What's the Difference Between a Condominum and a Townhouse?
If you were to look at a structure to attempt to determine if it were a condominium or townhome, it might be difficult. A condominium can be a cluster of units or a single building of many units. There will be a homeowner’s association associated with this type of home ownership. Condominium can also apply to commercial property.
Townhomes may be attached units or a single unit. There may or may not be a homeowner’s association associated with this form of homeownership.
As you begin to see, there is no one style of either form of homeownership. It may be helpful to read a side by side comparison to better understand the differences.
Feature
Ownership
Condominium
A condominium owner owns the interior four walls of their unit. The exterior, roof, lawn, driveway, access road (typically), community property such as walking paths, tennis courts, clubhouse, are property owned by the homeowner’s association or “HOA”.
Townhome
Typically, townhome residents own both the inside and outside of their homes. This would include the roof, lawn, driveway, but not any community property, if any, such as walking paths, tennis courts, clubhouse, etc. These would be owned by the homeowner’s association or “HOA”.
HOA Fees and Maintenance fees
HOA fees are often found to be higher because of the maintenance of the exterior of the property is the responsibility of the HOA as well as the maintenance of community property. The access road(s) are typically owned by the HOA in many communities, therefore, the responsibility for maintenance, plowing, is of the HOA. Trash removal is often the responsibility of the HOA.
Often, the HOA fees for a Townhome community may be lower due to the narrower scope of responsibility of the HOA.
There may be community property such as a clubhouse which may be subject to a maintenance fee.
Trash removal is often the responsibility of the HOA.
Homeowners insurance
Homeowners insurance rates are often found to be lower due to the fact the interior is all that is required to be insured by the owner.
Homeowners insurance is often found to be nominally higher since both the interior and exterior are required to be insured by the owner.
Size
The size can vary depending upon layout of the community.
The size can vary depending upon the layout of the community.
Privacy
This would vary depending upon the layout of the unit and design of the community.
This would vary depending upon the layout of the unit and design of the community.
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