What is Townhouse ?

A townhouse is row of homes that is built side-by-side, connected by common walls, and typically have two or more levels. A townhouse will have a small yard or a patio in the back or front, and the lawns are divided equally among all the houses. The upkeep of the yards is the owner’s responsibility. Townhouses can be either in pairs as a duplex or be a part of a community with hundreds of homes. In the case of large townhouse communities, you will have a shared ownership in the common areas of the complex as well as any amenities such as swimming pools, park areas and will typically have to pay a fee for its maintenance. This ownership you will share jointly with all other townhouse owners in the complex.

There are a couple of differences between a townhouse and a condominium. While condominium is a type of ownership, a townhouse is a type of housing. Another difference lies in the fact that in a condominium, the land the houses stand on is owned by someone else, while in a townhouse the person living in the home owns the land it is sitting upon.

A Brief History
According to wikipedia “Historically, in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in some other countries, a townhouse (or a "house in town") was a residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city.” An example of a famous townhouse is 110 Downing Street, the residence of the Prime Minister of England.

Enter your e-mail address below to subscribe to GenuineAnswer's FREE newsletter:

The roots of the townhouse can actually be traced to classical Greece and ancient Rome where deep houses with narrow facades were built in places like Pompeii. Townhouses gained popularity in the United States in the 19th as open land was sparse in urban areas. Since then, many different styles of townhouses were built in the U.S. dictated by the climate, popular architectural designs, and availability of land.

The beginning of the 20th century saw townhouses losing their popularity as large apartments, suburban homes and detached single homes became the norm. But with the increase in the density of population, land especially in urban areas was getting sparse and the 1960s saw the reemergence of townhouses as a popular choice of housing.

Kinds of townhouses
Following are some of the different styles of townhouses:
• Rowhouse is an attached home that is a part of a line-up of identical units and is often found in less exclusive neighborhoods.
• Brownstone is a house built using brown sandstone. These types of houses can be seen in Brooklyn, New York.
• Greystone is a house built of light-colored limestone in Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871.

Features to look for
Before buying a townhouse, look for the following features:
• Location: Look for a home that is within easy walking distance to a grocery store, restaurants, and your place of work.
• Ample space: Make sure that the space inside and outside is something that you will feel comfortable to live in. See what kind of parking space is allotted to the owners – is there a garage? Or is it a covered lot?
• Natural light: Look for homes with skylights and bigger windows since the walls are shared.
• Maintenance Fees: Compare the maintenance between different townships and find one that suits your budget.

Advantages
• For many people, it is better than living in an apartment surrounded by neighbors.
• There is more privacy compared to an apartment – you will not have people living above and below you.
• Townhouses are a good compromise for people who cannot afford own a single family home.
unity like pools, tennis courts, playgrounds etc.
• They are ideal for the elderly and for young families just starting out. There isa sense of security living within a community and having shared walls.
• You have your own yard or patio.

Disadvantages
• As part of the housing community, you will have to pay Home Owner's Association fees.
• You have less privacy compared to single family homes.
• Your options for changing the exterior look of your house will be limited.
• There may be Home Owner's Association rules and restrictions that may not suit your lifestyle.
• The rules of housing associations can limit exterior decorations and modifications that can be made to houses or yards.
A townhouse is an excellent choice for people who want the feeling of owning a home and yet belong to a community.

Article Contributed By: Jaya Suresh


	Did you like what you read here ? Would you like to be updated about similar stuff in the same format once a fortnight? Just sign up for our Free Newsletter, and we will send you articles twice a month about another Interesting Question - one sure to have crossed your mind sometime. GenuineAnswers.com has the Highest Quality standard. Each Article is well researched by experienced writers who work from across the globe contributing to our pool of Answers and taking us close to our Goal of providing Clear and Genuine responses to questions that we hear now and then and cross our minds from time to time. You can expect Crisp & Clear newsletters of the highest quality and ones that would be an interesting read twice a month. IMPORTANT - Please Note that, unlike many other email newsletters, subscribing to the GenuineAnswers.com newsletter will NOT result in you receiving any Spam. We have put measures in place to ensure this, and so we can Guarantee it! Sign up for the free newsletter by entering your email address below.
		Sign Up for the FREE Genuine Answers Newsletter. Guaranteed NO Spam !!

Other Categories: Health-Wellness Software-Hardware Fruits-Food-Drinks Money-Finance Internet-Technology-Gadgets
Sports-Leisure Babies-Kids Pets-Animals Ailments-Medicine Miscellaneous

Similar Websites: