Owning landed property typically involves significantly more maintenance work on your part than living in a condo. In condos, you're not responsible for keeping up the building or the property: You don't have to plant flowers, paint the exterior or mow the grass. When you own a house, yard work and exterior home maintenance are your responsibility, meaning you must invest in the right tools and equipment. However, if you have pets or children, having outdoor space that's your own is appealing. In both housing options, you usually pay for maintenance inside the home, such as appliance repair.