Pros and cons to buying a two bedroom townhouse

[Anonymous]

Single mom of one finally purchasing my first home. My budget is small and the only thing I've found within my budget (and is a neighborhood where my child won't have to change schools) is a two bedroom townhouse. I'm wondering if this is a bad idea and worry about having trouble reselling down the line?What would you say are the pros and cons?

[Anonymous]

In the townhouse where I live, all of the units are the same size, but some have 3 bedrooms and some have a dual master bedroom setup. I think that the 3 bedroom setups are definitely more desirable for most people, but the two bedrooms do still sell pretty quickly. Our townhouse was actually originally a 2 bedroom that was converted over to a 3 bedroom by the previous owner, so it can be done.

Is the townhouse you are considering like this with a dual master bedrooms or just a very small townhouse with only 1 master bedroom and 1 small bedroom?

[Anonymous]

Dual master bedroom.

[Anonymous]

Dual master bedroom can be a plus for young single buyers who might want a roommate, or for a child-free couple who wants a nice guest room with en suite bath. Or a small family with just one kid or who doesn't mind putting 2 kids in a bedroom together.

I think it might be a bit harder to sell than a 3-bedroom down the road, but probably not SO much harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dual master bedroom can be a plus for young single buyers who might want a roommate, or for a child-free couple who wants a nice guest room with en suite bath. Or a small family with just one kid or who doesn't mind putting 2 kids in a bedroom together.

I think it might be a bit harder to sell than a 3-bedroom down the road, but probably not SO much harder.

Thanks! Who knows, it could end up being my forever home.

[Anonymous]

We lived in a 2BR townhouse as two parents with two young kids (they were 2 and 6 when we moved out). It was a dual-master BR setup as mentioned by PP, with a room in the basement that we used as a guest bedroom but that probably wasn't a legal bedroom. The younger kid went from our bedroom to sharing the other one around 9 months, I think. We had no trouble reselling, and I know several other families with 2 kids in the neighborhood living in the same 2BR floorplan. Obviously lots of families want 3+bedrooms, but I don't think a 2BR TH is an albatross. There were a few units in our neighborhood with 3BR upstairs (same total sqft) and I don't think they commanded a huge premium - the price variability for all THs of that sqft was only +/- 5%, and usually was determined by how updated they were, not BRs. Of the recent sales at the high end of the range, all were 2BR up.
In a community where most of the comparables have 3 upstairs, then 2 might be harder to sell/might lose more on value.

[Anonymous]

PP, do anything of the families with two kids, have kids different genders sharing a room?

[Anonymous]

I have a 2BR townhouse and it's appreciated well, based on comps. Location matters. Of course it's not as good as a 3br in terms of resale but if it's what you can afford, then go for it.

[Anonymous]

I think you will be fine with a 2 bedroom TH. 2 bedroom SFH are not a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, do anything of the families with two kids, have kids different genders sharing a room?

At least one that I know of.

[Anonymous]

OP we lived in a 2 bed town house for 4 years with two small children (boy and girl) from ages 3&4 to ages 7&8. It was about 1500-1800 sq feet and we shared outside space at the back with our neighbors as well as a communal laundry room. It was a great set up, the bills for heating and a/c were not astronomical and everyone kept an eye out for each other, took in parcels etc.

[Anonymous]

I agree with prior posters that having two comparably sized master bedrooms makes a two bedroom house attractive to renters. And, as evidenced by other prior posters, is not necessarily a deterrent to families. It may slow your sale down by time and a little bit by price but location probably and upkeep/hoa is probably more important than two beds versus one if both beds are similar and have their own baths.