I live in one of the communities that you mentioned. I purchased my townhome (2-on-a-lot) almost 40 years ago. Technically, a "townhome" is an architectural description -- it is a type of condominium.
When I purchased my condo, I was living alone and traveled frequently on business. I liked having neighbors close by, did not miss having a yard, and the HOA fee was low, $95 a month. The neighbors in the other home on the lot were reliable and considerate. A few years later, they divorced and sold their home. The 2nd family to move into the other home is still there. I like them as neighbors, but ... they are the reason I will eventually move to a SFH.
Here are some things to consider:
Are you OK with your condo associates letting their home fall into disrepair while you keep up the maintenance on your home?
Are you OK with sharing a driveway, knowing that your condo associates may sometimes block access to your garage without letting you know in advance?
Are you OK with finding out that your condo associates dropped the home insurance policy for the structures and let it lapse for two years without telling you about it? (the letters were going to their mailbox)
Are you OK with finding out that you are the only one who has been paying HOA fees and that your condo associates used the balance on their home?
Are you OK with having to wait to fumigate for termites until your condo associates are ready?
Are you OK with finding out that your condo associates ignored an infestation of black rats in their garage and were counting on your senior cat to deal with the problem?
When I purchased my condo, I was living alone and traveled frequently on business. I liked having neighbors close by, did not miss having a yard, and the HOA fee was low, $95 a month. The neighbors in the other home on the lot were reliable and considerate. A few years later, they divorced and sold their home. The 2nd family to move into the other home is still there. I like them as neighbors, but ... they are the reason I will eventually move to a SFH.
Here are some things to consider:
Are you OK with your condo associates letting their home fall into disrepair while you keep up the maintenance on your home?
Are you OK with sharing a driveway, knowing that your condo associates may sometimes block access to your garage without letting you know in advance?
Are you OK with finding out that your condo associates dropped the home insurance policy for the structures and let it lapse for two years without telling you about it? (the letters were going to their mailbox)
Are you OK with finding out that you are the only one who has been paying HOA fees and that your condo associates used the balance on their home?
Are you OK with having to wait to fumigate for termites until your condo associates are ready?
Are you OK with finding out that your condo associates ignored an infestation of black rats in their garage and were counting on your senior cat to deal with the problem?
Statistics: Posted by RetiredCSProf — Tue Nov 25, 2025 1:17 am — Replies 17 — Views 1437