Are you consiering the pros and cons of townhouses vs. single-family homes? What type of house is better or suits you best? In this blog we confront the townhouses vs. independent houses.
If you are thinking of buying a house in New Jersey, it is in your best interest to have the professional help of the NJ real estate attorney at Curbelo Law. With over 10 years of experience in real estate in the Garden State, you’ll be safe with us.
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Table of Contents
The Elements To Weigh In Townhouses Vs. single-family homes
Home buyers are often faced with many decisions about the best home to buy. But for this, they must first choose between the different types of houses in New Jersey:
- Buyers are often trying to decide which is better, a semi-detached or a detached home.
- Deciding what type of home to buy can be really tricky, because you can’t predict with certainty how long you’ll live in it.
- Additionally, the conflict between the needs, the current budget and what will be needed later, further complicates the matter.
Next, we will explain some elements to take into account about the dilemma of townhouses vs. single-family homes:
Initial And Long-Term Costs
Townhouses tend to have a lower sales price compared to single-family homes. Therefore, townhouses can be a good option for first-time home buyers and/or those on a budget.
- However, owning a townhouse does not necessarily mean that it is cheaper than living in a single-family house.
- This is because townhouse owners must pay monthly HOA fees and any additional required assessments.
- A common example of this is when the roof of townhouses requires repair or replacement. In addition, the owner must also pay property taxes as determined by the local tax assessor.
Similarly, townhouses tend to have lower maintenance costs than single-family homes. This is due to two factors:
- The property is usually small.
- The homeowners association can take care of covering some required maintenance tasks.
Maintenance
In single-family homes, all maintenance falls on the responsibility of the owner. Therefore, the owner is in charge of mowing the lawn, unclogging the gutters, changing the air filters, the batteries of the smoke detector and others.
On the other hand, with townhouses, the homeowners association is responsible for carrying out much of this maintenance.
Structural Features
The characteristics of the structure are one of the most important elements when comparing townhouses vs. single-family homes. This is because a townhouse shares at least one wall with another house of similar design.
- Single-family homes do not have common walls with other houses and are located on their own plot of land.
- Since townhouses are attached to other homes, they have less square footage in the front and back yards.
- Townhouses are often clustered in or around an urban core and have less space inside and out.
Some of the owners of the townhouses may feel overwhelmed due to the proximity with the neighbours.
Proximity To Neighbors
To seek isolation from the neighbors; not to mention the noise, it will be best to opt for an single-family house. Since townhouses share walls with other properties, it’s possible to hear their music, parties, or crying babies.
Single-family homes offer much more space between each neighbor, thus providing greater privacy and tranquility.
Flexibility And Space
Single-family homes are often much larger than townhouses, so you’ll have more square footage, more bedrooms, and more privacy. In addition, these properties can be lent to install a swimming pool, add extra bedrooms and so on.
With the townhouses, their limited size and the limitations that the homeowners association imposes on the interior and exterior of the home, makes it difficult to remodel the house.
What Is The Difference Between A Townhouse And A Single-family house?
The main difference between townhouses vs. single-family homes is the proximity to neighboring houses. Townhouses share the walls with other houses, while single-family houses are separated from the other houses.
- Townhouses are built as a series of housing units with the exterior walls attached to another house.
- These types of structures are built directly along a street and although they can vary in shape, they are usually the same in size.
- Single-family homes are often what many people envision when they think of a home. This means that it is a common house separated from any other property.
- Additionally, stand-alone properties come in many architectural styles, such as: ranch, Victorian, craftsman, colonial, and others.
It should be noted that townhouses only share one or more walls with neighboring townhouses. Therefore, they do not usually have units above or below them, something that a condominium or apartments would.
Townhouses Vs. Single-family homes For The Active Lifestyle
Individuals who have an active lifestyle and are constantly on the go are better off living in a townhome. This is because they won’t have to worry about the amount of maintenance that needs to be done on it.
- Also, due to a stronger sense of community, townhome owners often feel more secure when traveling. This happens because the neighbors are more vigilant and report any suspicious activity in the house.
- Most townhouses tend to be in close proximity to a large city. Therefore, individuals with an active lifestyle will be able to reach their destination almost instantly.
- Also, some areas near these houses are usually of great interest. For example, restaurants, breweries, shops, or outdoor community spots.
In New Jersey, lucrative row houses can be found due to the surrounding neighborhoods. So, if you are in the Garden State and looking to buy a nice home, our attorney Carolina T. Curbelo can help you through this process.
Townhouses Vs. Single-family homes – Advantages And Disadvantages
Next, we will show you some advantages and disadvantages of townhouses vs. single-family homes:
Advantages Of Townhouses
- The sense of community. Since the residents of row houses live close to each other, they usually help each other. Therefore, if one is away for a long time, the neighbors will watch over your home when you are not around.
- Affordability. In general, townhomes could cost much less than single-family homes of the same size. Also, on utility bills, expenses are usually lower.
- Low maintenance. HOA fees are common on townhouses. Although this can be expensive, individuals are generally happy that they do not have to maintain the property.
Disadvantages Of Townhouses
- Smaller. These homes tend to be much smaller than single-family homes. Because of this, it can present a problem for individuals who want more space to live.
- There can be a lot of noise. Since the townhouses share the walls with the neighbors, noise from the neighbors can be heard.
- They have limitations on expansion. Generally, HOA imposes limitations on both the interior and exterior of this type of property.
Advantages Of Single-family homes
- They have a bigger yard. Unlike the townhouses, these homes have large yards. In fact, most townhomes don’t have private yards.
- Greater privacy. Because there are no shared walls, you can have more privacy to do what you like. Although there may be neighbors, they will be separated by a greater distance.
- Greater space. Almost all single-family houses have extra spaces, like a garage, basement, or attic. On the other hand, the townhouses do not have these advantages.
Disadvantages Of Single-family homes
- Higher cost. These properties are more expensive than townhouses.
- More responsibility and maintenance. Another of the biggest disadvantages of these houses is that the owner is responsible for all maintenance and repairs.
- Greater distance from the city. Most single-family houses are located far from the heart of the cities.
Valuation Of Townhouses Vs. Independent Houses
A critical part of long-term profitability is valuation, which is added to a property over time. This is critical and important in more ways than one.
- First of all, it is a necessity, since the dollar generally depreciates about 2% each year.
- Likewise, you can also expect value to be added through changes in the real estate market. If this happens, the house can be appreciated.
- However, this is not in your control once you purchase the property as your best guess and neighborhood assessment must be done to plan for this going forward.
It should be noted that the value of a townhouse is forever tied to the value of the home it is physically attached to.
Is It Better To Buy A townhouse Or Single-family home In New Jersey?
There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to buying a home. However, it is essential to take a look at your budget and consider your needs.
- A good buyer may consider living comfortably in a townhouse, even if HOA fees or your family size increase.
- The financing of a townhouse is usually the same as the financing of a single-family house.
Now that you know the differences between townhouses vs. single-family homes, do not hesitate to contact us today. A real estate professional can help guide you through your decision to determine the type of home that is best for you.
FULL LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND COUNSELING
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