This is a statement that you might have come across quite a bit, mostly if you are looking to buy a home in Surrey, Vancouver, or anywhere in the lower mainland region of British Columbia. While not a new concept, the idea of other people living over your head might not exactly be everyone’s cup of tea. They will argue, and quite rightly so, that if they wanted to live in a high or midrise tower, they would have gone for a condo, which would undoubted have been cheaper. However, while the concept of incorporating a townhouse in a high-rise or midrise is not new to the region, it is still somewhat of a curious novelty, and if I may say so, a deeply misunderstood one.

Why are town-homes popular?

However, before we discuss the ins and outs of getting a townhouse in a high-rise, lets first look at what makes townhouses such a big draw. For starters, townhouses seem to thread that middle ground between an expensive detached house, and a significantly cheaper, but smaller condo or apartment rather well. For first time home buyers, especially ones with children, they provide an attractive, and relatively safe option (in terms of investment). Afterall, townhouses do a great job of mimicking the advantages of a single-family detached home. The different living spaces are separated by stories, they have at least two entrances, have front and often a backyard to boot. Aesthetically too, there is a certain romance attached to them, no doubt accentuated by their portrayal in films.

How are townhouses in a high-rise different from the average townhouse?

The short answer is that they are not really different. Once inside, they are pretty much like any run of the mill townhome, the likes of which one will find dime a dozen around Canada, given their popularity. Having said that though, there are still a couple of minor differences that propel townhouses in a high-rise to a different category.

1. There is no backyard- The back entrance opens out onto the common lobby or corridor of the tower. If that sounds like a downer, let me tell you it is actually a blessing in disguise. How you ask? The most reputable developments (beyond which you should not consider buying anyways), create huge common outdoor spaces exclusively for the residents of the development, both at the ground level and on elaborate sky parks which will be located a few stories above. It is the total embrace of such features and the focus on creating a proper living space than just a stack of houses that has led to a majority of the luxury presale condo developments in Surrey, Burnaby, Vancouver and elsewhere to incorporate a very similar structural design, that of having a broad base for a few stories, and then continue upwards on a much smaller footprint, leaving space for elevated public spaces. Compared to the tiny backyards of most standard townhouses, townhomes in high rises have access to plenty of space and amenities that come with it.

2. More bang for the buck- An average townhouse will be slightly more expensive than the ones in a high-rise. But that sometimes can be explained by the size of the home. There are many townhomes which are larger than ones in a high-rise. What cant be explained away is the lack of general amenities for the residents, something that a proper luxury development uses as a selling point. As Surrey has become the focal point of densification and housing growth in BC, the sort of amenities being provided by Surrey real estate developers are truly mind boggling, Take the case of Allure Venture’s upcoming project, SkyLiving. Not only will it have a huge sky park, it will also have barbeque pits, pizza ovens, open air chill zones, open air theatre, gaming room, theatre, gym, Pilates room, yoga room, work spaces, conference rooms, an entire floor for kids’ entertainment, dogpark…..you name it, and chances are premium developments like SkyLiving already have it. Now name one townhouse development or townhouse presale in Surrey that has, or is offering any of that, that too at no additional cost!

Just like everything else, where matters

If you are now thinking, “Hmm, the piece makes a couple of good points and I shall now start looking at townhouses in high-rise buildings as well”, then tarry a little. Remember, every concept has good executions and also, rather bad ones. Google a little and you will find some absolutely shocking and often hilarious fails both in terms of quality and design. It’s pretty much like everything else. Town-homes in a condo tower make plenty of sense only if it is part of a reputed luxury development. Otherwise, it can become a purchase that you will regret a few years down the line.