Condos in Cambridge have historically preformed very well compared to SFH in Cambridge. We’ll see if upzoning has any impact on that in the future.

Our family has lived in a condo here for over a decade and raised children with our any problem. Our neighbors are part of their community and it is wonderful.

In general my feeling is the smaller the HOA, the less headaches. I would not want to be in a triplex with neighbors above or below with small children, but side by side is fine. If you have a shared wall, there is a bit of unknown there until you move in. However, unless you’re buying a SFH in west Cambridge, you’re going to have neighbors in close proximity. That’s just part of living in a city. Don’t feel forced to make an offer at an open house or site unseen. Make sure your real estate agent knows you want to have a private showing to assess how sound transfers in your unit. Review the HOA docs and capital and annual budgets. Make sure you have access to outdoor space with kids. Such as a deeded yard (no matter the size), low traffic shared driveway or parking lot, parks and playgrounds within walking distance.