LogFAQs > #972562621

foolm0r0n posted...

SFH neighborhood infra costs are also often paid by the developers and baked into the housing prices, or HOA fees.

Almost never true. First, most SFHs are not subject to an HOA so this point is moot. For new builds, the developer pays the initial cost for the infrastructure and then conveys much of the infrastructure to the municipal government who then assumes the cost of maintenance. If there is an HOA, it typically only covers certain internal streets to the development.

It's a well documented fact that single family neighborhoods are a huge financial drain on municipal governments. Urban3 has done some excellent research on the topic.

foolm0r0n posted...

Location is everything and your condo will appreciate like crazy in this case.

That's already baked into the price of the condo when it was built, unless it becomes more walkable while you own it, then yes you would benefit from appreciation related to the property becoming more desirable.

foolm0r0n posted...

If both appreciate at 10% then obviously both are equal.

If we're going to use completely illogical assumptions then why even have this discussion? Structures are a depreciating asset (meaning they lose value over time), while nominal land values in the US have increased by an average of 6% annually over the last 40 years.

foolm0r0n posted...

SFH has to pay way more overall for maintenance,

There's no truth to this. All else equal, maintenance of a SFH (a small building) will always be less per sqft than a large building.