I have renewed my quest to understand how to distinguish between townhouse or condo. Having read umpteen sites in this area there are still too many grays for me. Some sites have stated that the differences can be hard to discern. Some have given completely opposing info between them (the sites)…ex, one site said that townhouses are always one level, another states they can be several. There seems to be reletive consensus that townhouses share a wall but then along comes a site which states ‘but they may not’…I’m not the smartest guy but I can not figure out how it can be both ways, and besides if they don’t share a wall isn’t that just two houses? From people who are experienced with having to absolutely identify which (ie home inspectors who have inspected each) I’m hoping to get the simple answer. Instead of lengthy articles and confusing definitions, cant it just be:
Townhouse - you own your house and the land beneath it, as well as certain surrounding area, yard, garage, etc. And your house shares a wall with a neighboring house which does the same. And there is some degree of association or maintenance collective agreement which you share fees for (perhaps grounds upkeep or whatever benefit somebody wanted to move from an individual house for). In other words…townhouse is just a way to have your own house, but escape from upkeep.
Condominium - pretty much like an apartment (shared hallways, stairways, etc) except you actually own the space between your front and rear doors so you can do what you like inside your space (unlike apartment) and you share the fee for maintenance of the common areas of the building as well as the exterior of the entire structure (including roof and siding) and the grounds.
See… that’s two nice little paragraphs that I can grasp. If this can be a ‘you got it’ deal I’m happy with that. If not please throw in a few extra distinguishing definitions.
you guys rock!!
mike in MN
Look to you assessor for info on what the property is. Townhouses usually have a parcel associated with them so you own the land. The condo is a type of ownerships. Basically you own the “apartment” and the common areas are owned by an association.
Townhouse means nobody above or below you.
Condos are basically apartments.
Rowhouse is older style and wedged in mainly a term used in cities for the older greystones that take up a whole block.
I have been in this industry since 1972.… And I say…Ya got it:p
Your definitions are clear and to the point especially…
Quote:
Condominium - pretty much like an apartment (shared hallways, stairways, etc) except you actually own the space between your front and rear doors so you can do what you like inside your space (unlike apartment) and you share the fee for maintenance of the common areas of the building as well as the exterior of the entire structure (including roof and siding) and the grounds.
End Quote:
A condominium is defined by its ownership - not the type of unit. The attached pix are of a single occupancy totally detached condo unit. All the exterior maintenance and repairs lawn care, snow removal etc. are managed by the condominium association, all owners are members. This condo association also looks after the private roads in the complex, and the common buildings, a community center with recreation facilities and meeting rooms. They have strict rules about modifying anything on the exterior, parking etc… Anything on the interior is the owners responsibility.
A condominium can be any type of housing, detached single occupancy, a row house, low rise or high rise apartments, or any combination of them. What makes it a condominium is the legally shared ownership, as opposed to separate titles.
