Yellowknife (Mar 10/03) - Everything about Shirley McGrath's condominium building is homey -- right down to the boot mats and the welcome signs hanging on almost every door.

Neighbours say 'hi' when they see each other, the kids play together and help is only a holler away.

"We're looking out for each other. I'm feel very comfortable with the level of security, more than I would in an apartment building," smiled McGrath.

McGrath has lived in her cozy three-bedroom Forrest Drive Manor condo for less than a year.

Before that, she lived in a condo townhouse at Diamond Point for two-and-a-half years.

"It was just a built-in neighbourhood. I found people were really friendly in the condo complex," she said of the townhouse.

As a mother of an active seven-year-old and custodian of three cats, she loves the comfort, safety and convenience of condo life.

The big attraction to condo living is minimal maintenance, she said.

Everything is taken care of by the condo association and her monthly condo fees -- yard work, building maintenance, fire insurance, water and heat.

There's even someone to clear the snow off the sidewalks every morning and vacuum the hallways and stairs of the common areas.

"I don't have to worry about the pipes freezing," she said.

"I'd rather pay a fixed amount every month then have a big surprise and a large cash lay out."

She said even with the monthly $500 condo fee it's cheaper then living in the rental she had before.

"It's equity. The money is going into my pocket and not into my landlord's."

Being able to make cosmetic changes like painting without permission is another great thing about owning a condo, she said.

She says condo living is also great for kids. Her son, Russell McGrath-Lovell, visits his friend Tristan Eben frequently. And McGrath is happy he doesn't have to leave the building to do so.

McGrath also sits on the newly formed condo executive -- Forrest Manor was only recently converted from rental apartments into privately owned units.

Every condo owner has a vote. The association is responsible for handling the fees and the building maintenance.

"We review expenditures, any problems or requests from our members," McGrath sums up.

"We all have an interest with the up keep of our places and the whole building."

The art of condo living

Condos are a popular choice for Northerners.

"It's really been a growing thing in the last 10 years in Yellowknife," said Coldwell Banker sales associate Marie Coe.

Coe has been a real estate agent for 32 years -- 13 of those in Yellowknife.

A condo is a unit -- usually an apartment or townhouse -- which is individually owned but with joint-ownership of common grounds like hallways, parking lots or yards.

Almost anything can be turned into a condominium, including apartments, townhouses (also known as row houses) and trailer parks.

Coe said Southerners new to Yellowknife often come up here not knowing what the current housing issues are or what kind of homes to expect.

While a trailer home might have a negative image down South it is often an expensive home in Yellowknife.

How to buy a condo

Prospective purchasers need to know their price range and housing needs before purchasing a condo.

"Price dictates what people choose," said Coe.

An apartment condo may cost between $120,000 and $180,000 at the current market price while a townhouse may cost between $150,000 and $230,000, said Coe.

Apartment condos are a "worry-free" way of living, said Coe.

"They can walk out the door and they don't have to worry about shovelling snow, the furnace, or the water freezing," she said, adding single people who travel find apartment condos very convenient.

However, if the person likes to garden, the small deck might not be adequate.

She said single people, executives who travel a lot and seniors are often attracted by apartment condo living.

Townhouses often attract young couples and families because of multiple bedrooms and yard space.

"A lot of people have been attracted to them lately because we have had a lot of new ones (being built)," said Coe.

Although there isn't an official list of condos, there are hundreds in Yellowknife, including 141 townhouse units at Diamond Point, Diamond Ridge and Diamond Park recently built by Northern Property REIT.

It's a condo life for me

Barry Neary is the condo corporation president at Northern Heights. He's lived there since the 109 units were built 13 years ago and loves the convenience of living downtown.

The owner of Just For Men and Just For Women stores likes being able to walk to work every morning and enjoys using the in-house gym. He also likes being worry-free.

"When I travel I can just lock the door and leave," he said.

"It's very easy living."

Neary has owned several houses but grew tired of the yard work and hassle.

But condo living does come at a price -- fees.

Northern Heights has an elevator, squash courts and a weight room, making fees more expensive than some other locations in Yellowknife.

Neary said condo owners pay between $342 a month to $1,079 a month based on the square footage of their home.

Of the 109 units, 70 per cent are resident-owned and occupied while the remaining 30 per cent are rentals, he said.

But that doesn't affect the strong sense of community Neary enjoys.

"You are part of a close-knit community."

He said the only downside to living in a highrise like Northern Heights is missing a garden in the summer and some of the bar and street noise that filters in through open windows.

Some people may also find the rules a bit daunting, he said. Condos often have rules about pets, noise and garbage, but overall Neary believes they're reasonable.

And like McGrath, the condo life is the worry-free and safe lifestyle Neary wouldn't want to live without.