The terms can be confusing, especially when you’re shopping for your first home or exploring different property types.
So let’s break it down. A townhouse generally refers to the style of the home—typically multi-level, attached on one or both sides, and often offering a bit more space than a condo apartment. But whether it’s a condo townhouse or a freehold townhouse makes a big difference in how the property is owned and maintained.
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What is a Condo Townhouse?
A condo townhouse is part of a condominium corporation. You own the inside of your unit, but everything on the outside—including the roof, windows, exterior walls, and sometimes your front yard or driveway—is maintained by the condo corporation.
You pay a monthly maintenance fee that usually covers:
- Exterior maintenance (roof, windows, siding)
- Landscaping, lawn care, and snow removal
- Management fees for the complex
- Garbage collection (in some cases)
- Water (sometimes included)
- Contributions to a reserve fund, which is used for future big-ticket repairs
- Maintenance of common elements, like driveways, walkways, and sometimes even an underground parking garage
One of the perks? Condo townhouses often have lower monthly fees than standard condo apartments (on a per square foot basis) because they don’t typically come with extras like gyms, pools, or concierge services.
Do you have more questions about buying a home in Toronto? Here are a few more posts you might enjoy next:
- New Construction Vs. Resale Condo in Toronto
- Should I Buy a House that’s Been on the Market for a Long Time?
- How Much Does it Cost to Own a Home in Toronto?
What is a Freehold Townhouse?
A freehold townhouse is more like owning a detached house, just with shared walls. You own the entire home and the land it sits on, and there are no monthly maintenance fees.
That also means you’re responsible for everything:
- Roof repairs
- Window replacements
- Lawn care and snow removal
- Any exterior upkeep
So while there’s more independence and potentially fewer monthly costs, you’ll need to budget for maintenance and long-term repairs yourself.
Should you buy a home if you’re not absolutely in love with it? Read our post: Should You Compromise When Buying a Home right here.
Freehold Townhouse vs. Condo Townhouse: Which One’s Better?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. A freehold townhouse is great if you want more control, don’t mind maintaining the exterior, and like the idea of no monthly fees. A condo townhouse is perfect if you’d rather hand off some of the maintenance responsibilities and prefer predictable monthly costs.
When deciding between a freehold vs. condo townhouse, think about your lifestyle, how handy you are (or want to be!), and whether you’d rather pay a little each month or save for those big fixes yourself.
Still unsure what’s best for you? Let’s chat. I can walk you through real examples of both and help you figure out which option makes the most sense for your next move.
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