Tell me about owning a TH versus a condo

[Anonymous]

I have owned two condos in my life, and both have had expensive special assessments, plus of course the condo fee. In my current building, the condo fees are often used for things that I don't think we should be spending money on. Also, the building is getting old and I'm concerned the fees will keep going up and up. I'm tired of living somewhere where my monthly cost is so affected by how others vote, and where I feel like I'm wasting a lot of money on fees. I'm thinking about leaving the DC area and buying a TH in the new area. Will I end up feeling the same way about a TH (which obviously has an HOA)? Or is that better? I can limit my search to SFHs if I need to, but I'm disabled, so a TH (or condo) is actually better for me.

[Anonymous]

Townhouse HOAs vary in terms of cost and amenities but they are generally less than condos.

[Anonymous]

Some townhomes will legally be condos so do watch out for that.

[Anonymous]

generally speaking, HOA fees are must less than condo fees. i'd never buy a condo.

[Anonymous]

If you are disabled I’d think a one floor condo would be the best.

I loved my condo. It felt so luxe having a doorman. There was always tons of parking close by. The HOA fees weren’t insane but were like $550 a month. It included a lot though and my insurance was very cheap. Great construction because it was a high rise. I never heard neighbors ever. I had a nice gym.

Couldn’t stand my townhouse. No one maintained their yard. Mostly because who would own a lawnmower for a tiny patch? So everyone’s yards looked awful and were cut with weed wackers. I heard my neighbor at all hours of the day. Zero parking. My guests had to park like half a mile away or I had to move my car a half mile away so they could park in my driveway. I still have visiting town house people due to the parking situation. Neighbors didn’t maintain anything at all.

[Anonymous]

If you’re disabled what would be wrong with a house? One floor houses exist, but one floor townhomes don’t. Lawn services are pretty cheap if that’s the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re disabled what would be wrong with a house? One floor houses exist, but one floor townhomes don’t. Lawn services are pretty cheap if that’s the issue.

There's more maintenance with everything in a house, plus yard, shoveling snow, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are disabled I’d think a one floor condo would be the best.

I loved my condo. It felt so luxe having a doorman. There was always tons of parking close by. The HOA fees weren’t insane but were like $550 a month. It included a lot though and my insurance was very cheap. Great construction because it was a high rise. I never heard neighbors ever. I had a nice gym.

Couldn’t stand my townhouse. No one maintained their yard. Mostly because who would own a lawnmower for a tiny patch? So everyone’s yards looked awful and were cut with weed wackers. I heard my neighbor at all hours of the day. Zero parking. My guests had to park like half a mile away or I had to move my car a half mile away so they could park in my driveway. I still have visiting town house people due to the parking situation. Neighbors didn’t maintain anything at all.

$550 per month is a lot to spend on condo fees. A whole lot.

[Anonymous]

You should have rented the condo, not owned.
I sold three properties (all mistakes now looking back and doing the math), put the money into market where it went 4-5x in very short time. I'm now simply renting in the same building.
With the amount of money in the bank, I get landlords attention. I get this 'you have money , why don't you buy' all the time. I have money because I got out and invested it instead. Now I know how investing works.
Old one asked me to come back any time. Told her to buy a 2-bedroom as I may need one in few years.
I would rent if I were you, specially because you have other things to consider.

[Anonymous]

Not all townhomes have HOA's. Older communities w/ rowhouses don't have HOA's.

Which, of course means that you have to do all the maintenance yourself. And you might live next to a neighbor with a pink door.

I've had a condo before and our fees weren't bad, but I hated all the squabbling. Some people constantly objected to upgrades that would have increased our property values, and then sometimes you get special assessments for things that don't affect your unit.

Very happy to live in a non-HOA townhouse neighborhood. Although as we get older,, that may change.