A townhouse is a residential dwelling, typically multiple stories, that shares one or two walls with neighboring units in a row of similar homes. Owners usually own both the interior and exterior of their unit and often the small lot beneath it.
Townhouse is primarily an architectural style, and ownership can be structured in different ways. Some townhouses are owned fee simple like a single-family home, while others are part of a condominium or planned unit development with an HOA that maintains common areas.
Townhouses often offer a middle ground between condos and detached homes, providing more space and privacy than an apartment-style condo while requiring less land and sometimes less maintenance than a fully detached house. HOA involvement and dues vary by community.