When you begin planning to buy a house, one of the first steps you should take is to choose the type of house you want. You have many options, including single-family homes, condos, and townhouses. As people compare these options, they often narrow down their choice to townhouses. Do you want to know why? Do you understand what a townhouse is and why it is a good choice? Here are some answers to these questions.

Townhouses Are a Mix

If you compare all the housing options, you will see that townhouses are a mixture of the features found in single-family homes and condos. Townhomes share a wall with one other unit, but they have more freedom than a condo. When you buy a townhouse, you will have at least one close neighbor, but you will own the home's land and yard. When it comes to prices, you will see that townhouses cost less than single-family homes. They may cost more than condos, but you will also get more with a townhouse than a condo. People that want single-family homes often settle for townhouses because they are the closest thing to single-family homes, but with lower prices.

Townhouses Have HOA Fees

Many single-family homes do not have homeowner's associations (HOAs) in their communities, which means you will likely not have an HOA fee if you purchase a single-family house. Townhouses do have HOAs, but the good news is that the fees are generally lower than the fees that condo communities charge. Townhouse HOA fees cost less because you are responsible for more things on your property. For example, when you own a townhouse, you might not get lawn care services from the HOA. Instead, you can mow and trim your yard. You might not get snow removal services or other services with a townhouse as well. The result is that you pay less for your HOA fees since you have more control over your property.

The HOA Has Rules

One last thing to know is that HOAs have rules. If you buy a townhouse or condo, you must follow the HOA's rules. You can ask for a list of rules before buying a townhouse, and you should read them through carefully. You are required to follow these rules if you purchase a home with an HOA. Therefore, you should learn what they are before buying a home.

If you have questions about townhomes for sale, contact a local real estate agent.