Anyone downsize to a townhome?

[Anonymous]

We are in 5000 sq foot house and am thinking we will move to a sfh rambler once the kids finish college. we are looking for fewer steps, not more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With a townhouse, you’re sharing a wall - or 2 - with neighbors. That could bring you into close contact with their noise, their smoke, their conflicts, and so on. If you’re okay with that, great. If not, that’s something to consider.

You clearly have no idea what you're talking about, as there are NO shared walls with neighbors, in townhouses.

Every single state in the U.S. has laws or building codes that addresses the requirement for firewalls between townhouse units.
These codes are based on national standards such as the International Building Code and the International Residential Code.

Those laws and codes are strictly enforced at the state and local levels.

Obviously, they were created to prevent fires from spreading from one unit to the next, but they also serve to muffle ALL sound from one unit to the next.

Not only is there a two foot space in between each firewall, but firewalls between townhouses are typically filled with materials designed to resist the spread of fire.

Materials used in firewalls often include concrete or masonry, which are non-combustible and provide excellent fire resistance.
Gypsum board, often referred to as Type X or Type C, is another common material; it contains non-combustible fibers and other additives to enhance fire resistance, mineral wool or fiberglass insulation, which do not burn and can help to prevent the spread of fire and smoke, are also used.
Additionally, intumescent coatings, which are special paints or coatings that expand when exposed to heat to create a barrier, help contain the fire.

So, to paint a picture...
There is your wall, then on the other side of your wall lies another wall, which is distanced approx 12 inches from your wall.
On the other side of THAT wall, lies a floor to ceiling firewall that's approx 2 feet in length and densely filled with fireproofing materials (which would 1000% muffle any & every sound your neighbor could possibly conjure) then another 12 inch space, and then your neighbors wall.

The more progressive states, have had these laws & codes on the books since the early 80's and 90's some are from even earlier.

So obviously, there is no noise, as there are NO shared walls in modern day townhomes.

The amount of noise is relative to the quality of construction.

No noise? Doubtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pros, cons, any regrets?
We don’t need our giant home anymore. We like the idea of no more lawn and external maintenance. But wondering if trade offs are worth it?

I would look into nice condos or nice apartment buildings. Could you possibly keep your home and rent for a year and see if you like it?

My in laws had a giant house and they downsized to a beautiful townhome. Even though the work was done for them within two years it became too much. They then sold the townhome and moved to their second home, on a beach, thirty minutes away from a hospital or grocery store. They both have had many medical issues within the last 6 months (and they are both very healthy and active my 75 year old FIL looks in his 50s and still has abs just so you get the idea on how active they are) and imho should get a second place in an assisted living facility. That way they can go get food at the restaurants if they need it make their own. They keep balking but my husband and I live a flight away and their other child who lives within 30 minutes rarely if ever does anything to help them. They just want free babysitting. Just things to think about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The stairs may be fine through your 70s, but be prepared to move again in your 80s. Also, usually no bedroom on the first floor, so it's not like you can just "make it work."

As for the elevator, not great for grandchildren - look up deaths in home elevators. Wish it wasn't a thing, but it is

Get the elevator. Not everything needs to revolve around grandchildren.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pros, cons, any regrets?
We don’t need our giant home anymore. We like the idea of no more lawn and external maintenance. But wondering if trade offs are worth it?

I would look into nice condos or nice apartment buildings. Could you possibly keep your home and rent for a year and see if you like it?

My in laws had a giant house and they downsized to a beautiful townhome. Even though the work was done for them within two years it became too much. They then sold the townhome and moved to their second home, on a beach, thirty minutes away from a hospital or grocery store. They both have had many medical issues within the last 6 months (and they are both very healthy and active my 75 year old FIL looks in his 50s and still has abs just so you get the idea on how active they are) and imho should get a second place in an assisted living facility. That way they can go get food at the restaurants if they need it make their own. They keep balking but my husband and I live a flight away and their other child who lives within 30 minutes rarely if ever does anything to help them. They just want free babysitting. Just things to think about.

They don’t need assisted living yet.

[Anonymous]

Assisted living is pricey. One pays to effectively lease the unit, and then some if they need any other services. If they are ill or become frailer the cost ramps up quickly. In another state, Florida, as of a few years ago the base price was $2800/month but services like medication management was about $600 extra per month.

Ask the assisted living facility how many nurses they have on duty on the overnight shift. Divide that number by the number of units and you can quickly deduce how effective the assisted living facility is.

A better idea is to find a good quality continuing care residence - the kind that has a large buy-in fee -- and move them in there. Then they will be cared for for the rest of their lives. Ask the same questions of the CCRC that you would ask of the ALFs. Also ask about the refund policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in 5000 sq foot house and am thinking we will move to a sfh rambler once the kids finish college. we are looking for fewer steps, not more.

I feel like this is the way to go. If doing shared walls, I would move to a condo community where the residents skewed older. I wouldn't want all those stairs in my old age. However, I think the idea works if OP is a relatively young empty-nester who will move again when the stairs become too much.

[Anonymous]

We live in close to 5k square foot house. We thought about a townhouse but it just does not seem to work for us. I like my privacy and do not like being that close to neighbors. You are still maintaining a home, it’s just a smaller one (inside and out). Kids can boomerang back and we want to make sure we have space for our kids or grandkids if anything happens. We also prefer more horizontal space than vertical space (we aren’t getting younger). If we decide to move due to money, we will just downsize to a smaller home or a home a little further out (we love driving).

[Anonymous]

I am so tired of living in a townhouse. Hate how dark it is. I would only do an end unit. Oh, we have firewalls but I can still sometimes hear neighbors and their dogs. I would much rather be in a small ranch or bungalow but we are stuck due to prices.

[Anonymous]

How dark a townhouse is really depends on the construction, number and locations of windows, and above all, the orientation. I have lived in an east-west townhouse with small windows and even on the sunniest day it was dark. I didn’t realize how much it depressed me until I moved out. I am sitting right now in my modern north-south town house with huge windows and it’s flooded with light, I don’t need to turn lights on during the day because so much natural light comes in. Mine isn’t even an end unit!

Like a lot of modern town houses, mine is in an HOA community which handles all the landscaping, grounds, and pool. It’s a very easy lifestyle and I love it. We also have no basement at all, which removes a source of worry when it rains but reduces storage. However, in my opinion the garage makes up for it. I will also say that my older townhouse got a lot of shared noise but my modern one I never hear the neighbors at all.

In short, town houses can vary widely!

[Anonymous]

Too many variations among townhouses and SFHs to make it apples versus oranges.

There are expensive high end townhouse communities that are quiet and pleasant places where everyone minds their own businesses, and people typically also have second homes elsewhere. In some of these places you practically never see anyone around. Some have ground floor MB suites too. Meanwhile plenty of SFHs have many stairs and are in loud neighborhoods that are fishbowls.

[Anonymous]

I lived in an older (1960s) townhouse and the noise was bad, from neighbors on one side having sex to the slamming of cupboard doors on the other side. Hopefully newer townhouses are much better with soundproofing.

[Anonymous]

My aunt did. She moved to a new build, 3BR TH and happens to be in an end unit. She customized key plans to include an open kitchen in a great room and an elevator. She’s in a 55+ community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With a townhouse, you’re sharing a wall - or 2 - with neighbors. That could bring you into close contact with their noise, their smoke, their conflicts, and so on. If you’re okay with that, great. If not, that’s something to consider.

You clearly have no idea what you're talking about, as there are NO shared walls with neighbors, in townhouses.

Every single state in the U.S. has laws or building codes that addresses the requirement for firewalls between townhouse units.
These codes are based on national standards such as the International Building Code and the International Residential Code.

Those laws and codes are strictly enforced at the state and local levels.

Obviously, they were created to prevent fires from spreading from one unit to the next, but they also serve to muffle ALL sound from one unit to the next.

Not only is there a two foot space in between each firewall, but firewalls between townhouses are typically filled with materials designed to resist the spread of fire.

Materials used in firewalls often include concrete or masonry, which are non-combustible and provide excellent fire resistance.
Gypsum board, often referred to as Type X or Type C, is another common material; it contains non-combustible fibers and other additives to enhance fire resistance, mineral wool or fiberglass insulation, which do not burn and can help to prevent the spread of fire and smoke, are also used.
Additionally, intumescent coatings, which are special paints or coatings that expand when exposed to heat to create a barrier, help contain the fire.

So, to paint a picture...
There is your wall, then on the other side of your wall lies another wall, which is distanced approx 12 inches from your wall.
On the other side of THAT wall, lies a floor to ceiling firewall that's approx 2 feet in length and densely filled with fireproofing materials (which would 1000% muffle any & every sound your neighbor could possibly conjure) then another 12 inch space, and then your neighbors wall.

The more progressive states, have had these laws & codes on the books since the early 80's and 90's some are from even earlier.

So obviously, there is no noise, as there are NO shared walls in modern day townhomes.

Bla bla bla, but if your neighbor is out on their back patio smoking every day, you will smell it on your back patio and maybe your basement too. DP, response based on personal experience.

[Anonymous]

My parents downsized to a townhome when they moved to Virginia from a lower cost of living location. It seemed perfect at the time when they were in their mid-60s.

They are now 75 and regret the choice or at least the layout of their unit. They talk constantly about wanting a house that is all or mostly one level. I can pay someone to clean, do laundry up and down the lower level steps, but it’s just depressing to have 1800 sq ft and be limited to living in just one level. They have 10 steps from the street into their unit and at some point that will also be an issue if one or both is in a wheelchair.

I think when they moved in they thought “oh the formal dining room can be a bedroom” which is technically correct - but now they are watching friends age and realizing it won’t be just one of them in the front room in a hospital bed for 6 months - but it could be both of them for 5-10 years.