You might be leaning toward buying a condo instead of buying a single-family home or townhouse. There could be several reasons for this. You might also have thought you might want to buy a townhouse or a single-family home because it gives you the option to grow your family and gives you backyard space that a condo doesn't. 

If your lifestyle is better suited to living in a condo, a backyard isn't going to be a major selling point. Condos tend to have outdoor spaces and be near parks and other amenities you will enjoy just as much as a backyard, so keep that in mind when making your decision.

If you plan to go the condo route, here are some tips to buying your first condo to ensure a successful purchase.

Find A Realtor With Condo Buying Experience

When you buy a condo you want to find a realtor with condo buying experience. While any real estate agent can help you with the legalities of buying a home, a realtor who has knowledge and experience in helping their clients buy a condo is the better choice. They already have experience working with both owners of condos to help you make a more informed choice of which building and condo work best for you.

They will have information on the building's structure and if there have been any issues with it in recent years. They can tell you if the building has been repaired or renovated recently or any upgrades to the electrical or water systems have been done. They can tell you about any possible problems between owners and the community at large and which buildings offer the best living experience to their condo owners.

Know What Amenities You Want

Condo buildings will offer plenty of different types of amenities to entice buyers to want to live there. You can find swimming pools, salons and spas, fitness centers and gyms, restaurants, and more. Think about what you will actually use in the building and what isn't necessary for you. This can make a difference in which building you buy a condo in and how much money you can save.

Many amenities in some condos are pay-per-use, which means if you don't wish to use them, then you won't pay for them. Other condo buildings have these amenities included in your condo fee price. This means, even if you aren't planning on using certain amenities you will still pay for them.

Don't be turned off by this, however, if you love the unit, you can still buy the condo even if you don't plan to use certain amenities. If you ever plan to sell the unit, those amenities could increase the value of the condo for another buyer who would use them.

To get help looking for condos for sale in your area, contact a real estate agent near you.