Battle of the Houses: Townhouse vs Condo

Townhouse vs Condo. Which is the better one? Which one should you get? What are the downsides? If these are the questions you need answers to, consider sticking around. We will go over every point individually and help you understand the right one for you.

Therefore, follow along as we take you on an educational journey that will help you understand what you need or want when choosing the right house for yourself.

Let’s go!

What Is A Condo?

In the US, residential buildings come in three primary variants. These include apartments, condos, and townhouses. But today, we will be primarily looking at the townhouse vs condo conversation. So, let us start with the first piece of the puzzle: condo.

What is a Condo? A condo, short for Condominium, is a single building where people stay and have a single entrance. A condo is similar to an apartment, but they usually have some differences.

Condos, at times, even have specialized amenities like a pool, gym, library, clubhouse, etc. Therefore, condos can accommodate a whole community compared to a townhouse.

Pros Vs. Cons of A Condo

Since we are about to delve deeper into the townhouse vs. condo conversation, it is only natural that we take a deep dive into the conversation and look at the pros and cons of a condo:

• Pro: Condos are pretty cheap compared to most other variants of housing. Therefore, it is perfect for newer buyers who want to dip their toes but only go in.
• Con: Condos can get crowded as many people tend to reside under one roof. This can be a hassle for some.
• Pro: Most condos are near the city centres or important travel points. As a result, travelling from your condo to other parts of the city is easy.
• Con: As a condo owner or a renter, you must be ready to pay monthly dues. These dues can be hefty, depending on your choice of residence.
• Pro: Condos are low maintenance, as most come with a dedicated staff for maintenance. All you need to do is pay the fees.
• Con: Condos come with timing and other forms of restrictions. However, this is subjective. In some cases, the limits are loose or non-existent. Then, some can be really stringent.

Where Can You Find One?

Honestly, condos can be found anywhere and everywhere across the US. In fact, it is one of the most popular forms of homes that people own. As a result, owning or finding a condo is not at all problematic.

However, given their general popularity, they are mostly found across city centres and significant population centres in the city. One hack for finding condos is to look for areas near an important educational center or a tourist spot.

Like for example, if you are in Florida or Hawaii, you can find condos across the shoreline and other similar spaces. Or you can consult a real estate application to find the following apartment for yourself.

What is A Townhouse?

With the condo out of the way, we can focus on the second piece of the puzzle: the townhouse. We have already discussed what a townhouse is earlier. Therefore, you can check it out for a more detailed look.

A townhouse is similar to a condo. However, there are certain aspects that a condo does differently from a townhouse. A Townhouse is built horizontally. However, it is different from row housing.

One differentiating factor of a townhouse is its shared walls. Townhouses usually share walls with adjacent structures like other townhouses. However, each townhouse has its entrance. Therefore, they are perfect for people who want to stay affordable but have some privacy.

Pros Vs. Cons of Townhouse

A Townhouse has some significant pros and some glaring cons. Knowing them is essential for understanding the overall essence of these properties. Therefore, to present things more objectively, let us look at some of the pros and cons of townhouses:

• Pro: Townhouses generally have more areas compared to condos. This is because townhouses are complete houses with shared walls and separate entrances.
• Con: Townhouses are tedious when it comes to maintenance. In other words, townhouses can be an absolute pain when it comes to cleaning, renovating, etc.
• Pro: Townhouses can feel like an adjustment compared to a separate house with its own space.
• Con: Townhouses are often located in suburban areas. Therefore, you need to travel a lot if you plan on getting a townhouse.
• Pro: Townhouses can be cheap compared to other residences. As a result, people at the start of their career should actually consider getting a townhouse as it will offer everything a house offers but at a cheaper price tag and some sacrifices.
• Con: One of the biggest problems of owning a townhouse is the need for more privacy. Townhouses generally share walls, and therefore, they can get noisy. In fact, walls have ears as the neighbour might be listening in on you.

Where Can You Find One?

Townhouses are usually located outside cities. However, once these houses were quite popular. Townhouses came to prominence in Europe during the 1800s. These houses were seen as a mark of exclusivity.

In fact, these houses were quite venerable. As a result, these houses were transported to America. However, the turn of the century saw a dwindling of the popularity of these houses, and they only existed in the suburban areas.

Therefore, if you are looking for these houses, consider visiting the suburbs or other LIG residence areas. You will be able to find these houses there as they are cheap and offer appropriate shelter for families as well as individuals.

Townhouse vs Condo: Similarities

Townhouses and condos are not just two different forms of residential complexes. In fact, they are similar. Therefore, understanding the similarities can actually help us understand the differences better. Here are some of the differences between a condo and a townhouse that you need to understand:

HOAs

Both forms of residences will have a heavy presence of HOAs. HOA, or homeowners’ association, is a regulatory body that looks at the actions of different homeowners. They regulate and mediate problems, make up rules, and create a structured approach to the things that need to be followed. Hence, regardless of your choice, you will have to deal with HOA.

Overhead Costs

Secondly, whether you decide on a townhouse or a condo, you must pay some overhead costs. These costs include rent, registration costs, maintenance, HOA fees, etc. Therefore, regardless of your choice, you need to shell out some moolah to do the job effectively.

Community Essence

One of the best features of these two housing variants is the community approach. In other words, these housing projects offer options for young residents to socialize. As a result, they can build their community. Something an apartment or a house might not provide.

General Responsibilities

Since you live in a community setting, you need to follow specific rules and regulations and some general responsibilities. These responsibilities include paying for the renovation, following the rules set forth hereby by the HOAs, etc. So, you WILL have obligations that you must fulfil.

Financing

Finally, the financing module also stays the same. You can either lease, buy, or rent the property. In fact, this is a similarity that you will have to face everywhere you go. There are no other variations of payment options. So, you need to pick from the selection you get.

Townhouse Vs. Condo: Differences

The Townhouse vs Condo discussion would only be complete if we took a moment to acknowledge the differences as well. Hence, in this penultimate section, we will be looking at some of the prominent differences between a townhouse and a condo so that you can understand where they differ and make a more informed decision.

General Pricing

Condos are much cheaper as they are smaller in size and acreage than townhouses. Meanwhile, Condos generally have higher HOA fees compared to townhouses due to their shared nature. So, in both cases, if you are saving somewhere, it is getting redirected elsewhere.

Insurance

Insurance coverage for condos only covers the interior of your residence. This is because the buildings for condos are generally shared in nature. Meanwhile, townhouses are covered completely. In other words, townhouses are basically houses. Therefore, insurance covers the interior and exterior of the structure.

Maintenance

Maintenance also differs when it comes to condos and townhouses. Condos generally have lower maintenance costs due to their area. Meanwhile, townhouses have more regions. As a result, you need to shell out more money to maintain the house.

Amenities

This is purely a subjective point. However, amenities differ according to space. If you have a bigger space, you will automatically have better amenities. Therefore, expect more features and amenities for a townhouse compared to a condo.

The Final Thought: Which One to Choose?

So, that is all there is for the townhouse vs condo conversation. If you are a student and want a community, then a condo is the best thing that you can go for. On the other hand, if you are at the start of your career and have a partner or want more privacy, then a townhouse is the choice.

Therefore, remember this point and assess your requirements before making any decisions. This will help you make the right choice for yourself and your family. If you liked this piece of content, then do let us know and keep following us for more.

Read More:

• Condo VS Apartment: What You MUST Know Before Choosing!
• Best Boho Interior Design Ideas That You MUST Check Out!
• Brutalist Interior Design Is Getting Popular and Here’s Why