Townhouse or duplex: how to choose and buy well
Townhouse, duplex or half a house
These formats look alike but differ. A townhouse is a unit in a row of houses with its own entrance and a small plot. A duplex is a house for two families, often with separate entrances and small yards. “Half a house” is also sold: it usually has its own yard, but legally it may be registered differently from a separate property. So say in the request what exactly you are looking for.
The main plus of these homes is more comfort than a flat, at a lower price and with less upkeep than a big house. The minus is shared walls with neighbours and a smaller plot.
What to put in your request
- area — the city, a villa community or a direction from the city;
- budget;
- type — townhouse unit, duplex, half a house with a separate entrance;
- size, number of rooms and floors;
- plot — your own, with size;
- condition — bare shell, finished, new from a builder, under construction;
- services — water, drainage, power backup, cooling or heating;
- payment — cash, home loan, builder's instalment plan.
Example: “I am looking for a duplex with a separate entrance near Manila, 1,800–2,200 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, with its own plot. Finished, with water and drainage connections. Budget up to ₱9,000,000, I will consider a home loan or the builder's instalment plan.”
How to search with BlaBlaPrice
You describe what you need once, in a request. Builders, owners and agents reply in the chat: price, size, stage of completion, payment terms, photos or a plan. They see where their offer stands and often improve the terms. You compare them in one place and open contacts only for the one you choose.
What to look at in the offers
- What the price includes: only the shell, finishing or full interiors, and whether the plot is in your name.
- For a house still being built: the work schedule, the builder's track record and the terms of the agreement.
- How the property is registered: a separate house, part of a house or a unit, and who owns the land.
- Services: water, drainage, power load, cooling or heating system.
- Monthly maintenance charges for the grounds, if it is a gated community.
It is better to settle legal questions with a lawyer before you pay anything.
Common mistakes
Comparing the price per sq ft for houses in different condition. Not asking about sound insulation between the units and about rights to the plot. Ignoring the cost of finishing work if you buy a bare shell. Not checking the roads and transport access.
For a bigger, more spacious option, see houses for sale, and if you want to try living there first, houses for long-term rent. How the service works is on the “How it works” page.
