Townhouses offer an attractive combination of the amenities of apartment living with some of the benefits of a detached home. However, townhouses also come with some downsides that homeowners should consider before purchasing. Here we will explore the key disadvantages potential buyers should keep in mind when weighing a townhouse purchase.
Page Contents
- 1 Noise from Neighbors
- 2 Less Privacy
- 3 Smaller Spaces
- 4 Limited Outdoor Space
- 5 Proximity to Neighbors
- 6 Less Flexibility for Renovations
- 7 Communal Maintenance
- 8 HOA Fees
- 9 No Yard Maintenance but…
- 10 Difficult Resale
- 11 Can Feel Impermanent
- 12 Oversight from a Homeowners Association
- 13 Shared Walls Complicate Maintenance and Repairs
- 14 Noisy Neighbor Disputes
- 15 Comparatively Poor Resale Value Growth
- 16 Parking Limitations
- 17 Typically Smaller than Single Family Homes
- 18 Limited Storage and Utility Space
- 19 Tight Quarters on Moving Day
- 20 More Difficult Home Expansion
- 21 Shared Costs and Liability
- 22 Tight Quarters Can Lead to Increased Neighbor Conflicts
- 23 Conclusion
Noise from Neighbors
One of the biggest downsides of a townhouse is noise from neighbors. Townhouses share one or more walls with other units, meaning you will hear more noise from next door than you would in a detached single-family home. This includes things like:
- Conversations
- Televisions
- Music
- Footsteps
- Doors slamming
- Pets barking
The noises your neighbors make can disrupt your peace and quiet at home. Some townhouse constructions do a better job with noise insulation between units, but even well-built townhomes transmit more noise than a detached house.
Less Privacy
Along with more noise, townhouses offer less privacy than a single-family detached home. Neighbors are closer, often with windows overlooking each other’s outdoor spaces. You may need to keep blinds closed more often and will generally feel like you have less private space.
Smaller Spaces
While townhouses offer more space than an apartment, they provide less living area than most detached single-family homes. The typical townhouse has 2-3 bedrooms within 1,200 to 2,000 square feet. By comparison, new single-family homes built in 2022 averaged over 2,500 square feet.
Smaller townhomes can start to feel cramped, especially for larger families. There tends to be less storage as well, with minimal basements and attics.
Limited Outdoor Space
Outdoor space is restricted with a townhouse. You may get a small fenced patio area but likely no private yard space beyond that. Larger yards for activities like gardening or playing are not typically available.
Proximity to Neighbors
The close proximity to neighbors also brings other complications like:
- Cramped street parking
- Difficulty finding privacy outdoors
- Tight shared spaces like alleys
- Potential conflicts over use of shared spaces
Having immediate neighbors can make coming and going more difficult with vehicles blocking access.
Less Flexibility for Renovations
Homeowners have less flexibility to customize their space with a townhouse. You will be limited in renovations and changes you can make, particularly to exterior walls, roofing, and load-bearing elements.
Communal Maintenance
Townhouse complexes come with communal maintenance needs. Landscaping, fencing, parking areas, and more are shared. This requires coordination with a homeowner’s association (HOA).
While the HOA handles maintenance, it can also create headaches trying to get approval for changes or dealing with disputes among neighbors.
HOA Fees
Speaking of HOAs, townhouse owners must pay HOA fees to cover landscaping, snow removal, trash pickup, and other shared costs. HOA fees often run $100 to $300 per month.
No Yard Maintenance but…
On the plus side, townhouse owners do not have to worry about maintaining a yard. But keep in mind that common areas must meet community standards. If your front door area gets messy, you may hear about it.
Difficult Resale
Townhouses can be more difficult to resell than detached homes. There are often many similar units on the market at once competing for buyers. Local market conditions also have an outsized influence on townhouse prices. When the market dips, townhome values often drop more than detached homes.
Can Feel Impermanent
Some buyers view townhouses as less permanent and stable than single-family homes, more akin to renting an apartment. As a result, owners may be less motivated to invest in upgrades and customizations.
Oversight from a Homeowners Association
As mentioned, townhouses come with oversight from a homeowner’s association (HOA). While HOAs take care of maintenance, they also impose rules and restrictions. Common complaints include:
- The HOA is unresponsive to owner concerns
- Rules are excessive and burdensome
- Homeowners have little recourse for disputes
- HOA rules inhibit owners’ ability to customize their property
A difficult HOA can make townhouse living quite frustrating. Do extensive research before purchasing to avoid a bad HOA situation.
Having shared walls with neighbors makes repairs and maintenance more difficult in a townhouse. Any work on shared elements requires coordination with the attached neighbors.
For example, fixing a leaky roof or pipe inside a shared wall becomes a joint project. Getting approval and coordinating work schedules can be a headache.
Noisy Neighbor Disputes
Excessive noise from a neighbor is frustrating in any shared housing situation. But it can be especially problematic in a townhouse since you share walls.
Trying to resolve noise disputes with attached neighbors is challenging. The HOA may get involved but often has limited power to force changes. Owners may have no option but moving if a noisy neighbor situation cannot be resolved.
Comparatively Poor Resale Value Growth
Over the long term, townhouses generally see lower appreciation in resale value compared to detached homes. One study found that since 1980, the average single-family home appreciated at a rate six times greater than that of the average townhouse.
So while townhouses offer lower upfront purchase prices than houses, they typically will not build as much equity for the owner over time.
Parking Limitations
Parking can be tight in townhouse communities, especially for owners with multiple vehicles. Guest parking is often inadequate as well. Street parking congestion is frequently an issue too.
Typically Smaller than Single Family Homes
The average townhouse provides significantly less square footage than the average single-family home. In 2019, the National Association of Home Builders found the median townhouse to be 1,894 square feet versus 2,261 square feet for a single-family home.
This limited space can become an issue for growing families over time. Empty nesters may find townhouses spacious at first but wish for more room later to accommodate visiting family and grandchildren.
Average Townhouse vs. Single Family Home Sizes
| Home Type | Median Size |
|---|---|
| Townhouse | 1,894 square feet |
| Single Family Home | 2,261 square feet |
Limited Storage and Utility Space
Storage space is at a premium in townhouses, especially compared to single-family homes. Closet space is often limited, and there is rarely a basement for storage. Attics tend to be quite small as well.
Utility and mechanical systems can encroach on living areas since there is minimal dedicated utility space. It is common to find furnaces, water heaters, and electrical panels in less-than-ideal locations inside townhouses.
Tight Quarters on Moving Day
The tight spaces and limited street parking in townhouse communities can make moving in and out a major headache. Landing an oversized moving truck in congested townhouse streets is difficult. And there is often limited space to load and unload furniture.
More Difficult Home Expansion
Owners have limited options for expanding their townhouse space. Adding a room addition is generally impossible with shared walls. And you typically cannot build up by adding a second story.
So townhouse owners lack the flexibility detach home owners have to add living space. Your only option may be looking for a different property when more room is needed.
Townhouse owners share in the costs and liability exposures of communal elements like parking garages, elevators,Pools, and more. For example, if someone is injured in the shared pool, all owners share in the liability.
And if the shared elements require major repairs, maintenance, or replacement, costs are passed on to owners through HOA fees and special assessments.
Tight Quarters Can Lead to Increased Neighbor Conflicts
The close proximity of townhouse neighbors can spark more interpersonal conflicts. Disputes may flare up over things like noise, parking, pets, yard conditions, and perceived slights.
These neighbor conflicts can create an unpleasant living situation. Detached home owners have more space and separation from their neighbors.
Conclusion
Townhouses offer an affordable entry point to homeownership but come with key tradeoffs. The disadvantages like noise, lack of privacy, and HOA restrictions are inherent to the townhouse structure. Weigh these drawbacks carefully when considering a townhouse purchase.
The right buyer can overlook townhouse disadvantages for the benefits like lower costs, commute convenience, and minimal exterior maintenance. But keep the downsides above in mind before jumping into townhouse living.