Townhouses

[crabcake]

I rented a townhouse in Waldorf and at first, it was fine ... until the single lady with 6 bebes by 8 different daddies moved in next door and had all her exes outside fighting in the parking lot at all hours of the night.

If you are gonna buy one, at least try to buy in a 'hood that offers good long-term potential for avoiding ghetto status; otherwise, you may wind up with a TH you can't sell down the road ... though even the worst shacks are flying off the market anymore in our area.

Good luck!

 

[huntr1]

I looked into buying a townhouse when I lived in FL, I choose a single family home instead b/c of the fees w/townhomes. They had assesments fees of like $150 - $300 per month depending on the community. The high fees were due to lack of fund to pay for required maintance - termites destroyed the siding, the roads needed to be repaved, roof damage, etc.

I understand that this could also happen in a SFH but I would rather only get charged to fix the damages to my house only, rather then spliting the price to fix the whole neighborhood.

Those weren't townhouses, those were condos. With a townhouse, you own the building and are responsible for maint.

 

[Kizzy]

I rented a townhouse in Waldorf and at first, it was fine ... until the single lady with 6 bebes by 8 different daddies moved in next door and had all her exes outside fighting in the parking lot at all hours of the night.

If you are gonna buy one, at least try to buy in a 'hood that offers good long-term potential for avoiding ghetto status; otherwise, you may wind up with a TH you can't sell down the road ... though even the worst shacks are flying off the market anymore in our area.

Good luck!

That is what happens when you move into Holly Station area

That place is horrible, in fact it is so bad now, that I have to have a backup when I go there for home visits.

 

[Kizzy]

Hey Wiz,

I would call the local police department prior to putting a contract down in any townhouse community. They will tell you about the area and what calls they normally run there.

 

[crabcake]

That is what happens when you move into Holly Station area

That place is horrible, in fact it is so bad now, that I have to have a backup when I go there for home visits.

Mine was in Coventry Manor (I think ) but that's right around the corner from HS. I had a realtor locate places for me when I was moving down here and didn't know the area so I blame that b!tch for all the hell we endured living there.

 

[Kizzy]

I roll in that hood blasting 50 Cent, or WPGC.

It shocks them, so I'm in and out before they realize what they just saw.

 

[crabcake]

I roll in that hood blasting 50 Cent, or WPGC.

It shocks them, so I'm in and out before they realize what they just saw.

I can really see you doing that, too! You need to soup up the rims on the 'burb, super-tint the windows, get chasey to give you some tips on chrome, and get a fedora and a cigar and you'll be rollin' sista!

 

[Kizzy]

I can really see you doing that, too! You need to soup up the rims on the 'burb, super-tint the windows, get chasey to give you some tips on chrome, and get a fedora and a cigar and you'll be rollin' sista!

Shake it like a white girl

 

[itsbob]

It would be a first time house for us and I just wanted to know if there was a difference in having a house vs a townhouse.

The townhouse development I live(d) in is paradise, don't live there, but still own the home. The Housing Association is in control and has on a number of occcasions forced less desirables to move out. The amenities are awesome.. a pool, maintained and lifeguard provided, a pier, a "clubhouse" and NO lawn work.. you get to watch someone else mow your yard.. your week-ends are YOURS!! You have to pay a somewhat large amount of money to get into a good townhouse neighborhood.. some are VERY bad, but the good ones are AWESOME!

ALSO, I have an interior house, my heating bill is VERY low. I've never heard my neighbors.

The only negative is a lot of people buy them as investments and turn around and rent them. I've had three different neighbors on one side in the last two years, but again, the rent is high enough and section 8's in the neighborhood.

Do your research on where you plan on buying, and you may never leave.

 

[itsbob]

Townhomes on Dowell Rd, Solomons.. Starting at 425K..

And just a side note.. the townhome I currently have is HUGE. 5 bedroom 3.5 bath, waterview.. Couldn't afford a stand alone home with everything this house has to offer. (More for your money)

 

[SeaRide]

Townhouses are okay if you don't mind the rules. I know it doesn't apply to all of the townhouses in MD/VA/DC. Rules does vary. Fees for HOA may rise a little or a lot.

My aunt in Manassas area could not put up a small bird feeder. UFB. She has to get approval from HOA for putting in paver in her backyard. UFB.

My outlaws (ex's parents) lives in a townhouse where you can't pick the color you want to paint on the outside. UFB.

Another rule that I dislike, "You can't be outside after 10 pm or the neighborhood watch group will call the police." Well, the cop came and asked me for my identification. I explained to the cop that I just drop off my kids and notice that my car tire just started going flat. I am just about done with putting on the spare tire. My outlaws got embarrassed and told me not to do that again. geez. UFB.

My outlaws got upset when their townhouse value didn't appreciate much when there was a murder next door and a fire incident few doors down.

One time I popped the hood on my car to see if it's against the rule about oil change or whatever at my outlaws' townhouse. Yep. UFB.

Some rules are stupid but if you can live by it then more power to you.

 

[STL_RAMS]

Those weren't townhouses, those were condos. With a townhouse, you own the building and are responsible for maint.

No they were townhouses. I know what you are talking about. But that is what I encountered looking there. You were not responsible for only the roof and siding that touched your walls.

 

[itsbob]

Townhouses are okay if you don't mind the rules. I know it doesn't apply to all of the townhouses in MD/VA/DC. Rules does vary. Fees for HOA may rise a little or a lot.

My aunt in Manassas area could not put up a small bird feeder. UFB. She has to get approval from HOA for putting in paver in her backyard. UFB.

My outlaws (ex's parents) lives in a townhouse where you can't pick the color you want to paint on the outside. UFB.

Another rule that I dislike, "You can't be outside after 10 pm or the neighborhood watch group will call the police." Well, the cop came and asked me for my identification. I explained to the cop that I just drop off my kids and notice that my car tire just started going flat. I am just about done with putting on the spare tire. My outlaws got embarrassed and told me not to do that again. geez. UFB.

My outlaws got upset when their townhouse value didn't appreciate much when there was a murder next door and a fire incident few doors down.

One time I popped the hood on my car to see if it's against the rule about oil change or whatever at my outlaws' townhouse. Yep. UFB.

Some rules are stupid but if you can live by it then more power to you.

I find these rules to be a good thing.. neighborhood doesn't end up looking like a junk yard. Although the 10PM thing is a little ridiculous. Good thing in my 'hood'.. there's 5 po-leese in my parking lot. Tends to be REAL quiet there.

Summer I spend a lot of time on the pier, for all the free crabs you can eat..

was a pool bum last summer, and it's great having a pool without all of the headaches..

and NOBODY is above the rules.. the president of the Assoc was asked to move last year, and he did. Dog bit a kid, wasn't on a leash, was told get rid of the dog, or move out.. they moved out.

 

[itsbob]

and yes the assoc controls the colors of the homes, ANOTHER good thing.. no chartreuse houses in the neighborhood.. Stopping people from getting stupid improves your propperty value yanno!

 

[sonsorae]

If you're referring to Southgate, I lived there for three years. I loved it at first until the riff raff from the other neighborhood kept coming to our division. These crazy kids would bang on doors at night, cars have been vandalized on various occassions....It's not what it used to be. Also, when I sold my townhouse, the other townhouses were also for sale except for one. Doesn't say much for the neighborhood if all you're neighbors are selling at the same time....Needless to say, it may have changed since then.

 

[SeaRide]

and yes the assoc controls the colors of the homes, ANOTHER good thing.. no chartreuse houses in the neighborhood.. Stopping people from getting stupid improves your propperty value yanno!

yes I understand that but when the paint rules was set 25-30 years ago which means the colors are outdated which makes your townhouses look yucky.

 

[huntr1]

No they were townhouses. I know what you are talking about. But that is what I encountered looking there. You were not responsible for only the roof and siding that touched your walls.

If by this you mean "You are responsible for only the roof and siding that touched your walls." then you are correct. You are not responsible for the roofing and siding on someone else's house, just yours. Just like I am not responsible for cutting my neighbor's yard, even though it abuts my yard.

 

[itsbob]

It sucks because with the prices for houses being the way they are the first time homebuyers are going more for the townhomes which are prices on are now steadily rising.

The average townhome is going for 150,000.00 to $175,000.00 depending on the area

Cheapest you are going to find over here is 250K up to 500K

 

[janey83]

My family lived in a townhouse in northern VA for 4 years -- it was alright, but parking was limited (luckily we lived there before me or my brother started driving), and the yard space was small...other than that, I'd say we had a good experience. Pretty much like any other house once you're on the inside.

 

[kokopicu]

My family lived in a townhouse in northern VA for 4 years -- it was alright, but parking was limited (luckily we lived there before me or my brother started driving), and the yard space was small...other than that, I'd say we had a good experience. Pretty much like any other house once you're on the inside.

except when you can hear your neighbors banging around with the cabinet doors or yelling at the top of their lungs....