When you're buying a home on your own, it's easy to assume the goal should be a traditional single-family house.
More space. Your own yard. No shared walls. That's what we're supposed to be working toward, right?
Not necessarily.
One of the advantages of buying on your own is that you get to choose a home based on the life you actually live. You don't have to buy for a spouse you don't have, kids you may or may not want, or some imaginary version of what adulthood is supposed to look like.
A condo might give you the freedom you want. A townhome might be the perfect middle ground. Or you may absolutely want your own house, yard and garage.
The question isn't which one is "better."
It's which one works best for you.
First, Think About the Life You Want Outside Your Home
Before we talk about bedrooms, square footage or yards, I'd start somewhere completely different.
What do you want your life to look like?
Do you travel frequently and want to be able to lock the door and leave without worrying about much?
Do you love spending weekends working in the yard?
Do you want to entertain?
Do you have dogs that would make a private backyard incredibly convenient?
Would you rather spend Saturday morning at brunch than mowing a lawn?
Do you want to be close to restaurants, entertainment and things to do, or would you happily drive farther for more space and privacy?
Those answers may tell us more about the right type of home for you than the number of bedrooms ever could.
The Condo: Less Exterior Responsibility and Potentially More Freedom
For some women buying on their own, a condo can make a lot of sense.
You're generally purchasing your individual unit while many exterior and common elements of the property are maintained collectively through the homeowners association.
That can mean fewer exterior maintenance responsibilities for you personally.
And there is something pretty appealing about not being the person who has to worry about mowing a lawn or shoveling a driveway after a Colorado snowstorm.
Depending on the community, you may also have access to amenities such as a pool, fitness center, clubhouse or secured entry.
For someone who travels frequently or simply doesn't want home maintenance to become a hobby, that can be a great lifestyle fit.
But There Are Trade-Offs
Condo living usually means more shared space and less control over certain things.
You may have neighbors above, below or beside you. There may be restrictions involving pets, parking, rentals, renovations and other aspects of how the property can be used.
You'll also typically pay HOA dues, and it's important to understand what those dues cover.
When I'm helping someone consider a condo, I don't want her looking only at the unit.
We also need to pay attention to the HOA itself, because you're buying into that community along with the condo.
The Townhome: The Middle Ground
Townhomes can be a really attractive option when you want more of a traditional home feeling without necessarily taking on everything that comes with a detached house.
You may have your own entrance, multiple floors, a garage and some outdoor space while still having certain exterior responsibilities handled by an association.
For a woman living alone, that combination can be pretty appealing.
You get separation between your living and sleeping spaces, potentially more storage and privacy than you'd have in some condos, without automatically signing yourself up for a giant yard and a long list of exterior chores.
But Don't Assume "Townhome" Means Low Maintenance
This is where we need to look at the details.
What an HOA maintains can vary significantly from one community to another.
One association may handle landscaping, snow removal and exterior maintenance. Another may cover far less.
So if low maintenance is one of the reasons you're considering a townhome, we need to verify exactly what you're responsible for rather than assuming.
You may also still have shared walls, HOA rules and monthly dues to consider.
The Single-Family House: More Privacy and More Control
Maybe you read everything above and thought:
Nope. I want my own house.
That's completely valid too.
A detached single-family home generally gives you more privacy and control over your property.
You might have your own yard, driveway, garage and outdoor space. You don't have someone living directly above or below you, and depending on the property, you may have fewer restrictions on what you can do with your home.
If you love gardening, entertaining outside, having space for dogs, working on projects or simply not sharing walls, a house may be worth the additional responsibility.
And yes, a single woman is allowed to want a big house all to herself.
You don't need to justify the space because you're the only person living there.
The Trade-Off? You're Usually the One Responsible for It
That freedom comes with responsibility.
If the furnace stops working, it's yours.
If the fence falls over, it's yours.
If the yard needs attention, that's your problem too.
There's no landlord to call, and depending on the property and community, there may not be an HOA handling much for you.
That doesn't mean owning a house alone should feel intimidating. Plenty of women do it every day.
It simply means we should make sure the responsibilities that come with the property fit the lifestyle you actually want.
What About the HOA?
I think HOA dues sometimes get dismissed as "just another expense," but that's too simplistic.
Yes, they affect your monthly housing costs.
But you also need to look at what you're receiving in return.
If an HOA is maintaining certain exterior elements, landscaping, snow removal or community amenities, those are things you may otherwise have to handle or pay for yourself.
On the other hand, an HOA with high dues doesn't automatically mean you're getting great value.
That's why I want my buyers to understand both the cost and what it covers.
There can also be rules, restrictions and potential future assessments to consider.
The question isn't simply:
"Does this property have an HOA?"
It's:
"What am I paying for, what am I responsible for, and am I comfortable with both?"
Think About How Much Maintenance You Actually Want
This is one of those questions where I want you to be completely honest with yourself.
Not Aspirational You.
Actual You.
If you hate yard work now, buying a house with a huge yard probably isn't going to magically turn you into someone who loves spending every Saturday landscaping.
And if you genuinely enjoy projects, gardening and making a property your own, paying HOA dues specifically to avoid those responsibilities may not provide much value to you.
Neither lifestyle is better.
They're just different.
Don't Forget About Travel
This is a big one if independence and travel are important parts of your life.
How easy will it be to leave your home for a week?
Or two weeks?
A condo or townhome with certain exterior maintenance handled may offer more of a lock-and-leave lifestyle.
A single-family house may require a little more planning. Who is watering things? Shoveling snow? Checking the property?
None of those things should stop you from buying a house if that's what you want.
They're simply part of choosing a home that supports your life instead of complicating it.
What About Resale?
Even when you're buying a home for yourself, it's smart to think about the person who might eventually buy it from you.
You don't need to predict exactly how long you'll live there, but things like location, condition, layout, parking, HOA health and community appeal can matter when it's eventually time to sell.
That's another reason I don't love choosing a property based solely on what feels perfect today.
We want to think about your life now and your options later.
So...Which One Should You Buy?
There isn't one answer for every woman buying on her own.
You might be a condo person if you value convenience, amenities and fewer exterior responsibilities.
You might love a townhome because you want a little more space and separation without taking on everything that comes with a detached house.
Or you might want the yard, privacy, garage and independence of a single-family home and happily accept the additional maintenance that comes with it.
And your answer may change during the process.
I've had buyers start out convinced they wanted one type of property and realize after seeing a few homes that something completely different fit their life better.
That's part of the process.
Buy for the Life You're Actually Living
Buying a home on your own means you get to make the decision around you.
Not what your parents think you should buy.
Not what your married friends bought.
Not what you think you'll need if you meet someone someday.
And definitely not what social media says a successful woman should own by a certain age.
Think about your lifestyle, budget, priorities, responsibilities and what you want your days to look like.
Then let's find the type of home that supports that life.
Because the goal isn't to buy the biggest house or the "best" type of property.
It's to create a life you love coming home to.
Check out this article next
