The Advantages of Townhouses

A townhouse is a home in a neighborhood development that is connected to adjacent houses by a common wall. The owner becomes a member of the homeowner's association, the managing entity of the development, upon buying the unit, and pays monthly fees to the homeowner's association for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of common areas. Townhouses are multi-level houses, unlike condominiums in developments that are designed more like apartment complexes.


Repairs and basic maintenance of a townhouse are the responsibility of the owner, but due to the design of the units, upkeep is reduced. Some units have shared walls on one or both sides, leaving the owner liable only for maintaining the exposed exterior walls; often the homeowner's association assumes responsibility for all exterior areas. A townhouse yard is generally smaller than a yard in a single-family home, requiring less yard work for the owners. The homeowner's association is responsible for maintaining parking lots, shared driveways and other common areas.

Design Benefits

The close proximity of townhouse units as well as the shared walls between units creates a more secure neighborhood. Close neighbors are likely to notice unusual persons on the property and hear suspicious noises. Townhouses are typically multi-level units adjacent to each other, so there are no people living above or below, resulting in less noise and more privacy.

Common Areas

A person who owns a townhouse can have access to recreational facilities, gyms and pools that are available for use only to owners of units in the community. Townhouse unit owners may pool funds for additions to the neighborhood, such as tennis courts. All unit owners receive a percentage of ownership interest in the common areas, or shared features used by the unit owners, giving them the legal right to use these areas. An apartment dweller may have access to some exterior areas, like driveways, but does not receive any ownership interest.

Financial Benefits

Townhouses are generally less expensive than single-family homes in the same neighborhood. Unlike renters in apartments, the townhouse owner has a property interest in his dwelling. A homeowner's association may allow a townhouse owner to have an office or small business in the unit, saving the person money on office leasing. Some townhouses have basement areas, unlike most apartments condominiums, which provide storage space to avoid paying storage fees.


A townhouse unit and the land on which it sits is owned entirely by the owner. A condominium owner, by comparison, owns only the condo unit itself but not the land. This difference in ownership means a townhouse owner often is subject to fewer restrictions imposed by the homeowner's association over certain areas, like the yard. For example, the townhouse owner may be able to grill outside, while a condo owner may be forbidden to do so.

About the Author


Photo Credits

  • apartment in shade image by jimcox40 from
bibliography-icon icon for annotation tool Cite this Article