Condo vs house vs townhome which one is least maintenance and lease likely to get burglarized? Which is overall better to buy?

[DreamLife7]

Right now I live an apartment and the rent is reasonable but I believe soon I'll be wanting to buy. Anyways, I love the convenience of an apartment and wish to carry this level of convenience over. Before you guys say it, I know you build equity quicker in a home vs a townhome and condo.

Condo

Townhome

House

[JacobJordan]

Condo and townhouse are fairly low maintenance but come with several issues including neighbors. A house requires more maintenance but also you have some freedom with interior and exterior as long as you avoid hoa's. Due to restrictions on condo's/townhouse they are generally easier to break into and it is more obvious when they are empty. A house can have better protection and security. You have 2 major options. If you buy are you wanting to rent the space out? If so a condo/townhouse works better for that. If not then a house. And is privacy and peace and quiet important? If so then a house. If not the others

[DreamLife7]

I would think a condo and townhome would be harder to get into because they're so close to the neighbors. Not discrediting what you say just going off experience. I've noticed houses that are spaced apart, on land by its self and on busy streets are robbed

[JacobJordan]

It is a valid thought process. Main reason it doesn't end up that way is most robberies take place during the day and houses generally are more secure than townhouses and condos because of state, federal and local mandates on what can be done with the property. In addition most developments that have those are not really a communal thing it is more each location for themselves. So unless you wind up with a really nosey neighbor or the theoretical burglar is loud they could be in and out.

[MikeTheBartender]

Assuming we are comparing apples to apples and they are all in the same neighborhood... Same security system, etc

Condo would be overall safest as if something happened someone may be closer to hear.

I live in a home but have owned all of them. Condos are a great deal if the HOA is reasonable. Some of them are so sky high you can just do your own landscaping/pool or hire someone. The other issue is HOAs are not contracts, they can go up drastically. Some may have rules against renting out the units.

Really it will be a matter of preference. If you've been renting an apartment life won't change much for a condo, homes definitely have a bigger learning curve

[DryGermanGuy]

As with all matters regarding real estate, it's firstly "location, location, location!". Meaning, research everything about the area. Especially since once you own you can't just drop everything and leave (at least not without losses). Second factor is the building year (f. ex. 1950 to early 1960s houses/blocks in Germany are of lower quality) and maintenance status (f. ex. roof).

A condominium has the least financial risks but also individual freedoms, then townhouses, then detached houses.

[Bklynbadboy12]

A condo is what you want but understand you'll be paying a monthly maintenance fee forever but you'll never have to perform any of the maintenance yourself that fee insures they'll do it for you and renters insurance will cover everything in the event of anything going wrong

[DreamLife7]

That sounds so convenient not looking forward to rising hoa fees

[slatyb]

That's no answering that. It all comes down to location and price.

[NathanDavis]

by experience... the less likely to get burglarized will be the one with the most neighbors, lol...

I don't even lock that place of mine

[exitseven]

Condos generally have less maintenance. You have to pay a monthly maintenance fee. A house is a better investment in most cases.