On more than one occasion we have talked about the different options available to us when buying a home. And, although it may seem like a simple process, getting a new home is something that should not be taken lightly.
This is one of the most important decisions of our life and we must be completely sure before closing the acquisition. Among the options that we can choose, there are two really attractive ones: duplexes and semi-detached houses. Types of housing on which we will focus our attention in this publication.
To begin with, we must remember that there are certain key aspects to take into account before buying a house. For example, one of the most relevant is choosing the location well, something we talked about in our post ‘ Where to live in Granada.
But, beyond this, it is important to know the characteristics of each type of home. What is a duplex house? And a semi-detached house? We are going to talk about the aspects that differentiate them to solve all your doubts.
Townhouse vs Duplex: What Differentiates them?
At this point, the most common thing would be to ask ourselves which of the two options fits better with us or our family. The normal thing is that we spend a good handful of years in our new home, so we must have an open mind.
So, to find out which possibility best suits what we are looking for, we have decided to point out the main differences between semi-detached and duplex.
Different Types of Housing
To start we have to make it clear that the duplex and the townhouse are different types of houses. The duplexes are multi-family constructions, houses that have independent access formed by two floors. Of course, they are found in blocks of flats and communities, which is the main difference with respect to semi-detached houses.
The latter are single-family residences built in rows. That is to say, they share side walls with other houses although otherwise, they are totally independent of the rest of the houses. Some famous real estate companies like nyrentownsell.com can give you a lot of suggestions.
Location
Location is also usually a differentiating factor when we talk about semi-detached and duplex houses. This is something that is due to the fact that duplexes are usually found in areas closer to urban centers and city centers.
On the other hand, although there are exceptions, semi-detached houses are more commonly found in residential-type environments and urbanizations. As a general rule, therefore, it is usually more common to find duplexes in the center and semi-detached houses on the outskirts.
Common Areas
The third big difference that we are going to talk about between these types of housing has to do with the common areas they have. The semi-detached houses, in addition to having terraces, backyards, or gardens, also usually have certain typical areas of urbanization. From playgrounds to sports courts and even swimming pools.
Duplex homes, on the other hand, usually only have terraces, a garage, and a storage room. Although it is true that there are some neighborhood communities in which different common areas such as gyms or swimming pools are also available. Of course, if they are very central constructions, the options of having common areas are less.
Conclusion
Now comes the moment of truth: determining which of the two options, duplex or semi-detached, is better. And the truth is that, like almost everything in life, it is a question that depends more on the particular taste of each person than on anything else.