Condos vs Townhouses

First-time home buyers usually dream of owning a traditional, single-family home with a lawn or a backyard, but it might be better to start out your property-buying with a townhouse or a condominium unit. The biggest advantage both types have over the detached house is price - with condos and townhouses, you have more living space for you money. Sure, the many high-end condominium developments in the market today might be a little intimidating for first-time buyers, but getting a mid-level market condominium will cost a lot less than a detached house with a yard.

Another advantage of both condos and townhouses is that you don’t have to worry about maintenance at all - the association takes care of all those things. The downside is that you’re definitely going to have to live within the association rules. They might have certain provisions against owning pets or renting out your unit, and these restrictions might make it difficult for you live there or resell the property. Still, there are many benefits to community living, such as a pool, gym, and 24-hour security, which you could probably not have afforded on your own.

Depending on what kind of lifestyle you’re living, townhouses may have the upper hand over condos. A townhouse allows you to live more independently - you’ll have your own garage or parking space, you can enter through your own front door, maybe you’ll even have a little bit of back yard. Some people prefer condos to townhouses however, because the former tends to be located near bustling business centers, malls, transportation, restaurants, and other facilities - all of which are very attractive locations. Townhouses are usually located a bit further from business districts and are not as easily accessible through public transport.

It all boils down to a question of lifestyle choice. Would you rather live in a house or in an apartment? A townhouse works more like a single family home and provides more privacy, whereas a condo lets you live in close quarters with your neighbors. Both condos and townhouses foster community living on the residents but the former offers cosmopolitan living whereas the latter gives you a little more independence.

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About the Author Lauren Dado has been maintaining a personal blog since 1996. A graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, she is now taking up an MA in Comparative Literature at the University of the Philippines Diliman while working as a professional blogger and freelance copywriter. Read more from this author

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