A recent student survey suggested that the current generation of University-goers take an average of £1,400 worth of possessions with them. This may be in the form of musical instruments, computers, printers, MP3 players, speaker systems, just about anything that you can think of has probably been taken to University by a student. This makes universities prime targets for thieves and burglars. A number of British universities have relatively old apartment blocks with downstairs windows that don’t match up to modern safety requirements and even without breaking and entering it’s very easy to be let into a block claiming to be someone’s friend.

For that reason one of the things that should be high on the list of things to do before going to University is make sure that you have the correct insurance. Sometimes this can easily be done with your existing insurance provider and items can be listed on your home insurance policy. Many Universitites have connections with specialist insurers that can offer you good deals, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re the cheapest out there. Additionally, any insurance policy that you get should only be for one year, most students at most universities live in private accommodation in their second and possibly third years and this poses different insurance implications.

Most landlords will have their own buildings insurance, but your contents will not be covered. “Student” areas in cities are targets for thieves, and it can be difficult to sort out conventional insurance as each room is essentially a different person’s “home” and no one wants to have their policy affected by someone else’s possessions. If you talk to an insurance provider more often than not they will be able to help you out, but if you have particularly expensive items it might be cheaper to have them insured individually rather than included in the costs of your own contents, as single expensive items can lift the premiums quite significantly. Theft is a very real danger for students, and nothing could be more disruptive to the first few weeks away from home in an entirely new place than having your laptop stolen. Make sure that you take a few moments to look around and get a good insurance policy, and it will take a weight of your mind.

Condos and townhouses are unit-based home purchases. For example, a condo unit will exist within a group of connected condominiums and you purchase one unit or one condo. Townhouses are found in planned developments where all homes are similar in style and you purchase the townhouse but are not responsible for the upkeep of common areas. The same for condos-you are not responsible for common areas, recreational areas, swimming pools or other areas where the Homeowner’s Association you join and pay for each month takes care of these common areas and you must abide by condo and townhome bylaws as well as rules and regulations. You do pay individual property taxes on both condos and townhouses. Here are the top five reasons we found to purchase a condo or townhouse:

1. Less Commitment – Condos and townhouses are great for people who want to own their dwelling space but don’t want to do all the required lawn and common area maintenance. Most condos and townhouses do not require a down payment as large as on conventional homes. While you are committed to the condo or townhome, you buy and must follow the Homeowner’s bylaws, owning a condo or townhouse can be less of a stress when it comes to lawn upkeep and can offer more amenities than a conventional home.

2. The Amenities – Because condos and townhouses are usually in planned areas and are consider a “community” of sorts, certain amenities may come with the purchase of your condo unit or town home unit. These amenities may include a shared swimming pools, tennis courts, recreational areas, common barbecue areas, and picnic areas and meeting rooms that may be rented for parties. Other features could include higher security and a fitness center and newer condominium and town home structures are offering entire community conveniences such as grocery stores, drycleaners, and restaurants all within the development giving you the option to never leave the condo area for certain consumer needs.

3. Overall Price & Ownership – Buying a condo or townhouse can be much cheaper than a conventional home. Whether it’s a condo for sale, where you enter into a main lobby or a townhouse that allows you to have a private entrance and perhaps your own carport or garage, both are cheaper all around than a conventional home. Ownership of a condo or town home is much the same as a conventional home. You finance or pay cash and own the title to the condo unit or townhouse you buy. When you sell it, you do this on your own as long as your follow the bylaws, covenants, and restrictions. With a town home for sale, you will usually also hold title to the land the townhouse sits on.

4. Appeal for the Elderly – If you are in your retirement years, often a condo or town home is your best bet, especially when it comes to security and community involvement. Some town home and condo communities are dedicated for the elderly only and can provide activities at the same location where you live.

5. Simple Care – Because almost all townhouses and condos have management, if you do need to “fix” up your dwelling, there are provided specific guidelines on what you can and can’t do. If you aren’t the creative type, town homes and condos are great for a structured way to keep up with the exterior maintenance such as exterior paint color (which can usually be arranged through the Homeowner’s Association) and other exterior options that are allowed.