Both condos and patio homes have a monthly regime fee. This fee is paid in addition to your mortgage and can be very expensise, e.g., $145.00 to 280.00. a month. These fees cover the exterior maintence, some utilities (garbage, water) etc. A town house does not generally have a regime fee and may be the better option. ALWAYS check the regime fee before you decide on a condo or patio home. Also check to see what the maximum % increase the Board may pass every year.

Condominium is a form of ownership. The property is owned by all the members of the condo association; and usually the exterior of the buildings and the landscaping are maintained by association dues.

Townhome is a building style; two story with bedrooms up living area down. A townhome can be a condo.

Come up to Crossville and we can show you the difference. DAVE

Some people have brought up issues with Condo associations being outrageous in thier actions.

Personally - i have had worse experiences with the HOA's in townhomes then i ever have a condo association. I think once in NoVA - i was fined because the hose behind my house was not wrapped properly. Seriously - that bad.

Nashville specific, you'll find diverse stock in both areas. Many of our "condos" in Nashville proper are extremely convenient to downtown. Many townhomes are a bit further from town. Many condos including 5th and Main, Morgan Park Place and District Lofts include both condos and townhomes. While Don is correct as far as definitions, I think you are thinking townhome=2 level living with connecting walls on each side and condo=a building with flats inside. If that is indeed the case, townhome living will offer you more space and quiet.

I prefer a townhome over a condo for one reason. I don't have to worry about someone living above or below me. It is a function of noise.

Condos sometimes have higher association fees. Check to see what is included in the monthly fee. Water and sewer, mowing and snow removal, exterior maintenance, trash removel....

Townhomes, at least in our area, often don't have mowing and snow removal included in the monthly fees.

With a townhome you must maintain your own exterior. Is that something you want to do?

Condos often have more rules and regulations. Some will tell you if you can put a wreath on your door. Townhomes usually allow you to make your own decorating choices.

That's a start: hope it helps

Eileen's Green Team
Gateway Realty inc

Those are apples and oranges. A condo is a legal form of ownership, and can apply to a unit in a high-rise, to a townhouse, or even to a single-family home. A townhouse, on the other hand, describes a type of structure.

The "problems" with condos are that there's a condo association that (sometimes with the assistance of a management company) manages the condos. Like a board of directors, it sets condo fees, proposes rule changes, and enforces regulations and rules. It provides a structure, but condo associations can, at times, by tyrannical.

In a condo, you typically own everything from the inside walls in. Outside of those inside walls are the "common elements," jointly owned by the condo association (of which all condo owners are members).

In a non-condo situation, you own the entire structure. Now, if there's a homeowner's association (as you find with some townhouse developments and even single family home developments), the homeowner's association may own some of the common areas. It may also be responsible for maintenance of those common areas, and is responsible for enforcing whatever rules and regulations are in the HOA documents.