buying a townhouse

**J-rod** · 12-21-2007, 04:12 PM

think its a good investment for a starter home? we currently rent a townhouse stlye place (no garage) and if we decide to move next year we could get more house for our budget in buying a townhouse. however i have always been against paying a mortgage and sharing a wall. but i hvae seen their values continue to rise. also where id buy is in a small subdivision which is going to explode in 3-5 years with new FBI buildings, new hospital and more companies set to open.

so anyone here start with a townhouse? i look periodically for a 3-4 bdr townhouse and there really isnt many.

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**blkp42e** · 12-21-2007, 04:22 PM

anything is better than renting.

/ thread.

**INSANELY CRAZY** · 12-21-2007, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by blkp42e

anything is better than renting.

/ thread.

but on the otherhand,before i moved to pa we lived in a town house and it was hell... you could hear everything the neighbor was doing and saying.. could smell when they cooked food and always had to worry bout if they did anything stupid to start a fire, cause then your place is done too..

**393rag** · 12-21-2007, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by INSANELY CRAZY

but on the otherhand,before i moved to pa we lived in a town house and it was hell... you could hear everything the neighbor was doing and saying.. could smell when they cooked food and always had to worry bout if they did anything stupid to start a fire, cause then your place is done too..

This really depends on how long ago it was built. Code now says that all units with shared walls must have sound deading material, and a 2 hour fire rating minimum, with smoke partitions. There is still a chance for it to burn down, but not as good. The downside still is that you share a wall with someone else.

**J-rod** · 12-21-2007, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by 393rag

This really depends on how long ago it was built. Code now says that all units with shared walls must have sound deading material, and a 2 hour fire rating minimum, with smoke partitions. There is still a chance for it to burn down, but not as good. The downside still is that you share a wall with someone else.

very true. i had to deal with a guy on his 2 hour fire wall.

all units i have looked at built in last 3 years. one though was built in 97

**INSANELY CRAZY** · 12-21-2007, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by 393rag

This really depends on how long ago it was built. Code now says that all units with shared walls must have sound deading material, and a 2 hour fire rating minimum, with smoke partitions. There is still a chance for it to burn down, but not as good. The downside still is that you share a wall with someone else.

true.. i was talking like back in the late 80's early 90's

**tylerstepp** · 12-21-2007, 07:54 PM

i bought a town house in cranberry just over two years ago and from what i paid to now i have probaly gained 30,000 the only thing i hate is the one car garage and having four vehicles and a motorcycle other than that it's nice and the value of town houses is going up in this area because so many people move in and out of the area so much for jobs.

**J-rod** · 12-21-2007, 11:15 PM

true. i know i would gain value in a hurry in 2 of the areas i looked. with all the growth and new development coming in.

i just hate being a hypocrit as i have always said i wouldnt buy a place to pay a mortgage and share a wall.

but i guess realistically its not too bad.