Understanding how real estate agents describe different types of property can be a challenge if you’re unfamiliar with the market.
While a picture is worth a thousand words in real estate, they don’t pick up the subtle differences between the array of property types available.
These common descriptors will help explain some of the real estate listing terms you might see:
Detached house
A single building set on its own block, this is one of the most common types of property you’ll see on the market. It will be registered under Torrens title, which records ownership of a specific piece of land.
Semi-detached house
Common in Europe and the UK, semi-detached homes are essentially one building legally separated into two homes, generally owned by different people. For the most part, they share a common wall and one boundary. On occasion, they’ll share driveway access. This is an increasingly popular design because of rising land and building costs.
Duplex
This is a similar style to a semi-detached home with the critical difference that you usually buy both properties when you purchase a duplex. You can rent out or sell one half of the duplex if you wish to live in the property. They’re sold under the strata title system, which means the maintenance of common features, such as the roof and guttering, are responsibilities shared between the owners.
Villas
A great downsizer solution, a villa is a single-story detached building. Often, they’re part of a complex of similar homes. They feature a private entrance and have a courtyard or a small garden. Villas can also be sold under the strata title if part of a large complex.
Townhouses
Similar to villas, these homes are often two or three-storey and mostly sold using the strata title system. Some townhouse complexes will have shared facilities, such as a swimming pool, tennis court and gym. They’re popular with those who cannot afford a detached house but don’t want an apartment. The are often built in blocks so that a number of townhouses will be built with shared walls.
Apartments
These are often called “units”, and the term is interchangeable. They’re usually smaller than houses and duplexes and have common areas maintained under the strata system. Many apartment buildings are managed by a strata committee of owners, who pay a strata fee to maintain and manage the building.