Are townhomes that bad? (Arlington Heights, Glenview: apartment, townhouse, maintenance)

[chisub]

We currently live in a 3/2.5 townhouse and pretty much love everything about it except for it's location to my husband's job, which is why we are moving. We are moving closer to his office and have only been looking at SFHs thus far, but not really loving anything. I know SFHs are a better investment and we would be giving up some things like a yard with a townhouse, but we really like low-maintence living as neither one of us has ever cut grass, plowed a driveway, etc. (my husband grew up in an apartment in NYC). We have seen some townhomes in Wilmette that are decent, much lower taxes than SFHs and more space than we would get with SFHs, minus the yard of course. Thoughts on townhomes in the Glenview, Wilmette, Northbrook, Park Ridge area?

[middle-aged mom]

Generally speaking, townhomes do not hold their value as well as single family homes. This is however, very location specific. In areas not dominated by townhomes, such units often remain very desirable.

The areas you mentioned, are amongst more desirable locations.

Lake Arlington Town in Arlington Heights is also worth considering, if you are open to a NW location.

Having said this, if maintenance is the primary issue that makes single family homes less desirable, you can easily contract out routine maintenance.

[pvande55]

Some single-family homes have such little yard they might as well be townhomes. In the towns you mentioned you should be OK.