VILLAFLORES, JUNNELL A.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 2
CEAT 01-203P AR. KING FREDRICK SOL

TOWNHOUSE
town·house
/ˈtounˌhous/
Learn to pronounce
noun: town house; plural noun: town houses; noun: townhouse; plural noun: townhouses
1.
a tall, narrow, traditional row house, generally having three or more floors.
a multi-story house in a modern housing development which is attached to one or more similar houses
by shared walls.
2.
a house in a town or city belonging to someone who has another property in the country.
Townhouse
townhouse or townhome is a single family home that shares one or more walls with other
independently-owned units. They are often rows of uniform homes, two stories or taller. Residents own
their interior and exterior walls, lawn, and roof, as well as the insurance for both their home and
property. Maintenence costs for the home is determined by the community's homeowners
association.They share many of the characteristics of condominiums.
A townhouse is where there is a continuous roof and foundation, and a single wall divides adjacent
townhouses, but some have a double wall with inches-wide air space in between on a common
foundation. A rowhouse will generally be smaller and less luxurious than a dwelling called a townhouse.
The name townhouse or townhome was later used to describe non-uniform units in suburban areas that
are designed to mimic detached or semi-detached homes. Today, the term townhouse is used to
describe units mimicking a detached home that are attached in a multi-unit complex. The distinction
between living units called apartments and those called townhouses is that townhouses usually consist
of multiple floors and have their own outside door as opposed to having only one level and/or having
access via an interior corridor \hallway or via an exterior balcony-style walkway (more common in the
warmer climates). Another distinction is that in most areas of the US outside of the very largest cities,
apartment refers to rental housing, and townhouse typically refers to an individually owned dwelling,
with no other unit beneath or above although the term townhouse-style (rental) apartment is also heard
for bi-level apartments.

ADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN A TOWNHOUSE

1. A yard without the hassle
Have you ever wished that you could have a beautiful yard that you weren’t obligated to take care of?
Well, that’s exactly what a townhome offers. While that space might not be huge, you generally aren’t
responsible for its upkeep. Just imagine a summer free of grass cutting!
2. A community with everything you need
Have you ever wanted to get some exercise, but the gym was too far away? That’s not a problem in a
townhome community. With access to things like a state-of-the-art fitness center, a tennis court and a
resort-style swimming pool, you can maintain your ideal lifestyle without leaving your neighborhood.

3. A safe neighborhood

By their very nature, townhome communities are shared by many people, and they all want to keep it
safe and secure just as much as you do. You can live comfortably without the fear of intrusion when you
know that so many people are devoted to that same interest.

4. Quieter living
If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, townhomes are designed perfectly for you. They’re built in
units that are next to, rather than on top of, each other. That means no one is living above or below you.
You won’t have to deal with people stomping above you, and you’ll have way more privacy.

5. Common areas
Besides the pools and the parks, townhomes come with a whole host of other common areas that allow
you to meet other people and hang out. Whether that means hosting a book club or playing a game of
billiards, get out and meet your neighbors and build some lasting friendships.

6. Nearby a great town

The best townhomes are situated just far enough from town so that you can get some peace and quiet,
but close enough that you have access to whatever it is that you need. Whether it’s a latte from
Starbucks, a new pair of heels from DSW or a manicure at Le Chic Nails & Beauty Salon, you can find
everything you want right there nearby. If you’re looking for a community where you can live, work and
play, look no further than Park Place at Garden State Park.

7. Outdoor fun
If the townhome community you’ve chosen is designed with luxury in mind, chances are it features
outdoor amenities like walkways and open space, as well as close proximity to nearby parks and
recreation. Park Place at Garden State Park features 44 acres of preserved open space and is just
minutes away from Cooper River Park.

8. All the maintenance is taken care of

That point about not having to take care of your lawn doesn’t end at your door. You’re often not
responsible for any of the upkeep in the common areas or your own home’s exterior. Roof repairs? Not
your problem. Snow shoveling? Let someone else deal with it.

9. Multi-levels
Unlike many apartments or condos, townhomes promise more than just one level to your living area.
This is great not just to have more space -- it also opens up more decorating options and can also
provide some added privacy for households with multiple people.
10. Less costly than a house, but a better investment than an apartment
For the most part, townhomes are less expensive than single-family homes, but you still maintain an
interest in the property -- unlike an apartment. It’s hard to pass up on all these benefits when it’s also
going to be less of a hit on your finances.
Townhome living allows you to have all the conveniences that come with a condo while also
experiencing the benefits of home ownership

DISADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN A TOWNHOUSE

Clearly, there are advantages to calling a townhouse home, but there are also reasons why people
decide to purchase single-family homes instead. With that being said, let’s take a brief look at some of
the disadvantages of townhomes.

1. Less Privacy
One of the biggest issues people have with townhouses is that you’re actually sharing a physical wall
with neighbors on either side. This might not be an issue, but it could prove to be problematic if you live
next to people who are, let’s say, less than courteous. Your tiny backyard also won’t be nearly as private
as it would in a normal neighborhood with lots of landscaping and space between lots.

2. Limited Freedoms
Depending on the development, the HOA may have very strict restrictions on the changes you can make
inside and outside of the home. If you’re someone who likes renovations and updates, this may stifle
your creativity and severely limit your options.

3. Financing Challenges
You may assume that financing works the same regardless of what type of property you’re buying, but
this isn’t always the case. If you’re buying a townhouse, you may find that your lender treats it more like
a condo than a house.

“Some lenders choose to underwrite all townhomes as if they were condos, leading to higher costs.
Some have more nuanced guidelines,” explains Gregory Erich Phillips, a veteran in the mortgage
industry. “If you are buying in an area with a lot of townhomes, it’s a good idea to find a lender with
experience in the area. Maybe even speak to the other owners to find out who they used for financing.”

4. Resale Value
You might get a great deal on a townhome when buying, but you may also have to dish out that same
discount when you eventually decide to sell.

“Resale values on townhouses sometimes lag values of single-family homes in certain markets,”
personal finance expert Neil Kokemuller writes. “This is especially true in communities that have seen an
influx in the availability of condos and townhouses in the early 21st century. Some builders replicate
successful developments near the same areas — in effect creating your same home, but newer.”
On the flip side, townhomes are often easier to rent out than single-family homes. When you do decide
to buy again, you may be able to rent it out and pick up an additional income stream.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TOWNHOUSE

Traditional townhouse

The classic townhouse is one that typically has two or three houses lined up next to each other with
shared walls. These properties may offer residents their own garage, a backyard and their own entrance.
These properties typically have multiple floors and they’re considered medium-density buildings.
Property maintenance is the responsibility of the owner. Homebuyers have freehold ownership, which
means they own both the land and the property on it and they can make any changes they want to it, as
long as it complies with municipal, provincial and federal laws.
Stacked townhouse

As the name suggests, this is when two townhouses are stacked on top of each other. These are
becoming a trend in some cities, such as Toronto, since it provides owners a house-like atmosphere with
two floors, but also the condominium management style with shared services. Since these townhouses
are shorter in height, they can be built out of wood frames, which lowers the cost per square foot for a
residence, according to the Toronto Sun. They also don’t need amenities such as hallways or lobbies,
which means lower maintenance fees for residents. They give homeowners more separation than a
typical condo, because each unit has its own exterior front door and there are no elevators or shared
lobbies.

Urban townhouse

This type of townhouse is taking off in Toronto and the GTA. These townhouses are named for its urban
neighbourhood location near transit and many amenities within close distance for residents. These
types of homes offer more space for those who have lived in condos and residents are surrounded by
fewer neighbours. Many of the newer urban townhouse developments are taking inspiration from
condos with modern architecture and design elements incorporated into the houses. Some properties
also offer parking and private rooftop terraces or outdoor patios. In some cases, these types of
townhouses may even be part of a larger condo complex and share its parking and amenities.

different types of townhomes (or towns) in order to fit density requirements from the Region, as well as
the budget and square footage requirements of our homeowners! They can vary quite a bit in size,
design and style, and it’s often hard to tell the differences solely from the names.
three storey towns Three storey townhomes are similar to traditional towns from the outside – but
they’re built slab-on-grade, which means there is no basement. They share the side walls and have
attached garages, but are three storey (unlike the two storey traditional towns!)
bungalow loft towns
Bungalow lofts may look like a one-storey home from the outside, but they have loft areas on the
second-floor that provide extra living space. Our Stonegate floorplan (available only in Doon South!) has
a convenient and accessible main floor master bedroom, complete with an ensuite. The second floor
features flexible living space with a lounge and two additional bedrooms.

back-to-back towns
Back-to-back townhomes are just what they sound like: in addition to sharing side walls, homes share a
back wall with another. This improves affordability, while still giving homeowners their own space.
These homes still offer 1- or 2-car garages, 2-3 bedrooms with a large open concept living space and
1390 to over 1600 square feet of space.
split-level towns
Split-level townhomes look similar to traditional or three storey towns from the street – but their unique
interiors help them stand out. These homes use staggered floors with short sets of stairs to create 5
different levels. This allows for statement-making, tall great room ceilings and spacious 1900+ sq.ft.
plans with 3 bedrooms and 1- or 2-car garages.