Single family homes or townhome is better to buy ?

[athousandlogins]

It really depends on your priorities.

First of all, 80K is not a trivial amount of money. If it is a real stretch for you to make the payments on the larger mortgage, then go with the townhouse. Nothing - nothing - is worth sweating to pay the bills.

That said, if you can afford either place comfortably...

If resale value is your #1 concern, then go for the SFH, no question.

Personally, I prefer just about everything about townhouse living, because I've got no use for spending wads of cash and time just keeping the place running, which has been my experience for a SFH. The payoff is just not worth it to me; even the nicest home in the world doesn't make up for all that lost time I could have been out enjoying myself with my family.

However - and this is a big one - I do not like living on 3 or 4 levels. I lived in a home like that once and it drove me nuts, especially once I started having kids. Getting my family all together on the same floor was an annoying logisitical challenge. Never mind vacuuming all those stairs, ugh!

[VRE332]

Originally Posted by athousandlogins

Never mind vacuuming all those stairs, ugh!

Those stairs definitely keeps you in shape. You can burn hundreds of calories by doing housework. I also get 6,000 steps logged into my pedometer when I cut the grass.

[taylor703]

I would definitely buy the SFH if I could afford it. Resale value will be higher and I don't think with the interest rates and loan packages you will be incurring a huge difference in monthly payment. This market is going to start changing soon, by the end of the year, and you will be glad you made the SFH decision. It is a better investment.

Originally Posted by nish786

Hi All,

I am looking at buying a house. I looked at both town home and single family home in Aldie same community (Loudoun county). I liked both. Both are same square feet (2800). Price difference is around $80000. SH has 1/2 of TH's Assoociation fee.

Single family (brick front) has 4br 2.5 bath and study room (unfinished basement)
Town home (brick front) has 3 level, 3br 3.5 bath, lower lever one full bath and rec room

I am confused which one to buy at this market situation.

Please help me in making decission (We have one kid) in terms of resale value, tax deduction, monthly payment etc.

I would appreaciate if you could give your valuable suggestion ASAP as i need to decide on thhi by today evening.

Thanks in advance

[terrence81]

You know I'd look at how much time you're gonna spend outside. I mean what's the point of having a yard if you don't enjoy it?

[gettingahome]

Town home and SFH(unfinished basement) with 2400sqft.
Townhome is 360 and SFH is 420.
Townhome HOA is 100 and SFH HOA is 150 includes lawn maintanence.

Not only that price of 60K differs...what r the other diff like insurance, propertytax, heating, electricity bills?