Townhouses vs. Houses

[tetra316 0]

I really want a house but am probably going to be getting a townhouse. Less maintenance and upkeep and slightly cheaper. Anyone else bought a townhouse? What do you love/hate about it?

[angrypeppers 1]

I lived in a townhouse before we bought our current house. Cheaper is OK, but I will never share walls with anyone else again. Too many times I heard the neighbors talk/fight/have sex, not to mention hearing their dogs bark, kids cry, etc. I'd much rather buy a smaller house than get a townhouse. YMMV...

Burn the land and boil the sea,
You can't take the sky from me.

[Slowfaller 0]

I currently live in a townhouse/condo with a basement and enjoy it. I can crank my system in my basement anytime and my neighbors won't hear it due to the nice, thick concrete walls. When my wife and I bought Rock Band we had a party until almost 5am with the system cranked and received no complaints. To the right of my place I have a really nice couple living with their two sons. If our little ipod dock is on too loud, too late I'll get a knock. That's happend twice and I've apologized for both times, that ipod dock bangs I guess and it's on the main floor.

All I really don't care for is when the kids play out back it's like they're in your backyard too. Makes my dogs bark and it's hard to sleep but if you don't work thirds it shouldn't be a problem. My main reason for wanting a house is to have a backyard for my pups. I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for when the quiet guy above me moves out.

Chris

--"Someday you will die and somehow somethings going to steal your carbon" -MM

[NWFlyer 2]

I have a townhouse - we have four units in our little "complex" in the city.

Things I love about it ...

-I got new construction in the city (fewer things to maintain).
-I don't have to maintain a yard.
-It feels like I have more space than a condo or single-level house because it's on multiple levels.
-I have more of a view than I would in a single-family house.
-I really love my neighbors (but I got lucky that way.)

Things I don't like as much...

-I would like outdoor space just outside my living room ... I have to go downstairs or upstairs to get that.
-Schlepping up and down three levels can be a pain.
-Laundry room in the basement, bedrooms on the third floor. Laundry's a pain. This seems to be a (stupidly) common townhouse layout.
-The way my unit is laid out, if I were ever injured, I'd really be screwed because I have to come up a flight of stairs to get to my living levels. All that's on my entry level is garage/utility/laundry room.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[BillyVance 34]

If you've never owned a house before, a townhouse would be a good choice to start with. Get used to the responsibilities of being a home owner without overwhelming yourself at first.

Sometimes I wish I'd done something like that instead of buying a 4 bedroom 3 bath house with 2 car garage and 3 acres of land right off the bat.

We did live in a 2 bedroom apt before that though but still...

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[simplyputsi 0]

One thing to look at is the HOA costs associated with a townhouse. Sometimes you can buy a house for the same you pay at the townhouse.

I for one really never want to live where I share walls with someone again. I also want a garage, but some townhomes have those.

Bottom line is get what you want, and can afford.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[funjumper101 15]

Townhouses can be good or bad. It depends.

HOA issues - A poorly run HOA can make life miserable. Deferred maintenance on common areas can mean a big assessment that is NOT optional. For example, the building(s) ten years old and the roof was crappy when it was installed. The HOA kept the association dues low by deferring things and didn't build up reserves for likely expenses, like replacing a roof. The HOA meets and decides to replace the roof. They figure it will cost X$$ and assess each unit a charge for the excess expense. These unpleasant surprises can be thousands of $$. Make sure that you check out the HOA's finances. Take a look at unplanned assesments. You likely should talk to a real estate agent that can help you learn the ins and outs. There are good books, too.

HOAs can have restrictive rules like no dogs over 20lbs, no guest parking on premises, all cars must be garages at night, no resident parking in the guest spaces, etc, etc. Sometimes the rules aren't enforced, then a nit-picker gets on the HOA board and starts enforcing rules that used to be ignored. The politics can get intense.
It also sucks when you have crappy neighbors. A friend is stuck with a condo that she can't sell. The downstairs neighbors are morbidly obese and snore so loud that the floor and one wall vibrates in the MBR. Hard to believe, but true. It is a nasty noise that comes through. This is a known defect that must be disclosed if you sell. The HOA can't help. It isn't illegal to snore really loudly. The folks she bought the condo from didn't disclose the issue and moved out of the country after the sale. The fat fucks are assholes and think that it is funny. Someday they'll die or move. Until then, she's stuck. She spent a lot of $$ on new carpet, padding, etc. It helped, but didn't fix the problem.

Many people ignore their HOAs, don't attend meetings, don't keep up on the financials, etc. They get interested fast when things have turned bad.

In summary, make sure that you really understand what you are getting yourself into. Buying a place is the biggest purchase you are going to make. You need to make sure that you fully comprehend what you are getting yourself into. Visit the place at night, on weekends so that you can see what it looks like. Talk to the neighbors a bit. Ask them about the HOA.

Good luck.

[Lastchance 0]

It is beyond me why anyone would want to BUY an APARTMENT. I myself could never justify buying a place where my neighbor is 6 inches away. My closest neighbor is 200 ft. The next closest is 350 ft, I do realize that some people live where that is not even an option. But for me, no way.

I may be getting old but I got to see all the cool bands.

[sharimcm 0]

I would suggest a house as opposed to a townhouse unless you don't mind sharing your walls with someone else. Like someone else said, you're basically buying an apartment. For me, apartment life sucks, therefore, I am in the process of buying a house. The house I have my eyes on is actually cheaper than the townhouses I've looked at, but when you add in the money I will need to spend for lawn mowers, gas grills, electricity, etc., it's about the same. Look at both, and look at the options closely. You don't want to buy something you won't be happy with after a few months.

"I had a dude tip his black cowboy hat to me after I provided him with a condom outside my hotel room at 3-something in the morning." -myself

[BillyVance 34]

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It is beyond me why anyone would want to BUY an APARTMENT. I myself could never justify buying a place where my neighbor is 6 inches away. My closest neighbor is 200 ft. The next closest is 350 ft, I do realize that some people live where that is not even an option. But for me, no way.

My closest neighbor is two football fields away. Second closest is double that. Life is good.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[Lastchance 0]

Long distances make good neighbors. I have only 3 neighbors in the area. You're right. Life is good.

I may be getting old but I got to see all the cool bands.

[simplyputsi 0]

I don't think you meant this for me, but man I can't tell you how much I agree.

I'm pretty much in the same situation you describe. The only good thing is that we fired 2 property managers, finally got a board that wasn't a bunch of crooks, and things are slowly coming around. There are still problems here and there and well shitty neighbors aren't the HOA's problem.
I wish they were.

I'm selling my condo As soon as they are done with the renovation of the property. Hopefully then I can maybe make some money off of it, and I'm not stupid, the loan for the renovations is going to hurt us in the long run as there is no way they are putting enough in reserves. So that means assessments when something goes to shit.

There are other reasons i'm out. Only way i'd ever do a condo again is in a highrise, and then I'd really have to think about it.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[tetra316 0]

Good things to think about. I don't like HOA fees but then again most townhomes come with them.

I'd rather get a house but where I live a townhouse is more realistic now for me financially and location wise. Plus end units with garages don't seem so bad. Am going to look as some on Sunday.

Then I can sell in a couple years and buy a house, hopefully

[sharimcm 0]

The neighborhood that the house I am looking at has HOA fees as well as enforced deed restrictions. But, then again, it is a cookie-cutter neighborhood and I expected as much.

"I had a dude tip his black cowboy hat to me after I provided him with a condom outside my hotel room at 3-something in the morning." -myself

[simplyputsi 0]

townhouses and condos do not appreciate as much as you would hope.

Townhouses do fair better than condos though.
If I had it to do over again, I'd rent an apartment and would have continued saving and bought a house when it was the right time.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[tetra316 0]

True enough, but some equity is better than no equity. Otherwise it's just money thrown away on rent.

[simplyputsi 0]

hmmm, this is actually not true. I will try and see if I can find you an article.

The jest of the article was you can rent something cheaper and if you put the money you are saving renting rather than buying away in some type of investment you will actually come away with more money than if you had a property earning equity.

The problem is it takes your will power to not spend what you are saving. Easier said than done.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[McBeth 0]

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The problem is it takes your will power to not spend what you are saving. Easier said than done.

That is why I have an automatic transfer from checking to savings as soon as my paycheck goes in.

[tetra316 0]

What about if I plan on renting out a bedroom or two. So in effect I'm not really going to be paying much more by buying.

If you can find that article that would be great. I need all the help I can get I'm sure.

[simplyputsi 0]

Well the article was sort of found, the linky to it is broken though

It really just went into detail about how especially in short term renting can actually be cheaper and better. This is not true for all the housing markets though. You catch one at the right time and you can get lucky.

Also, if you're going to rent out a bedroom or two then you possibly have an advantage. The only disadvantage you'll have is people in YOUR house treating YOUR stuff the way THEY want to.

I have a roommate, and after this I'm done with that jazz. It does make it easier though.

End unit, with garage, and roommates paying some of the bills, sounds like a pretty good plan. As long as the roommates don't leave.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[simplyputsi 0]

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The problem is it takes your will power to not spend what you are saving. Easier said than done.

That is why I have an automatic transfer from checking to savings as soon as my paycheck goes in.

Well that is just because you are a good girl

Hi BETH!!!

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[tetra316 0]

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As long as the roommates don't leave.

I've considered that so I'm only getting a mortagage I can afford all by my lonesome, even if it does leave me broke for a month or two.

[McBeth 0]

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Well that is just because you are a good girl

Hi BETH!!!

Damn... and I thought I was naughty

HI!!!

[ChristopherZ 0]

I own a condo. They even got me to serve on the association board. PM me if you're interested in that.

Things I like:
Don't have to work in the yard
Relaxing by the pool in the summer
Don't have to shovel snow in the winter
Cost was less than a house and I'm building equity

Things I don't like:
Association dues can go up a lot from year to year
Resale value can be a little soft
There's not a lot you can do if you have noisy neighbors.

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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I really want a house but am probably going to be getting a townhouse. Less maintenance and upkeep and slightly cheaper. Anyone else bought a townhouse?

Two.

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What do you love/hate about it?

The price was much more reasonable than houses in the same location (170K vs. close to 300K; 425K for a nice 5 year old town-house vs. $600K plus for something which needed "updating" or $700K+ for something new). Living with less space inside city limits beat having more farther away which I couldn't enjoy as much because I'd have been living in my car more.

One was a nice end-unit with good party wall construction and quiet neighbors.

One had decent party wall construction and a (mediocre) rock drummer bought the property and moved in next door. That stunk.

Not having to maintain a yard is nice, but the same thing is available in houses. The checks just go to a gardner instead of an HOA.