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Townhomes are owned as opposed to apts are rented...as you likely know. My townhome is solely my responsibility as far as house-care ie roof, walls, decks and porches etc. There is only one common wall and luckily I hear nothing on that side. The HOA is only responsible for the pool and gym upkeep and the landscaping.
They are particularly good choices if you are like me....older and single and..... no more yard work, please. I went from 3 acres to this and believe it not, like it just fine!
Quote:
Originally Posted by fallingwater
House. I think townhouses are just glorified apartments. Some people have no choice as town homes are the norm in their areas but if you have the option, buy a single family home. Single family homes tend to sell better. On the flip side though, I wouldn't be crazy about buying a single family house where the HOA does the lawn work. I live in an HOA community and everyone does their own lawns. Is there other options? A 150 can add up over time and I am sure at some point they will raise the rate as well.
In my mind too, the main concern here is that the townhome complex is not fully developed yet. Townhouses also tend to have limited or shared yard space, plus there is always some kind of noise or impact vibration that carries over between the units.
Single family houses are often older and in worse condition though, compared to townhomes.
Correct... an unfinished development could be a nuisance or the root of your financial ruin if you buy into a development... it doesn't, errr.... develop and you are stuck living in a wasteland, or construction site.
there maybe safety issues with the undeveloped or under developed lots (children playing on gravel piles, lumber, nails etc left behind)
and if you try to sell... who in their right mind would buy without severely lowering the cost and risking credit damage.
Single family houses are often older and in worse condition though, compared to townhomes.
Not necessary.
Housing Bottom Dictionary - HousingBottom.com - poor housing construction (http://www.housingbottom.com/poor_housing_construction.shtml - broken link)
And I've lived in a townhome with HOA and that townhouse is in a very sought after neighborhood (doctors, lawyers & nurses with even a political candidate thrown in) is built with paper thin walls, concrete steps that is crumbling after 5 years plus since they built it (my neighbor's too), deck is of inferior quality. Good thing I was only renting then.
Because of that experience and from my experience from dealing with builders from my job... so now I bought a house with plaster arrow straight walls, a very solid deck and in the country where the location is prime.
And no HOA!
Inspected every inch of this house... even took to jumping on every sq inch of the house to make sure nothing gives after living in that townhome... to make sure it is solid and quite sound proof.
Plus survived hurricane Irene with a pretty decent sleep (woke up to a big mess though)... could barely hear the wind howling outside nor the sounds of breaking branches.
Speaking of poor construction with new houses.....I visited my cousin when she lived in a newly built townhouse (2007/08)... essentially a builder bought an old SF, tore it down, and built something much larger to flip for a profit. The 2nd/3rd floors was made into 1 condo which my cousin rented and the basement and 1st flr was a separate condo.
It has all the decor to look upscale - granite kitchen, crown mold, nice wood floors, etc. However, the house shakes whenever someone walks and you can hear people talking 2 flrs away. Also, the basement gets wet during rain... too bad for the family who bought the bottom condo as they had to deal with water damage soon after buying the place.
After my cousin moved out, the builders still have not been able to sell that unit after 4 price reductions.
Is it a good idea convert a dining room into a child’s room?
Most children are quite capable of converting any room into a child's room.
They need no help from you.
cf. every episode of Love It or List It?
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No help needed
