Terraced house: Purchase price, neighbours & Co. – advantages & disadvantages for buying, building or renting

Townhouse – Looking for a low cost property near the city as you are looking to buy a house? Then how about a terraced house instead of a costly villa or a large country house? A terraced house is the perfect alternative between a city apartment and a house in the countryside. Low purchase price, small garden and/or a terrace in a friendly neighbourhood. We show you what makes a terraced house so attractive and why families and couples in particular like to settle in this type of house. Click here to return to the overview: Overview of house types.

Terraced house: definition, features & everything you need to know

A terraced house is a row of individual houses which are built directly next to each other without any space in between. However, there is no access between the houses, so there is still the privacy of a normal house. Most of these houses have a minimum size of 160m².

This type of house has been popular with people since the 19th century, as more and more people have moved into cities and conurbations since industrialisation. Row houses prevent the waste of space in densely populated areas. In order for a terraced house to be called a terraced house, at least three houses have to be in a row, otherwise it is a semi-detached house.

Due to the construction of at least three houses in a row, two sub-types of the terraced house are created here: the terraced end house and the terraced middle house. As the name suggests, the end-of-row house is located at one of the two ends of the row and the middle-of-row house in the middle of the building complex.

Often these are located near or on the outskirts of the city and are therefore not far from the centre and schools, universities and shops. For many, this makes the terraced house a cost-effective alternative to a house in the countryside with poor infrastructure. Every style can be catered for in a terraced house – from a retro charm inspired by the 60s or new build – you’re sure to find the right terraced house for you here!

Are you looking for the right house? Then check out our guide! Here you will find definitions, meanings and lots of information: House types from A-Z

Room layout: living room, kitchen, bathroom and co.

What kind of room layout can you expect in a terraced house? In many terraced house layouts, the living room and kitchen are located on the ground floor. The bathroom and other rooms, such as the children’s room, are usually located on the upper floor.

Suitable for whom? Ideal solution for families & couples

Row houses come in both simple and luxurious versions, accordingly, row house prospective buyers have people of different social groups. A terraced house is particularly attractive for families and young couples. How they benefit from a terraced house, you can read here.

Families: quiet zones to play with the neighbourhood children

The terraced house is very popular with families. The traffic-calmed settlements offer a suitable place for children to play, friendships can form here especially with neighbourhood children of the same age.

Parents who are employed and work full time have less time but also money to invest in their own property when they buy a townhouse.

Couples: togetherness in a home on the outskirts of town for couples

But it is not only families who see a terraced house as a perfect choice. Investing in a terraced house is also becoming increasingly attractive for young couples. Rather a small home on the outskirts than an expensive multi-room apartment directly in the center. In addition, the purchase of the terraced house can also be beneficial for later family planning.

Advantages and disadvantages: Purchase price, neighbors, garden & Co.

The uniqueness and special features can lead to many advantages but also disadvantages. We’ll get to the bottom of these and show you the upsides and downsides of a townhome, and help you make your next big decision.

Advantages: low purchase price, good infrastructure & neighbourhood support

Living in a terraced house brings with it a number of advantages. Lower land prices are a good reason to choose a terraced house over a detached house.

Due to the location in the city, you also benefit from a good infrastructure. Trams, buses and schools right near you. You have a wide choice when it comes to finding the right townhouse, if in the city you will find numerous such houses.

Sharing a plot of land with other people also has advantages when it comes to building. You also save costs when building the roof. The maintenance costs are also kept low.

With a mid-terrace house, the ancillary costs are kept within a manageable range, often these are only just above those of an apartment. The two adjacent houses ensure that the middle house is protected from heat and cold.

Direct proximity to the neighbours does not only have disadvantages: Joint barbecue and game evenings, mutual respect and caring for each other are the positive aspects.

• Low purchase price
• Good infrastructure
• Large selection of terraced houses
• Low construction costs
• Low maintenance costs
• Manageable additional costs
• Middle house is protected from cold and heat
• Neighbourly help and friendships

Disadvantages: Noise, small yard, neighbor dispute & low sales value.

But living in a terraced house can also bring just as many negative points and potential for conflict. Due to the closely built settlements, one is in close contact with the neighbours, especially here. Conflict issues such as noise or differences in joint decisions to be made.

Unlike a single-family home, the resale value here is comparatively low.

The two added walls created by the location of a mid-terrace home allow windows to be placed on only two walls of the home. If the right furnishings and color choices are not made here, the living space can quickly become depressed and gloomy.

There is usually only one mini-garden per unit per terraced house, but lovers of large gardens and their own green spaces can be put off here with an additional terrace. The open spaces of the house are between 50 and 100 square metres in size.

• Direct proximity to neighbours -> source of noise, points of dispute
• No big garden
• Low resale price
• Few windows for mid-terrace house
• Mid-terrace house: windows only possible from two sides

Source: Row house (Lukinski.de)

Buy: Yes or no? – Help for the right decision

Deciding to buy a townhome is just the thing for those who needed a little more space and still don’t want to completely break away from the city. But what should you consider when buying a townhouse?

The price of a row house is significantly cheaper than that of a single-family house you know now, but what is actually the cheapest among the row houses. The cheapest way you strike thereby with a row middle house. But besides the price, you should also be aware of other important points: How big do you want your home to be? Which rooms do you want to have and what is the layout of the individual rooms? These are important points, but external factors such as the surroundings, neighbours and parking facilities should also play a role.

Here’s what you should be aware of before buying your home:

• House size
• Building condition
• Purchase price
• Location
• Room layout
• Neighborhood
• Privacy
• Sound insulation
• Window/light incidence
• Basement
• Parking

Alternatively, you can also rent a terraced house, which saves you money and doesn’t tie you down to the house as much as buying it. So you are always flexible.

Small furniture, functional furniture, lots of light: this is how you feel comfortable in your terraced house

Narrow but deep – this is what the floor plan of a terraced house looks like. Your main furniture, for example, should best be positioned at the wall ends so that your room appears visually wider. You should also decide against placing your furniture lengthwise in the room, instead you should spread it out in the room as much as possible. Small and delicate furniture works much better here than large furniture, which can quickly appear oppressive.

Light wall colours for the long walls and dark accents for the short walls – this method makes your rooms look airier, more open and wider. Functional furniture and lots of light sources are also ideal for terraced houses.

Tip! Our Interior XXL Guide has everything for you on the subject of furnishing and design! Numerous interior brands of different styles are waiting for you here: Furnishing brands