Choosing to purchase a home is a huge step in your life. However, the process of buying a home isn’t always as straightforward as you hope it will be. Where should the house be? What can I afford? The questions start piling up until you’re overcome with uncertainty about delving into the world of homeownership.
One of the most important questions you’ll need to answer is “what kind of home should I buy?” It can be difficult to know which type of home - condo, townhouse, or house - is the right choice for you.
Condo
A condo, shortened from “condominium”, is actually a form of ownership rather than an actual physical structure in the way a house or a townhouse is. Condos can come in many different forms, shapes, and sizes but generally fit a similar definition. Typically, condos are privately-owned residences that are part of a building or a community.
Condo owners all share in the ownership of any common areas or facilities that are provided by your building/community. These common areas are maintained by a board of individuals elected by the members of the condo community. This board often collects dues from the other condo owners which they put towards taking care of those common areas.
Keep in mind that this homeowners association is also in charge of policing the outside of your home. You’ll need to keep your lawn in order and to their standards in order to continue being a resident of the condo community.
Townhouse
Commonly, a townhouse is a vertical, single-family building featuring two floors. However, a townhouse will usually share at least one wall with a neighbor. Townhouses are individually-owned but may provide less privacy than houses due to the shared walls.
Townhouses are also typically included in homeowners association groups. This means you’ll have to keep your yard tidy and to their standards.
House
Nothing beats a house when it comes to square footage. Single-family homes usually have more space than townhouses and condos. Plus, the options for floor plans of houses are endless giving you more opportunities for personalization. Single-family homes have the upper hand when it comes to privacy since they are detached structures that don’t share walls with any other structures.
As a homeowner, you’ll have more responsibility than you would as a townhouse owner or a member of a condominium community. Homeowners have the run of the house, literally! You’re responsible for taking care of all repairs, big and small. On the positive side, however, you’ll also have free reign to make any changes to the home that you want. Homeowners aren’t under any obligations to an HOA (unless you live in a community that has one) to keep their homes a particular way.
As you begin your journey as a homeowner, there are a lot of things to consider before making your final decision. Depending on your lifestyle and your preferences, a house, townhouse, or condo may be right for you.
Looking for the right home that suits your needs? Contact me Raymond Maestas @ www.RayLovesHomes.com today! I’d love to hear from you.