In fact, Nancy, a marketing and special events specialist, is the president of her condo board (making David a de facto board member by default) and takes her job quite seriously.

“People need to know what they're getting into when they buy a condo,” she asserts. “You're not just buying your unit; you're buying into a building, a community. It belongs to everybody.”

“People don't always think about that. They just think about the location and aesthetics. You need to also look at important things like the structure-are there any special assessments (one-time fees for a building expenditure) or reserve funds (money for emergencies)?”

As a result, the couple has “gotten to know everything about the building,” says David, who is a project manager for a construction company. Their 900-square-foot unit is one of 55, built in 1969. The building has eight floors and has been renovated electrically and mechanically.

Nancy actually bought the condo in June 2004 before she had even met David. Her father is a realtor so he made sure she did her homework and knew what she needed to watch for. “He taught me the important things to check,” she says. “In fact, I called the condo management company and asked if there were any special assessments coming up and what shape the building was in. Once I covered off those details, I jumped on this place. All the other places I'd looked were either small and way more money, or big, but really ugly.”

When David came on the scene after the two married in August of 2005, he really had to make some big-time adjustments. He had previously owned a house in Haysboro, so the switch to a condo was pretty major for him. “I had to adjust to people all around and not having a garage or a yard-not to mention the extra 1200 square feet! I'm accustomed to it now; it's comfortable. I do like the place especially since there's no maintenance or lawn mowing.”

The two are also big fans of their building manager-Charles Trottier. “He's fantastic,” says David.

“He deserves an award,” agrees Nancy. That's another thing to consider when buying a condo. It's worth getting to know just who will be looking after maintaining your building.

The couple's home is only steps away from the bustling shops of Kensington and Calgary icon, Chicken on the Way. It's no surprise then that when asked what they love most about their condo, both Nancy and David answer in unison: “The location!”

“It's awesome,” says Nancy. “You just can't beat going out on a Sunday and getting everything you need right there on Kensington Road.”

The couple had considered moving into David's former house instead of the condo, but decided it was too far from the city centre.

Nancy, who walks to her downtown office, “enjoys the 20-minute walk speeding by others,” and also didn't want to live in the 'burbs.

“The condo is a good investment,” she explains. “It was in my price range at the time and it fit what I was looking for-something for a young professional. I wasn't looking at it as a place I'd live in forever.”

“We'll live here until we can save enough for a house in Hillhurst,” laughs David. With that long-term strategy in mind, the couple has started making grander plans for their place. So far, it's just been painting a couple of rooms and replacing the carpet, but there will likely be bigger renos in store for the future.

But even without renos, the condo already holds charm. It showcases both warm and cool tones for a striking contrast, and Nancy and David have turned their second bedroom into a practical office space. Throughout their home, the décor features pictures and momentos that remind them of their many travel adventures from around the world.

Clearly, this condo gives these newlyweds a great place to start building their life together, along with room for their kitten, aptly named Kitten. “I think it's a cool little apartment,” says Nancy. “It's quaint,” agrees David. “And loaded with potential.”

And their cozy condo has other perks too. “There's a community here,” says Nancy. “We don't have to worry if we're away. It's secure. And it's nice to live with less. We pile up less stuff here; we're not ready for a house.

“I'm really glad we live here,” she continues. “I think for this stage in our life, it just works for us. We can stroll out, access a bunch of cool shops, pubs and a movie theatre. What more do we need?”

With that being said, the two still wished that other condo owners would get more interested in the management of their buildings. “I really urge people to get involved. I'm surprised more people don't,” says Nancy. “You get more say and control in your own investment.” Now that's worth thinking about.  CL