Townhouse vs Single Family Home: How To Make The Right Choice?

When choosing a home, you come across multiple options – you can go for a townhouse, a single family home, or a condo. But how do you choose the perfect real estate for you and your family?

You must go for a home that ticks all the checklists. It can be a touchy choice but what prevails is the purpose. Is it an investment eyeing appreciation? Or a living space for your family?

Let’s discuss this in detail and help you make an informed choice between a townhouse vs single family home.

1- Townhouse
2- Single Family Home
3- Townhouse Vs Single Family Home
4- Investment
5- Appreciation
6- What Should I Buy
7- FAQs

What is a Townhouse?

A townhouse is a residential building typically built in a row and shares walls with other houses built under the same roof. They are most common in urban areas, mainly located in the town’s center.

A townhouse offers the benefits of living in an apartment without the hassles of privacy and sounds coming from the floor above. As a result, you can try living in a new place without committing too deeply financially.

Defining a Single Family Home

A single family home is an independent house built in complete isolation from other houses, i.e., it doesn’t necessarily have shared walls or pools. They are the most common residential places in the U.S.

Single family homes are usually larger and have more space than a townhouse. However, they are also more expensive than a townhouse and condo.

Townhouse Vs Single Family Home

There are considerable differences between a townhouse vs single family home. Let’s discuss them in detail.

1. Price

The most significant difference between townhouses and single family homes is the price. Townhouses are typically more affordable than single family homes because they are smaller and cover less land.

On the other hand, a single-family home is more expensive but offers more amenities and space. These are usually located in good neighborhoods where people can enjoy privacy and be close to their friends and family.

2. Amenities

A townhouse can offer more amenities than single family homes. They include a shared pool, fitness center, and on-site maintenance personnel. It is ideally located close to public transportation and other places such as shopping centers or restaurants.

However, a single-family home close to a town’s center is really expensive, and most families prefer to drive a few miles and enjoy their privacy.

3. Maintenance

A townhouse can be an excellent option for people who want to live in an independent house but do not want to deal with the hassle of maintaining it.

On the other hand, single-family homes offer more privacy but require more maintenance and upkeep.

4. Size

Townhouses can be built either as a row of attached buildings or as detached buildings standing side by side in a single lot. A townhouse typically has two units, each with its own entrance and staircase. The units are usually stacked with common walls.

However, a single-family home is a large house with a common living space for all the household members, such as parents and children, living together under one roof.

Townhouse Vs Single Family Home Investment

If you are looking for an option strictly from an investment standpoint, let’s discuss the merits and demerits of a townhouse vs a single-family home.

A single family home is typically priced higher than its townhouse counterpart. Still, it offers more freedom and independence. It’s also easier to host larger gatherings at your own house than someone else’s, as there will be ample space for guests and their cars.

In most cases, single-family homes can be huge and offer much larger space for family members to live comfortably. It provides more privacy, thus a better resale value and more appreciation.

Townhouses are often cheaper than single family homes but also have higher maintenance costs. It can build equity over time without paying the higher price tag of purchasing a single-family home.

However, townhomes are also more challenging to sell than single family homes, so you might be unable to recoup your initial investment quickly.

If you are strictly looking for an investment, a townhouse will be cheaper with a higher price per square yard. On the other hand, single-family homes would be priced higher but are easy to sell. This is because privacy and freedom are inherent to human desire and play a vital role in the decision to buy a house.

The resale also depends on the location and the type of clientele you deal with. If your deal with mostly well-off clients who can afford single home properties in decent to posh localities, then that’s a choice you should make.

However, if your target customer doesn’t have that credit limit, you should go for a much cheaper townhouse.

Townhouse Vs Single Family Home Appreciation

Many believe that a townhouse will appreciate more than single family homes, but this is not always true. The appreciation depends on the location and desirability. Let’s suppose a townhouse is located in a less desirable area or without any amenities; in that case, its appreciation will be lower than that of single-family homes.

Similarly, the appreciation of a single family home also depends on its location and amenities. However, single-family houses are more likely to increase in value as they are easier to sell and remain in high demand across cities, irrespective of the price and location.

What Should I Buy – Single Family Homes Vs Townhomes?

The decision to buy a townhouse vs a single-family home is not easy. Townhouses can be cheaper than single family homes and are mostly closer to public transportation, so you’ll spend less time driving and more time relaxing at home.

It is a good choice if you’re looking for more space but still want to live in an urban area. They are excellent for living in a neighborhood with amenities like parks, sidewalks, or even schools nearby – but you don’t want to pay for them as part of your mortgage payment.

If you’re looking for something close enough to walk to work or school without having the responsibility of maintaining it yourself, then townhouses might be the perfect fit for you!

On the other hand, a single-family home provides more amenities, space, and, most importantly, privacy. It may or may not be close to the city’s center with bus stations or schools, but it provides a comfortable living space for your family.

The privacy lets you try a hand at DIY repairs and maintenance, saving some extra bucks on the weekends.

Single Family Homes vs Townhomes – FAQs

Are Townhomes Hard To Sell?

Yes, a townhouse can often be challenging to sell. There are a few reasons for this. There is no front yard or privacy, two features common to suburban homes. Additionally, some buyers may be turned off by its smaller size and thinner walls.

However, there are ways to overcome these obstacles and make them more appealing to potential buyers.

1) Make sure that the property is in good condition and well-maintained.
2) Make sure the price is affordable for the market.
3) Make sure the property has a unique selling point.

Do Townhomes Have Good Resale Value?

The resale value for townhomes can vary depending on the location, size, and features. However, they are generally considered suitable investments and can have high resale values along with low maintenance costs.

They come with a shared or private yard perfect for families with children. In addition, townhomes are often located close to public transportation, schools, and parks, making them more desirable.

Is It Wise To Invest In A Townhouse?

Investing in a townhouse is a great way to build wealth, but it’s not for everyone. You’ll need to consider many factors before making a decision. If you are looking for stability and diversification while still growing your wealth over time, you can go for it.

A townhouse requires less upkeep than other properties, and the maintenance fees are also low. They are often less expensive than single-family homes because they share walls with other houses, so you don’t need to pay for land or development costs.

However, this does not mean investing in a townhouse is smart.

The downside of investing in a townhouse is that it can be difficult to resell quickly, which might not be ideal if you need quick liquidity. You have to consider your financial goals before making a decision.

Why Is A Single Family Home Better?

There are multiple reasons why a single-family home is better than an apartment or a townhouse.

An average single family home is 2,000 square feet with four bedrooms. That is a lot of space to fill with furniture, appliances, decorations, and other personal items.

You can also make your own repairs and improvements without seeking permission.

Single-family homes are more private as they aren’t surrounded by other buildings. So you don’t have to worry about noise from the neighbors or some nosy people looking out the windows.