Advantages & Disadvantages of Townhouses vs. Single-Family Homes
Townhouses and single-family homes each offer distinct differences for your next home purchase. Understanding how the housing types differ allows you to decide which option best fits your lifestyle. Factors include cost, space, security and homeowner responsibilities. The differences between a single-family home and townhouse become more apparent with an actual tour of each type.
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Affordability
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The specific housing market in your area affects the pricing on townhouses compared to single-family homes. While you may pay less for a townhouse, you will also have association fees to figure into your monthly payment. The fees vary widely but can range up to several hundred dollars per month. The fees often correspond to the amenities in the complex. A townhouse complex with pools, parks, community centers and other common amenities will likely charge more for association fees. If major renovation is needed, the fees may increase or stay high as well.
Layout
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A single-family home generally has more options for layout styles than a townhouse. Townhouses are typically two stories with a garage attached. You will likely find the common areas on the main floor and bedrooms upstairs. Single-family homes come in a variety of sizes, with both one- and two-story designs. Depending on the area, a basement is also a possibility. If you buy a new home, you may have some say in the design elements and layout, both inside and out. Townhouses are fairly standard to create consistency throughout the development.
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Maintenance
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All exterior maintenance is handled by the townhouse association, making life simpler. The association generally handles all snow removal, landscaping, lawn mowing and exterior maintenance issues with the homes themselves. You are responsible for fixing everything inside the unit. In a single-family home, you are solely responsible for all types of maintenance and repairs. This means you could potentially end up paying for large repairs and maintenance expenses like the removal of a fallen tree or repairing cracked sidewalks. The regular maintenance, like mowing, takes time to complete yourself or money to have someone else do it.
Control
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A single-family home gives you more control over what you do to your residence. A townhouse doesn't allow for building additions the way you can for a single-family home. In most cases, even adding on a deck or changing the landscaping isn't possible without permission from the association. With a townhouse, you share walls with your neighbors but have no control over who lives there. In a house, you don't have control over your neighbors, but you also don't have to share walls with them.
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