Trying To Find a Condo, Townhome or Zero Lot Line Home in Franklin TN?

Trying to Find a Condo, Townhome or Zero Lot Line Home in Franklin TN? There are Differences You Should Know!

There is a difference between these types of homes in Franklin TN, but unfortunately searching for homes by these categories can be very difficult, if not impossible. It depends a great deal on how the listing agent enters their information into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). 

Generally speaking, a Condominium or Condo, is a property where individuals own the interior space of a building (their unit). They have common ownership with all the other unit owners of the outside spaces such as a pool, parking lots, entry gates, and grounds, and some interior spaces such as hallways, stairwells, and elevators. Generally a single door to the outside gains you access to a number of units--similar to an apartment building.

Townhomes are properties where the individual units may share one or two common side walls, but the property itself includes a lot, albeit usually quite small, where the unit sits. These units usually have at least a front door that one enters at ground level. There are commonly owned elements, similar to a condo, such as parking lots and recreational areas. 

A Zero Lot Line home is a property where one or more walls of a stucture are built along one or more lot lines, either the back, front or sides. By building in this way, developers can maximize the number of units that can be placed on a piece of property.  In the case of residential units in Franklin, these homes usually share one or more side walls and are virtually indistinguishable from townhomes.

Here's where it gets complicated. In some cases developers may legally organize their townhomes into a Condominium Association. They may be townhomes by definition, but are legally described in a Condo Association.

If that's not confusing enough, our MLS puts both condos and townhomes into one heading--condominiums. Many developers and listing agents don't differentiate between condos and townhomes. On our website, we do differentiate between these two types of homes which makes it easier to find what you are looking for.

Lastly, in our MLS, zero lot line homes are actually listed as a heading under subdivisions along with detached single family homes. Some developers and listing agents put townhomes in this category! On our website we put those zero line line homes in with our townhome section--this makes sense to us. We have put the following zero lot line homes into the townhome home category: Lockwood Glen, Shadow Green, Rizer Point, and Westhaven.

Whew! Confusing isn't it?

The bottom line is that there are differences between these types of homes, but working with a knowledgeable local REALTOR® will help you solve all the mysteries!

If you are looking to buy a Franklin TN Condo or Townhome or a zero lot line home, contact Tom White of TW Realty Group at (615) 870-8169.