I am looking to make my first home purchase but I am not sure if I should buy a townhome or a single family home. I am 28 years old. I am unmarried. I have no children and 1 small dog. I have a girlfriend of two years but we do not live together although she is helping me house hunt. It is very likely that we will get married within the next few years and she will move in with me. We don't plan on having children anytime soon. Considering our ages and the fact that we don't have children, is a townhome a good option for us? Or would we still be better off in a single family home? What are the pros and cons of owning a townhome?
2007-02-12 08:50:25 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
My wife and I rented a TH for the first two years we were married. The biggest PRO........no yardwork. Everyone pays a fee to have the grounds maintained. Most places also have auto heating and AC start up and shut down so less work for you. PRO....swimming pool, exercise facilities, etc are many times included. If kids aren't in your future, go with a TH. I really enjoyed it. However, we wanted kids and didn't want to throw our money away renting so we got a house. PRO....You don't have people living right next to you. More square footage. More privacy. CONS...yardwork(not necessarily a bad thing) I enjoy it. PRO....you can custominze the appearance. TH communities usually require all the units to look the same. CON....Parking when throwing parties and keeping the noise down when living in a TH.
2007-02-12 08:58:58 · answer #1 · answered by Eldude 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Much of this depends on the townhouse market in your town. If there are tons of townhouses available, it could make selling yours very difficult.
Just from a personal standpoint, a townhouse might be an excellent option for a single person/couple with no children, particularly if you're not the "hey, let's have our friends over for a barbecue" type. True, you will have to pay a monthly maintenance fee, but at least taking care of the outside of the property won't be your problem. The downside is that it can be difficult to entertain in a small space. If you're a social kind of guy, will the townhouse have the space to allow for that? Also, will your townhome association even allow it? Some of these townhome associations are absolutely nuts with what they will or will not allow you to do (inside and outside of your home).
Truthfully, I'd save your money and go with the single family home. When I was single and looking for real estate, I decided that a single family home was my best option, just because I didn't want to be so close to my neighbors, and I really wanted an attached garage, but that's just me.
2007-02-12 08:59:48 · answer #2 · answered by SuzeY 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My husband and I live in a townhome. We are 30 with 2 dogs, and no kids. We think it's great. make sure you look for one with a nice, big deck, so you have a place to hang out outside. It's easier to get to know your neighbors than in a spaced out neighborhood. And we've found that the few places that have been sold in our neighborhood got some great profits for the owners.
We were a little bit afraid of a townhome at first, but it worked well for us.
Oh, and the con--can seem a little dark inide with the windows on two sides. No biggie, though.
2007-02-12 08:56:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I own a townhouse and have lived in it for 18 years. There is less yard and less exterior building to take care of. Other than that, I see no differences. I have 1800 square feet on three levels. I still have to pay real estate taxes. I still have to pay to maintain the property.
In my case, the townhouse is in a condominium complex. That's were the real benefits are: community size swimming pool, tennis, basketball, playgrounds, ball fields, party house, private roads, etc.
2007-02-12 08:58:27 · answer #4 · answered by regerugged 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cons of city homestead or condominium is paying HOA costs, getting hit with particular tests and having 2 weeks to return up with the money. residing via the rule of thumb of others in spite of this a strategies as what colour curtains you carry close interior the window, the place to park your motor vehicle and how generally you may desire to cut back your grass single homestead you answer to no one yet your self
2016-10-02 00:55:44 · answer #5 · answered by hamb 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pros-you're nearer to someone if you happent to ever get attacked by a mad man, youre nearer to someone to borrow items (clothes, shoes, socks, underwear), your home is attatched, so you may cut down on heating bills, if you're next to an old person they are always cold, so chances are their heat will radiate to your home, there is not a lot of grass, so you won't have to cut it a lot
Con's - You can't make a lot of noise if you live nex to an old head, if you're a mad man and you want privacy, you won't have much, as a lot of people who live in condo's are nosey
2007-02-12 08:55:34 · answer #6 · answered by Sara S 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Pro: usually cheaper
Con: really close neighbors
2007-02-12 08:52:43 · answer #7 · answered by dirkjohn69 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
PROS - IT'S NOT MUCH TO TAKE CARE OF AND VERY EASY TO CLEAN.
CONS- EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR BUSINESS , ALSO WHO COMES IN YOUR PLACE AND WHO LEAVES ..
2007-02-12 08:58:47 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋