3 Reasons to Buy a Standalone House Over a Townhouse

Though some people may enjoy living in a townhouse, here are some advantages standalone homes can offer.

If you're looking to buy a home, you probably know that you have several options to choose from. You could buy a townhouse, which is a home that will be attached to at least one other unit and may or may not come with its own outdoor space. Or you could buy a standalone house, which is detached from other homes and generally has at least a small area of dedicated outdoor space (either a backyard, front yard, or both). While there are plenty of good reasons to purchase a townhouse, here are a few reasons why a standalone house may be a better choice for you.

1. More privacy and quiet

When you own a townhouse, you'll share a wall with at least one set of neighbors. And unless you manage to snag a corner townhouse unit, you'll share a wall with two different neighbors. That could end up being a bad thing if you're the type of person who enjoys privacy.

Also, with a townhouse, you never know what neighbors you'll wind up with. You could have a family move in next door with an infant who spends the first nine months of life screaming through the night -- and that's noise that could keep you awake if your bedroom shares a wall with that family's nursery. On the other hand, when you buy a detached home, you won't share walls with anyone. Even if the next house over is pretty close by, the noise level will be less substantial.

2. More outdoor space

Some townhouses come with a patio, deck, or even a small backyard. But if you want a lot of outdoor space, a townhouse generally isn't the way to go. If you have young children who are likely to spend a lot of time playing outdoors, then a townhouse may not offer you ample space to engage in sports or put in a playset with swings and a slide. Granted, a townhouse community may offer a playground -- but if you want your own private one, a standalone house is a better fit.

3. Fewer restrictions

Townhouses are usually part of a homeowners association, and those associations can impose certain rules that limit what you can and can't do in your home. With a townhouse, you may be told you can't have a dog, or a dog of a certain size. You may also be told you can't run a business from your home. Standalone houses don't have the same restrictions, so you're more free to enjoy your space as you please.

Because standalone homes offer more privacy and, generally, more land than townhouses, they also tend to be more expensive within the same neighborhood. As such, buying a standalone home could mean taking out a larger mortgage and spending more money each month on housing. But as you can see, there are benefits to owning a standalone house, so before you rush to make an offer on a townhouse because it's cheaper, think about what you stand to gain by buying a detached home.