Difference Between Condo and Townhouse

When you’re planning to invest in a house, you must have found yourself caught in the middle of the condo vs. townhouse debate. Although both of them sound similar, they possess some striking comparisons between each other.

So, if you’re thinking about settling for one of them, you might want to obtain a little background information on them.

From their layouts to ownership, the difference between condo and townhouse is quite big in general. This article will shed light on them.

Condo vs. Townhouse: At a Glance

Now, condos and townhouses are remarkable housing examples, so they are always at the top of the list of people trying to invest in houses. A condominium, or condo, refers to housing built as an apartment complex.

It means that only a specific portion of a property allows a condo, and the remaining areas of the property are built as separate condos for different homeowners.

On the other hand, townhouses refer to individual housing owned by the resident. With townhouses, the walls are shared with an adjoining tethered townhouse so that you can expect more privacy compared to a condo.

Condo

A condo refers to a single-residential unit that is located within a big and spacious property. Both urban and suburban areas comprise luxurious condos and have now become widely available to individuals.

Condo layouts are distinct for each building, but they are present among a few units per floor of each building. With a condo, you’re only liable to pay for the maintenance of the unit you own only. But you do need to pay monthly fees into the HOA, which stands for Home Owners Association. In a condo, this HOA is responsible for the building management, grounds, and common spaces.

Most condos are equipped with some amazing amenities, including gyms and swimming pools shared among the building residents.

Rules and regulations are also quite strict for people living in condos compared to townhouses. However, condos are still an amazing choice of selection for people who are buying a home for the first time.

Townhouse

A townhouse is an amazing option for first-home buyers, especially with small nuclear families. It appears in the middle of a condo and a single-family home, which is why it is quite popular among individuals who want something different from their home.

Townhouses are approximately 2-3 stories tall and are devoid of units above or beneath them. This housing shares walls with the properties adjacent to them, which gives the residents enough privacy.

Unlike a condo, townhouses have different ownership options. You can own your housing property along with the interiors, or you can only own the interiors while letting the HOA fees take care of the yard and grounds of the house.

Townhouses comprise limited amenities compared to condos, but you get some pretty good playgrounds, pools, and clubhouses in this kind of housing.

Due to fewer amenities, townhouses require lower HOA fees which is a remarkable advantage with them.

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Main Differences between Condo and Townhouse

The main difference between a condo and a townhouse is that you only get the ownership of the interiors with a condo, while with a townhouse, you get the ownership of the property as well.

A condo is a suitable option for young individuals looking to buy a house for the first time.
Townhouses are ideal housing options for small and nuclear families.
The condo comprises a high number of amenities, so they need larger HOA fees for maintenance.
Townhouses have selective amenities, so the HOA fees are relatively cheaper.
The condo has fixed ownership and is governed by legal status.
Townhouses have variable ownership options that help in making the best decisions for yourself based on your budget and requirement.

Condo and Townhouse – The Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Condo	Townhouse
1. About	A condo is a housing structure within a large property that is part of a unit.	A townhouse is a housing where uniform houses share walls in a property.
2. Legal Status	Legal statuses control Condos.	Any legal status does not control townhouses.
3. Proprietorship	The building and the grounds are owned by a different union, while the resident owns the condo interiors.	The townhouse owner can own both the interiors and the land and choose to pay for the interiors while the HOA fees cover the grounds.
4. HOA responsibility	HOA manages the building, exteriors, along with the common spaces.	HOA manages the exteriors along with the common spaces.
5. HOA fees	Condo HOA fees are relatively higher due to more amenities.	Townhouse HOA fees are cheaper due to fewer amenities.
6. Privacy	Condo offers limited privacy.	The townhouse offers comparatively more privacy.

Conclusion

We have arrived at the end of the condo vs. townhouse debate. We can say that both condos and townhouses are impressive options for investing in case of first-time buyers.

Although both have their respective good and bad sides, we recommend opting for townhouses due to the cost-effectiveness in comparison to condos as well as the smart ownership facilities.