the Association may decide to hire a professional management company to do the bookkeeping, the repairs and maintenance, etc., but that management company works at our board’s direction - not the other way around.
As to why anyone would choose to buy an “apartment” in a condo building (or larger complex of buildings)? In much of the USA, especially in urban, suburban, and even exurban areas, a condo is the only affordable home type for sale for retirees, young workers, even multiple-earner families. Where I live in the southeastern United States, a condo starts at about $150,000 while even a small single family standalone home that isn’t falling apart costs at least $350,000.
At least with owning a condo instead of renting a similar apartment, I actually own something, and benefit from rising property value as increased equity, rather than as increased rent bill. Yes the condo fee for that collective management and maintenance can and does go up with increased costs (as voted by our elected board) but the value of my property goes up faster (mostly). And as an owner, I can pass it down to family, I can take a home equity loan against it if that makes financial sense to me, I can rent it out if I move but want to keep it in the family.