Buyer guides

What to know before you buy a townhouse, in plain language.

• What is a townhouse?What a townhouse is, how it differs from an apartment, house, terrace or villa, and what to check before you buy one in Australia.
• Townhouse vs apartment: which suits you?Townhouse or apartment? A plain comparison of space, outdoor areas, parking, noise, fees, maintenance and price.
• Townhouse vs house: what you gain and give upComparing a townhouse with a freestanding house: price, land, maintenance, privacy, fees and rules.
• Buying a townhouse off the planHow buying a townhouse off the plan works in Australia: deposits, contracts, sunset clauses, settlement and the questions to ask a developer.
• Body corporate fees on townhousesWhat body corporate, owners corporation and strata fees cover on a townhouse, what they’re called in each state, and what to check before you buy.