20+ Difference Between Condo And Townhome

Both townhomes and condominiums are forms of property ownership; therefore, occupants do not have to pay rent to a third party.

Although both condo and townhouse ownership involve investing in real estate, the perks and responsibilities of each kind of ownership are distinct. Usually, condo dwellers have their own private space inside a bigger building.

If you live in a townhouse, you and your neighbor may share a wall, but you own your own house and the ground it sits on.

Table of Contents

Comparison Between Condo and Townhome

Parameter	Condo	Townhome
Definition	A condominium is comparable to an apartment in that it’s an individual unit located in a building or community of buildings. But unlike an apartment, a condo is owned by its occupant, not leased from a landlord.	A townhouse is an adjacent residence also owned by its occupant. Sharing a wall or more with the neighboring townhouse is common. Think rowhouse instead of apartment, and anticipate a little bit more privacy than you would receive in a condo.
Lookout	Condos, or condominiums, are multi-unit dwellings that are individually owned. Rental units that are individually owned. Condos may be any size or shape, however they tend to be smaller than townhouses. Shared walls are a feature of condo living. An HOA or condo association typically collects dues from residents to cover the cost of upkeep for shared spaces.	Townhomes are multi-story buildings with common walls between residents. Townhomes provide a unique experience that is reminiscent of single-family dwellings. Their living quarters, including the kitchen and eating area, are on the ground floor, while their sleeping quarters are on the upper stories.
Ownership types	You, as a condo owner, are solely responsible for the upkeep of your own unit; the outside, common areas, and amenities are all taken care of via your monthly HOA fees.	There are two main ways to own a townhouse, either in fee simple or as a condominium. You only own what’s on the inside of a condo, thus the maintenance of the outside and any common areas is funded by the HOA. When you own a house in fee simple, you’re responsible for its upkeep, including the lawn and any adjoining or detached property.
HOA	The condo association is responsible for the upkeep of the building itself, in addition to the grounds and any communal spaces, whether inside or outside.	The homeowner’s association for a neighborhood of townhouses is responsible for maintaining the grounds, as well as the roofs and the exteriors of the buildings. This responsibility comes within the jurisdiction of the homeowner’s association (HOA). This is the true even in some of the more unusual situations.
Fees	Due to the limited scope of ownership, condominiums are often more affordable. Because of the smaller size and the fact that they do not contribute to the upkeep of the common areas, condo owners also enjoy lower costs related to property taxes and insurance.	Townhouses often have cheaper HOA costs despite a higher purchase price and higher property taxes. Townhouses have lower common costs than apartments do due to individual responsibility for upkeep.

Major Differences Between Condo And Townhome

What Exactly Is a Condo?

A condominium, or “condo,” is an apartment building. What’s inside your flat is yours to keep, but what’s outside isn’t. Common amenities, land, and the structure are not part of your own but are shared with other residents.

Not all condominiums are apartment buildings. You’ll find condominiums that look like homes inside of bigger complexes. The idea remains the same across all unit types: you own and have exclusive rights to your unit but nothing in the immediate vicinity.

Condo Key Differences

In a condominium, one or more homeowners own a portion of the building while the other or others share the remaining space.
Condominium owners may save hundreds each year on their home insurance premiums. It’s important to make sure the place is a good fit before you move in.
Due to the shared nature of many condo amenities, residents tend to feel more connected to one another. Similar to standard apartments, these residences are usually single-story.
Condominium flats exist in a wide variety of architectural styles, despite their small size. Condos are the most low-maintenance option for homeowners.
Condos, especially those in taller buildings, are often situated in more convenient downtown or downtown-like settings.
Condominium buildings have more tenants than townhouse communities, so they can afford to provide extras like a concierge or dry cleaning service.
Condominium owners are solely responsible for the maintenance of their own units, although they all have an equal say in the upkeep of the common areas.
It is characterized as a “condo community” since all of the residents own equal shares of the building. The residents of a complex condo share the building’s common amenities.

What Exactly Is a Townhome?

However, townhomes more closely resemble single-family homes in that they often feature a front yard and a backyard and often have many stories. In contrast, townhouses do not belong to the category of detached homes.

They are usually one of a row of similar, narrower houses that share at least one common wall. When a person buys a townhouse, they take possession of the whole structure, including the land it rests on. Therefore, the homeowner must do all necessary interior and exterior maintenance.

Townhome Key Differences

A townhouse is a kind of multi-family dwelling in which each resident owns their own plot of land but shares common walls with neighbors.
Due to the fact that townhouse owners are responsible for both the outside and inside of their buildings, they must pay a higher premium for homeowner’s insurance.
Since many townhome amenities are independently owned, residents tend to get along rather well. Whoever purchased the townhouse now legally owns it.
Townhomes often have enough room for several rooms’ worth of furniture. Unlike single-family detached homes, however, townhouses are owned by a single family.
The exterior (including the roof and siding), any outside areas, and the generally modest yard are all the responsibility of the townhouse owner.
The upkeep isn’t as labor-intensive as that of a single-family house but is still more comprehensive than that of a condominium.
Make sure you set aside enough money in your budget to cover the additional maintenance. All the normal rules for owning a house apply.
Townhouse communities may be farther from the city’s walking locations (restaurants, shops, and businesses) due to their concentration on larger plots of land.

Contrast Between Condo and Townhome

Structure

Condos – Condominiums, often known as condos, are a kind of privately owned housing found in multi-unit buildings or communities. Every apartment is independently owned. Condos are generally smaller than townhouses but may be any size or shape.

Condos often have common walls with neighboring units. In addition, they feature communal areas that are maintained by a homeowners association (HOA) or condo association for an annual fee.

Townhome – However, townhomes are multi-family dwellings that share common walls with neighboring units and have more than one story. Similar to a detached single-family house, a townhome offers its residents a unique lifestyle. The lower levels of their homes often house public spaces like the kitchen and dining area, while the upper levels house more private areas like the bedrooms.

Owner

Condo – Condos are more involved in the process of developing and creating web applications and websites that require web hosting. It involves database scripting, server-side scripting, client-side scripting, as well as various other complex web-based modules.

Condos are more involved in the process of developing and creating web applications and websites that require web hosting. It involves database scripting, server-side scripting, client-side scripting, as well as various other complex web-based modules.

Townhome – Townhomes are more involved in designing, programming, testing, documenting, conceptualizing, maintaining, and upgrading software, frameworks, and software modules.

Condos are more involved in the process of developing and creating web applications and websites that require web hosting. It involves database scripting, server-side scripting, client-side scripting, as well as various other complex web-based modules.

Description

Condo – A condominium, or “the condo,” is a single-family dwelling that is part of a larger structure. Different condo buildings have different floor plans, but in general, there are several condos on each level.

This means that there may be apartments above, below, or next to yours. They may be found in every kind of structure, from urban high-rises to residential complexes in the suburbs.

Townhome – A townhouse is a hybrid between a detached house and a condominium. Buildings of this kind are usually two or three storeys in height, and although they have common walls with their neighbors, they do not have any apartments directly above or below them.

It’s very uncommon to see townhouses in 55+ communities, so they’re not only for young families and first-time purchasers.

Privacy

Condo – There is a sense of community that comes with living in a condo, and as such, residents should be mindful of how their actions could affect their neighbors. This is only feasible if everyone plays by the HOA’s regulations.

Each HOA is administered by a board of condo owners whose goal is to make life in the building or community work as smoothly as possible and is regulated by a set of regulations known as covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) that are supposed to protect all condo owners.

Townhome – By contrast, residents of townhomes are expected to take care of their own properties, including any outside areas. As a result, individuals may customize both the inside and outside of their houses as they see fit.

Amenities

Condo – The majority of condos have access to at least some of these desired amenities, which may vary from swimming pools to fitness centers and may be provided by the community as a whole or by individual buildings.

Townhome – Despite the common belief that condo complexes provide more amenities than townhome developments do, some new townhome projects offer more amenities than condo complexes.

Clubhouses, playgrounds, and swimming pools may be found in many communities built around townhouses. However, a large number of contemporary townhouse projects, especially those geared at seniors aged 55 and over, include opulent resort-style facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What do condominiums do?

A condominium, often known as a condo, is a residential apartment owned separately and located inside a complex or building with similar residential units.

Condo owners own their individual apartments, but they also have right to partake in the building’s common areas, amenities, and other resources.

They are responsible for paying condo fees, which cover expenditures associated with the upkeep and maintenance of common areas as well as amenities.

Is it a smart move to purchase a condo?

Investing in a condominium can turn out to be a smart move. Condominiums often have more affordable prices than single-family houses do, and many come equipped with upscale features and facilities for the owners.

And if you’re at a point in your life when you don’t have the time or skill to do maintenance, a condo may offer an environment that is (quite literally) light on care for you to live in.

How many years does it take for a condo to become outdated?

Although the lifetime of your condominium does not exist, the longevity of the organization that manages it does. In the Philippines, the average lifetime of any company or business, no matter how large or how little, is fifty years.

However, the corporation may still be extended for a further fifty years, which means that the termination of your ownership of the condominium does not definitely occur at that time.

Are townhouses a desirable option?

This strategy could be the way to go when it comes to getting the most out of your money when purchasing a property. You will still be provided with the required number of rooms and square footage, but you won’t be required to make such a big initial payment.

Many first-time homeowners, young professionals, and young families find that townhomes are an excellent housing alternative for them to consider.

Which kind of dwelling has a better worth when it comes time to sell: a townhouse or a condominium?

It is common for the resale value of a condominium to be higher than that of a townhouse. This is caused by the fact that a condominium is more likely to maintain its value than a townhouse.

Conversely, condominiums do not undergo price changes in the same way as single-family houses and detached properties do.