Why are garage homes so MUCH MORE expensive? (Arlington, Fairfax: townhouses, neighborhoods)

[CAtransplant]

I hope somebody can enlighten me why (town)houses without a garage sell for up to 30K LESS than the ones with it? Is the weather so unforgiving on the cars? Do they corrode faster?
I can find townhouses without a garage even in better,closer to DC neighborhoods in Fairfax county!
Please someone explain why having a garage is such a "luxury"?

[oneasterisk]

It's nice having a garage for your car. You don't have to let your car run as long to warm up the inside, it keeps your car cleaner longer and you don't have to clean up the snow or pollen. If you don't care about your car, then you can use your garage to store all your junk.

[cool rob]

I would imagine a better re-sell value, amongst other things previously mentioned

[Caladium]

It's hard to find street parking in some neighborhoods, especially as you get closer in. You may end up spending that 30K buying a parking space so that you can guarantee having a place to park.

Also, leaving a car outside in really cold weather might drain your car battery. I'm no car expert, but I can tell you that I used to have to park outside when I lived in Arlington and had to get the car jumped a few times.

[athousandlogins]

Originally Posted by oneasterisk

It's nice having a garage for your car. You don't have to let your car run as long to warm up the inside, it keeps your car cleaner longer and you don't have to clean up the snow or pollen. If you don't care about your car, then you can use your garage to store all your junk.

Yes, all of this. While the weather here is not brutal, it's still annoying when you park outdoors. Even in the summer, it gets so HOT inside a car parked outside.

A townhouse doesn't have much storage space at all, unless you have a garage.

Also, as a parent, I liked having a garage because I could leave the kids strapped into their carseats while I unloaded groceries and not worry. This would be especially valuable in a townhouse development, where you're likely to have to park far away from your door.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by athousandlogins

A townhouse doesn't have much storage space at all, unless you have a garage.

A very good point. I store so many things in our garage. If I didn't have a garage I'd have to leave the bikes and kayaks and kids toys out in the yard. And then it would look like the house threw up.

[oneasterisk]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Also, leaving a car outside in really cold weather might drain your car battery. I'm no car expert, but I can tell you that I used to have to park outside when I lived in Arlington and had to get the car jumped a few times.

Batteries should last at least 5 years so long as the car is charging the battery properly. My last battery lasted 6 years for example before it started to get a little sluggish. It still started, just took a little longer and I didn't want to wait till I was stuck before replacing it.

[terrence81]

I think they're more expensive because they are indeed more convenient due to the reasons mentioned above. Also when it does snow one doesn't have to worry about getting it off the car if it's parked in a garage. It's safer too if your car is in a garage or shucks even in a carport it's less likely to be stolen or vandalized. The townhouses I've seen without garages outnumber the ones that do so supply and demand play into it too.

[Margery]

It's a safety issue also. I work odd hours as a Realtor and it gives me peace of mind to know I can open the garage from my car, pull in and close the garage door behind me while still in my car.

[mdcrim]

Honestly, as far as townhouses go, I'd much prefer NOT to have a garage. They take up a lot of room that could be more living space. I had a non-garage townhouse that was much larger inside than its comparable garage townhouse. A garage takes up most of the lower level.