What To Know When Selecting Between A Condominium And Townhome

Have you decided that you want to purchase real estate, but don't want to purchase a single-family home? If so, that leaves your two options as either condominiums or townhomes. While both provide a similar experience between the two, there are some key differences that you need to be aware of before you make a decision.

What Are Townhomes?

What makes a townhome unique is that there are several units in a row that are all attached to each other. Rather than sharing floors and ceilings between units, there are only shared walls. You'll find that most townhomes are two or three stories high, with there being multiple floors to navigate with stairs. Townhome owners don't just own the unit itself, but the ground that it resides on as well. 

Townhomes also have the advantage of outdoor living space, with a front yard and backyard that are about as wide as the unit itself. It is common for the unit owners to be responsible for maintaining their own outdoor living space, but the townhome community may offer grass cutting and general yard keeping, where the owner is responsible for the garden.

Townhomes tend to offer a lot of privacy to their residents. There may be community buildings where there is a pool or recreation center, but there are no shared living spaces in the form of an entrance, lobby, or vestibule.

What Are Condominiums?

Condominiums are different because you only own the individual unit, and don't own any of the land that the unit is built on top of. You essentially own everything that is from the drywall inward. You do not own or are responsible for the exterior brick, the hallways, the foundation, or any other part of the property. While there is outdoor space that can be used, it's also considered a community space that is maintained by the property owner. While you don't have to cut the grass, you also cannot garden as well in most condominium communities.

Condominiums are known for having shared walls, ceilings, and floors. You have neighbors living all around you at all times, unless you live on a floor at the top, bottom, or end of a building where you'll have one less shared wall. This tends to lead to less privacy since you even have shared hallways that connect neighboring units. Any shared facilities are in the same building though, so you don't need to leave the building to gain access to them.

To explore two-bedroom townhomes in your area, contact a real estate agent in your area.