What is the legal difference between a condo and a townhouse?

Question

What is the legal definition of a condo and what are the differences between a 'townhouse' and a 'condo'? And how about a 'PUD'; I know what it is but how to determine if a property is one?

Answer 1

The traditional distinction is that a townhouse is a separate structure from other townhouses except, possibly, for a shared exterior wall. A condo is more likely to be part of the same building structure, can have multiple shared walls, and is likely to have a smaller amount of private area (porch, or walkway) than a townhouse. In other words, a condo development may typically be more dense and look more like an apartment complex than a townhouse development.

To determine whether a property is a PUD or has CC&Rs, you need to request the CC&R documents from the seller or management company. Usually there is a charge for this.

Answer 2

A condo is a type of ownership arrangement...usually condos share maintenance expenses for common areas, etc. Often, but not always they are lived in by owner. A townhouse is a type of structure, and is not uncommon for it to be a rental. A condo could be a townhouse, but also could be an apartment. A townhouse could be a condo, but not necessarily.

Answer 3

A townhouse can be either an apartment OR a condo-- its simply a style to indicate that the living space is on two stories...and generally its JUST a two story building, so your entry is at ground level and you have an upstairs.

A condo, aka condiminium, indicates that you purchase the home, not rent it....although some people own condos and rent them out and call them condos even in the rental ads.

Answer 4

In a condo, you own the space within the unit. With a townhouse, you own the unit and the land under it. In a condo community the land is owned by the association and all owners are members in the association and the owner's only exclusive ownership rights are the "air rights" within their unit. In a townhouse the owner owns at least the land directly under their unit and sometimes a little more. Often there is also common area land in townhome communities as well.

Contrary to popular belief, the difference between a condo and townhouse has nothing to do with how many stories there are in the building.

Answer 5

I don't believe there is a "legal" definition of either.

Usually condo normally indicates that it is a unit within and part of a shared community, building, etc.

A townhouse is normally a multi-storied unit. Most townhouses are three or four stories tall including the basement, and a townhouse can also be a condo.

Answer 6

Condo is short for condominium which is a legal term indicating the type of property ownership.

Townhouse is just a building style. It can be a condo.

Answer 7

A townhouse is an architectural style.

"condo" means that you buy the space, as opposed to renting it, as with an apartment.

Answer 8

Townhomes and PUDs are both special cases of housing that is, legally speaking, a condominium.

The generally accepted definition of townhome is multi-level with no upstairs or downstairs neighbors, although there are generally shared walls.

The generally accepted definition of PUD is detached housing, perhaps with a private yard, perhaps without.

But both of these are legally condominiums, at least in California. I get really angry at agents who claim their listing is fee simple, when it isn't. They are wasting my time, because if my client isn't interested in that kind of property, they're not going to buy.

Answer 9

nothing