Every prospective homebuyer has a plethora of options. You could be on the lookout for a condo, a single-family home, a townhome, or even a multi-family dwelling like a duplex. Two of the most popular option are townhomes and single-family homes. Single-family houses are easily the most popular option between the two. Nevertheless, there are a few pros and cons to consider about single-family homes when compared to a townhouse.
Pro: Single-family homes give you control over the actual property the house sits on.
When you buy a townhome, you are paying for the structure and not the property the structure sits on. Because of this, you are not responsible for outlying property maintenance, but this also means that you can't just go outside your doorstep and plant flowers, install a swing set, or do all those other things that most homeowners enjoy when it comes to owning their own property.
Con: A single-family dwelling is less likely to be part of an HOA than a townhome.
HOAs (homeowner associations) can bring about some advantages that a lot of homeowners enjoy, such as neighborhood security efforts and landscape maintenance. If you like the idea of your home being a part of an HOA, a townhome can be more likely to offer that. However, there are single-family homes in HOA communities; you may just have to search a little harder to find them.
Pro: Single-family houses give you a higher level of privacy at home.
One of the greatest advantages of a single-family home, when compared to a townhome, is the level of privacy you get. Townhomes share outer walls with other townhomes; their sides are joined together. Likewise, there can be a lot of townhomes concentrated in one neighborhood. Single-family dwellings are more private and tend to have more space between one house and the next.
Con: Single-family homes can be a bit more expensive than townhomes.
Townhomes do usually have a lower investment price compared to single-family houses upfront. This one fact makes a lot of people choose townhomes. However, there are other costs that must be considered with a townhome. For example, if the townhome is part of an HOA, which most of them are, the property owner will have to pay HOA dues every year for as long as they own the house. Over time, this expense can really add up and make a single-family home a bit more affordable over the long term.
To learn more about single-family homes for sale in your area, talk to a real estate agent.
