U.S. Condos Face a 'Midlife Crisis'

Carolyn Gallaher assesses the 'mid-life crisis' faced by America's condos, defined by Gallaher as "private residences within a larger property or complex" in which "[r]esidents co-own [shared] elements so they are jointly responsible for their maintenance, repair, and/or replacement."

As many of these units age, they require maintenance that has long been deferred, complicated in part by two important trends. "The first is collective action problems. The second is the financialization of housing." 

Problems created by the real estate crash of the 2000s, such as residents' inability to pay fees, foreclosures, and slowing condo sales, continue to have ripple effects today. "In 2016, the Washington Post reported on area condominiums still facing financial difficulties because their reserves had been depleted during the recession."

However, "there are things municipal and state governments can do to prevent condos from falling into disrepair in the first place. Right now, the FHA already requires condominium complexes eligible for FHA mortgages to meet reserve requirements. State and localities could provide incentives for properties to come up to FHA standards." States can also "standardize rules for how complexes within their borders report budget information to prospective buyers. Doing so would make it easier for buyers to compare across properties, and would encourage all properties to meet baseline requirements."

Protecting condos is important, writes Gallaher, because they are "an important part of the American housing stock. They are often more affordable than single-family homes and better suited to people who don’t need or can’t maintain larger homes," contributing to an equitable housing market.