Duplexes vs standalone houses-

[Lefty309]

car is best

 

[Brawler]

Curious, has anyone here been a victim of a severe crime in a complex? ie: House break-in middle of the night at gun point or anything of that nature?

Before buying a house I stayed in three complexes in the nice parts of the Southern Suburbs. All of the complexes were targets for criminals. The first place actually had a criminal living in the complex. The second place had 16 units and 12 of them were broken into in an 18-month period. This was right by Bishops in Rondebosch and it had CCTV, Electric Fences, etc. Eventually, they got a security guard and levies shot through the roof. The complex across the road had a security guard but it did not help them much as the crims that hit them had AK-47's.
The third place in Harfield Village wasn't as bad - I think one unit was broken into but the car park had visitors about once a month.

Most of these complexes have young renters that don't care much to set up NHW or anything. They stay a year and then leave compared to houses in the suburbs that have good NHW and armed response.

 

[RonSwanson]

Most of these complexes have young renters that don't care much to set up NHW or anything. They stay a year and then leave compared to houses in the suburbs that have good NHW and armed response.

Good observation.
I have a rule: If the amount of tenanted units exceeds that of the resident owners, stay away and buy / rent elsewhere. Especially in the lower end of the market.
Tenants tend to not give a schitt for the common property and leave their chicken bones, kentucky boxes in a plastic packet right next to their BMW (but they are renting?), when there is a dustbin 5m away. They are always moving in or out, so lots of loud housewarming parties and other shenanigans. Then they find that they cannot afford rental and start to sublet, so lots of hobos with shifty eyes shuffling around. In one complex I lost count of the tenants (both women and men) I caught urinating just about everywhere in public on the common property, and one even taking a dump.

 

[KleinBoontjie]

Body Corporates can fsck ALL the way off.

100% I already have enough corporate propoganda BS at work. Don't need that BS at home.

 

[The_MAC]

I lived in a sectional title, then a HOA (got suckered into being the Chairman). Both were F'ing irritating, the drama, my word.

Grown ass people not being able to behave, and even worse, not being able to talk and compromise.

We're now in a Free Standing home, absolute bliss. I have 2 fairly good but quiet neighbors, and I only deal with my own maintenance and costs, not every useless sod's as well.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Hold thumbs for me, guys n gals … I have just sent a provisional offer (not an OTP yet) to an agent for a standalone house in a gated suburb. It’s pretty much perfect in every way (yes it even has a small pre-installed solar setup). Remodelled kitchen. Small swimming pool. More security gates and window trellidoors than you can shake a stick at.

The only snag is I filed a provisional offer which is 13% lower than the asking price. I figure 87% is a damn fine score in anything in life so hopefully the owners accept it! I’m prepared to walk away if they aren’t willing to budge at all.