One of the most common questions that we get asked is “What is the difference between a condo and a townhouse?” And they are usually surprised by our answer.
The general real estate agent answer is that the townhouse units are a subset of condos. A townhouse is a type of condo that is built side by side so that there is no one living above or below the owner. There is debate about whether or not there has to be a private individually attached garage to each unit. I think that there does not have to be individual attached garages in order for there to be a townhouse because many projects are no longer built that way due to the ability to squeeze in additional uses out of common subterranean garage. Also, there are new townhouse complexes with private garages for each unit within a general subterranean parking level. These also do not have direct garage access either.
Technically, however, the legal definition of a townhouse does not exist. It is construct to describe a type of condo. In fact, the Los Angeles Westside Multiple Listing Service (MLS) won’t even allow it as a definition at all. It’s only a condo.
In fact, when we sold the Hudson 141 complex, we described the fantastic upstairs million dollar penthouses units as “townhouse -style.” We added the “style” because the tri-level condo had owners who lived below the penthouses and were not townhouses. However, by calling them townhouse –style, people were able to envision a layout that was more easily defined than simply flat one level condos.
To find out more about more about condos or real estate in Pasadena please visit our agent web site at http://www.DavidandPei.com or you can call us 626.922.4268 for a no obligation tour of Pasadena neighborhoods and its fantastic new construction and resale condos and townhouses.
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