Townhouse vs Condo vs Apartment — what’s the difference?

Townhouse vs Condo vs Apartment — what’s the difference? 🏘️

So here's something that came up this week in one of our weekly staff meetings. What differentiates a townhouse from a condo, and from an apartment? Are we using these words interchangably? Or is it important which word we use when we are listing in the MLS (which we all know needs to be VERY ACCURATE.) 

These terms get mixed up a lot, but in real estate they mean very different things 👇

🏢 Apartment

• Rented, not owned

• One owner owns the whole building

• Not sold as individual homes

🏠 Condo

• You own the inside of the unit only

• HOA owns the exterior, roof, and common areas

• Can look like an apartment or a townhouse

🏘️ Townhouse

• This is a style, not always ownership

• Two possibilities:

  • Condo townhouse: HOA owns exterior → legally a condo

  • Fee-simple townhouse: You own the home and the land

Bottom line 👇
It’s not about how it looks — it’s about what you own.

If you’re buying or selling, this matters for:
✔️ Financing
✔️ Insurance
✔️ HOA rules

Have questions? I’m happy to help break it down 👋. Meanwhile, check out our newest listing, 9562 Union Park, West Chester, OH - a lovely condo.