Townhouse Ownership: What You Need to Know Before Buying

When you buy a townhouse, a multi-level home attached to neighboring units, often with private outdoor space and shared walls. Also known as terraced house, it sits between a standalone home and an apartment—offering more privacy than the latter but less freedom than the former. Unlike condos, townhouses usually include the land beneath them, which changes what you own and what you’re responsible for.

One big thing people miss? HOA fees, mandatory payments that cover shared maintenance like roofing, landscaping, and exterior painting. These aren’t optional, and they can jump by 5–10% a year. In some communities, you can’t even paint your front door without approval. Then there’s the shared walls, the thin partitions between units that make noise, smells, and even footsteps a daily reality. If your neighbor throws a party at midnight, you’ll hear it. No amount of soundproofing fixes that completely.

On the flip side, townhouses often come with small yards, garages, and sometimes pools or gyms—all included in your HOA fee. You don’t have to mow the lawn, shovel snow, or repaint the siding. That’s the trade-off: less control, less work. Most buyers pick townhouses because they want a home that feels like their own without the full burden of a standalone house. But if you hate rules, hate paying extra every month, or hate the idea of someone else deciding what color your shutters can be, you’ll regret it.

And don’t forget taxes. Townhouses are taxed like single-family homes, not apartments. That means higher property taxes than a condo, but lower than a detached house. In places like Mulund, where land is tight and demand is high, townhouses are becoming a go-to for young families and investors looking for balance between space and affordability.

What you’ll find in the posts below? Real examples of what townhouse ownership actually looks like—the hidden costs, the surprising perks, the mistakes people make when they assume it’s just a bigger apartment. You’ll see how HOA rules vary, how resale values hold up, and what questions to ask before you sign anything. No fluff. Just what you need to know before you hand over your money.