by Beth Schwartz

Created on: July 16, 2009

If you are house hunting and are considering purchasing a townhouse, you must consider the pros and cons. Buying a home is a huge commitment, so it's important to be informed before making such a decision.

PRO: Price.

Generally, townhouses are more affordable than single family homes. If you are looking for a long-term home, it might be better to shell out more money and buy the type of home you'd like to be in ten years down the road (if possible.) Sometimes a townhouse is the type of home you want later down the road; sometimes it's just a transition home until you can afford a single family home.

CON: Privacy.

Obviously, you won't have as much privacy in a townhouse as you would in a single family home. Chances are your deck is within a foot or two of your neighbor's deck. If you want to lay out back and get some sun, you might have an audience.

PRO: Homeowners' association (HOA.)

Generally, to live in a townhouse, you must agree to be part of an HOA. There are many benefits to this. HOA fees cover maintenance of common grounds. Also, it protects you against having a neighbor who insists on putting out tacky lawn decorations or not taking care of their property, which can be a major burden when trying to sell your townhouse, as well as an eyesore and nuisance.

CON: Homeowners' association (HOA.)

While there are many benefits of an HOA, there are also several negative aspects to it. First, there's the monthly fee. While it's not a ton of money (my current HOA fee is $51 a month), it's still money out of your pocket. Also, because of all the rules and regulations associated with an HOA, you need to obtain prior approval when making an architectural change to your home, such as a deck, fence, or new roof. Perhaps the most annoying aspect of an HOA is having someone else tell you what you can and can't do to your home. If the HOA does an inspection of the outside of your home and they decide your deck needs staining, then you must stain your deck, regardless of what you think. You certainly have the right to dispute their claim, but if you don't change their mind, you have a deck to stain.

PRO: Small yard.

Because the yard tends to be somewhat small, there is very little lawn to have to maintain and mow.

CON: Small yard.

If you have kids who go outside to play or you like to spend time outdoors, the space is limited.

PRO: Snow removal.

No driveway to shovel!

CON: Noise.

Because you share walls with at least one other townhouse, chances are you are going to hear them. Personally, I very rarely hear my neighbors (they surround me on both sides), but occasionally you can hear if something bangs a wall or drops on the floor. Outside is another story. You have no control over kids screaming while they play outside or neighbors mowing while you're sleeping in late or music blasting outside a house down the street.

PRO: Not feeling alone.

This may seem silly, but many people are uncomfortable if they're sleeping in a single family home alone. In a townhouse complex, you have the feeling of having others around should you need them.

CON: Stairs.

Obviously, a townhouse is probably going to have more stairs than your typical single family home. If you are older or have older guests over a lot, this might be an issue to consider.

There are a lot of plusses and minuses to living in a townhouse, and some issues will be more important to you than others. Take the time to carefully consider what's important to you before going forward with such a big investment.

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