Condo fees also are covering your common area space (workout room, party room, etc.), underground parking and the heating of such, and maintenance of a huge building as well as future repairs from elevator, to exterior glass, etc.
I use to think it was a huge expense that was useless if it didn't cover power, etc., but comparing repairs on structural aspects of a building, new roofing, etc.... I'd rather invest small amount of cash each month into this then have to pay thousands out of pocket when it needs to be done had we bought an older single family house instead.
Look at condos in larger centres and some of the amenities included. XCondos in Toronto for example.
http://www.xcondos.com/ You pay a higher cost monthly, but look at what is yours to use! Just some perspective...
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