{"id":17255,"date":"2023-05-12T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?p=17255"},"modified":"2023-05-12T15:01:21","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T19:01:21","slug":"what-is-a-townhouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/what-is-a-townhouse\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Townhouse? Things to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

When choosing a home, it can be easy to get lost in real estate jargon. Townhouses, single-family homes, condominiums, and co-ops<\/a> can all seem similar but have key differences. Townhouses combine the best features of condos and single-family homes, providing residents with individually owned property, shared amenities, and affordability. Dating back to the 17th century, townhouses are often older homes that boast character and old-school charm.<\/p>\r\n

Townhouses Characteristics<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Townhouses are narrow, vertical homes that generally share one to two walls with a neighboring unit. They originated in London or Paris in the 1600s<\/a> and created space in densely populated urban areas for families to live in close proximity. Today, these types of homes are not limited to these European cities \u2013 they have become ubiquitous in America, most notably in heavily populated areas like New York City. These popular types of units are also sometimes called \u201crowhouses\u201d or \u201cbrownstones,\u201d<\/a> though these two words actually represent subsets of townhouses. Rowhouses specifically refer to townhouses that are built in a \u201crow\u201d on one block, and \u201cbrownstone\u201d refers to a subcategory of townhouses made of brick and masonry<\/a>, often associated with New York City and, more specifically, Brooklyn<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Brooklyn Townhouses<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Bed-Stuy is a neighborhood in Brooklyn<\/a> known for its townhouses, and the origins of these types of homes there date all the way back to 1870<\/a> when the Brooklyn Bridge was constructed. Developers were eager to accommodate the wave of new commuters and built test rowhouses, and as the bridge opened in 1883, developers continued to build more elaborate and ornate townhouses to cater to wealthy residents. Today, the neighborhood still boasts a massive collection of them that date back to the Victorian era.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Where are Townhouses Across America?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Though townhouses are popular in New York City, they can be found all over America. You can commonly find them in downtown areas of cities such as Boston<\/a>, Los Angeles,<\/a> and Houston<\/a>. Townhouses in cities like these can be a great way to purchase affordable real estate in expensive and heavily populated areas. They are also popular in small cities and suburban areas, where homeowner\u2019s associations will govern a group of townhouses to keep things neat and tidy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Townhouses vs. Single-Family Homes<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Though townhouses and single-family homes have some similarities, they have key differences that are important to know when choosing a home. Historic townhouses are similar to single-family homes in that they are independently owned. Both single-family homes and townhouses can also be part of homeowner\u2019s associations, which can place restrictions on renovations. Single-family homes can sometimes sit close together, but townhouses sit side-by-side with the neighboring units, sharing external walls. This means they have less privacy than single-family homes and can be prone to noise pollution.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Townhouses vs. Apartments<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Apartments refer to a single unit within a larger building or complex that is rented to the resident. As a result, residents will often share one common entry into the apartment building. In comparison, Townhouses are generally individually owned by the resident, who will have their own private entrance into the home. This holds even if the resident shares a yard or amenities with neighboring units. These two types of real estate are similar in that neither has the privacy of a stand-alone unit, but townhouses provide residents with more ownership over the real estate and a single entrance.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Townhouses vs. Condominiums<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

While condos and townhomes are owned individually, a condo is more like an apartment. Condos are also in larger buildings or complexes, with units above, below, or neighboring them. Condos are often smaller than townhouses, though they often have shared amenities such as pools, fitness centers, or shared workspaces.\u00a0Additionally, a townhouse can function like a condo if it is part of a condominium community or a planned unit development<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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