The main difference between a townhouse and a condo is that townhouse owners own the house and land along with the townhouse, whereas condo ownership is restricted to the inside of the unit.
If you’re thinking about moving, chances are you’ve browsed condos and townhouses on the web. Explore how two residential spaces are different from each other.
| Townhouse | vs | Condo |
| Townhouses often cost more and have higher property taxes, but their HOA fees are frequently lower. | Cost | Condo ownership is restricted to the inside of the unit, making them cheaper to purchase. |
| Home Owners Association is responsible for the daily upkeep of surroundings and other communal spaces. | Homeowners Association | Known as the condominium organization, it maintains the building’s exterior walls, interior, and communal areas daily. |
| The property, the building’s interior, and any deck or yard belong to the owner. The term “townhome” refers to a type of architecture, not a legal designation that has any bearing on who owns what. | Ownership | Only the condos inside are yours. In most cases, the owner enjoys exclusive usage of a unit. The association is the owner of the structures and the land. The owner of a PUD or Planned Unit Development team also owns a portion of the common area. |
| Has lesser value in comparison to condos. | Resale | Have gained a lot of popularity in urban areas and increased resale value. |
Table of Contents
What is a Townhouse?
Because they are multilevel and frequently include front and backyards, townhouses are much more like typical homes. Townhouses, however, are not detached homes. Usually, they are a part of a row of smaller houses connected by one or more shared walls.
An individual who purchases a townhouse becomes the owner of the building’s interior and exterior and the land it is situated on. The homeowner is in charge of all maintenance requirements for the installation on the interior and exterior.
What is a Condo?
You probably think about apartment-style living when you hear the word condo. You’re the owner of the area inside your apartment’s walls but not the area outside.
Everything outside your apartment, such as the outside of the building, common facilities, and land, is owned by a different corporation but used by the neighborhood.
Naturally, not all condominiums are residences. Some condominiums are residences within bigger housing developments or condo associations. Regardless of the kind of individual unit in the apartment building: you still have exclusive privileges to your individual condo but nothing else.
Difference Between Townhouse and Condo
Both townhouses and condos are a kind of ownership, which means you won’t have to pay rent to a landlord. The homeowner experiences you’ll have with a condo vs. a townhouse, though, will be very different in terms of what you’ll own, what you’ll pay, and which aspects of the property you’ll need to manage.
Condo owners often have a separate unit within a bigger complex. Instead, owners of townhouses may share a fence with their neighbors. Still, they also own the building’s construction and the ground around it.
Cost
Price is a significant element in selecting if you want to purchase a condo or a townhouse. Due to their communal living arrangements, both alternatives are often cheaper than detached homes. However, there are price disparities between condos and townhouses.
Condo ownership includes only the inside of the unit, often making them cheaper to purchase. Because there is much less square footage and owners are exempt from paying taxes or insurance on the remainder of the condo building or complex, condo owners also often incur less on land taxes and insurance.
Townhouses often cost more to buy and have higher property taxes, but their Home Owners Association fees are frequently lower. There are fewer shared costs because townhouse owners take care of their homes, not townhouse communities.
Homeowners Association
You’ll need to contribute monthly dues to the Homeowners Association (HOA) when you buy a condo or townhouse. The daily upkeep of the communal spaces is handled by the HOA, which is governed by other residents (and you may enter yourself if you want).
The HOA oversees the condo’s structure, outside grounds, and common interior areas. In a townhouse complex, the HOA is in charge of maintaining the common spaces, which may sometimes include the buildings’ roofs and exteriors.
The HOA also develops regulations for all renters and manages common property upkeep. These could cover prohibitions on making noise, renting out your house, and what you can do about your land.
Ask about HOA regulations and costs when comparing condos and townhouses for yourself since they might differ greatly between properties.
Ownership
When you buy a condo, you jointly own the building with the other tenants and owners and privately own your specific unit. This joint ownership in the condo community extends beyond the physical construction of the building to encompass the outdoor space, including airspace, gardens, and shared spaces like gyms, fitness centers, clubhouses, and swimming pools.
Townhouse ownership is comparable to that of a separate single-family residence. The only distinction is that the building shares some walls with another building, even though the building and the ground it stands on belong to you individually.
Resale
The phrase sure investment is a misnomer. Whether it’s a condo, townhouse, or single-family detached home, various market conditions influence the resale value of a property, many of which are beyond your control.
However, there are certain advantages to condo and townhouse buildings regarding the variables you can manage as first-time homebuyers.
They’re making a solid first impression of your building. Community-building won’t be as tricky since a well-run HOA will ensure that common spaces and basic landscaping constantly look their best.
Although you’ll still be in charge of ensuring your property is ready to sell. A gorgeous pool area or immaculate grounds may give a potential buyer an extra incentive to overlook some minor flaws that could be more noticeable in a detached house.
Condominiums have traditionally grown in value more slowly than other properties, but this is beginning to change. Recently, their rate of appreciation even surpassed that of a single-family home.
If you’ve found this post helpful, check out our post comparing condos and apartments.
