What is the difference between a townhouse and a condo? Is it the # of stories?

Question

Do they both have association fees? Is a condo more like a one level apartment?

Answer 1

A condo refers in general to a setup where several dwellings are arranged in a common area that people own. A condo can be anything from a townhouse to a flat, but fundamentally is a network of housing for ownership without typical maintenance responsibility.

A townhouse is a structural style where the living setup is above the first floor. Usually there is a garage on the first floor, a laundry room, utility area and such. Then there are one or two stories above that where the living room, kitchen and bedrooms are.

Townhouses do not need to be a part of an association, although outside of cities, they do tend to be.

Answer 2

A condo is basically an apartment or townhouse that you buy. Townhouses are houses that are built in a row. If you are renting or buying a townhouse (unless it is a condo), you should not have to pay association fees. If you are buying a condo (whether it as an apartment or townhouse) you will have association fees.