A townhouse is a type of housing that is a cross between a single-family home and a condo. It is typically two or three stories tall and shares walls with the next-door properties, but it doesn’t have any units above or below them. Townhouses are often a popular option for first-time homebuyers and young families, and they can also be found in age-restricted active adult communities.
On the other hand, a condo is a unit within a single, large building, typically a high-rise. Condos tend to have more residents per building than townhouse communities, and they sometimes have amenities like a pool, clubhouse, library, gym, or even special services like a concierge or dry cleaning delivery. Condo owners only have possession over the inside of the unit, while townhouse owners control the interior, exterior, and the land the structure sits on.
The main differences between a townhouse and a condo are:
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Ownership: Townhouse owners own the interior, exterior, and the land the structure sits on, while condo owners only own the space inside their units.
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Maintenance: Townhouse owners are responsible for both the inside and outside of their townhome, while condo owners are only responsible for the maintenance of the inside of their individual unit, and they’ll typically pay homeowners’ association dues to cover the maintenance of the building’s exterior, amenities, and common property.
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Privacy: Townhouses are generally more private than condos, though neither will be quite as private as a detached home. With a townhouse, you may have your own yard, and thus an outdoor space that belongs just to you, while if a condo has any outdoor living areas, it will usually be shared by the entire community.
When deciding between a condo and a townhouse, it’s important to consider factors such as how much you’re prepared to spend, the type of lifestyle you’re interested in leading, and how much responsibility you’re willing to take on. Neither option has a clear advantage over the other, so it’s best to get to know the ins and outs of condominiums versus townhouses before settling on your perfect home.
