Condo, Townhouse, Garden Home? (Alamo, Terrell: condos, to buy, maintenance)

[Cookiemeister]

Friend looking to move to SA and interested in less maintenance. His preference is something newer and in a very nice area. He has lived in Stoneoak and liked everything but the high traffic. His price range is between 175K and 250K. What is the difference between a Condo and a Townhome? Do you think it would be a better investment to buy a Garden Home or a Condo/Townhouse? Does anybody have any specific recommendations? He will be in town for a few weeks and is looking to purchase something. He also likes the Alamo Hts area but I don't think he will like the property taxes that go along with it. Sorry for all the questions. Thanks!

[jules07]

Technical difference is that with a condo you don't own any "land", you basically own the air space. With a townhome, you own the land that it sits on. That said however, some products are being marketed now as "townhomes" when you actually don't own the land. It's more like "townhome style" (which is typically 2 story and common walls on both sides, unless you're an end unit).

[traficdogn]

Originally Posted by Cookiemeister

Friend looking to move to SA and interested in less maintenance. His preference is something newer and in a very nice area. He has lived in Stoneoak and liked everything but the high traffic. His price range is between 175K and 250K. What is the difference between a Condo and a Townhome? Do you think it would be a better investment to buy a Garden Home or a Condo/Townhouse? Does anybody have any specific recommendations? He will be in town for a few weeks and is looking to purchase something. He also likes the Alamo Hts area but I don't think he will like the property taxes that go along with it. Sorry for all the questions. Thanks!

I've seen very few condo's and or townhomes that hold up well in this city.

A townhome is a house that shares a common wall with another. It is cheaper for the builder to build.

If he/she is determined to get a townhome and or condo, I'd do a search on "The Birkel" group. They are developing a few condos and townhome communities in that price range. They have one called "the pinnacle" in Medical Center, "Slate Creek" in Westover Hills.

[kevcrawford]

Traditional townhomes or garden homes are going to give you your best return. We've got a few older condos and a lot of newer ones going up, but for the most part, we're just not a "condo" town.

[austindoxie1972]

kevcrawford is absolutely right -- SA is just not a "condo" town. I'd be concerned with the resale value and the simple difficulty of unloading a condo.

Two things to consider is that in most markets "townhome" usually implies that (1) there are several floors to the unit [from two to three floors] and (2) the residence is connected to another unit on at least one if not both sides. There is a small townhome development off Eisenhauer Road, bordering the Northwood / Terrell Heights area. I personally think they're ugly, but this is a typical townhome development, where each unit is two floors and the units are connected to each other.

[Cookiemeister]

Thanks everybody... this was helpful! Going to try to talk him out of a condo/townhome. Doesn't sound like a good investment. Thanks again for your help!