Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Dakota County Townhomes For Sale: Pros and Cons

Searching for Dakota County townhomes for sale?

If you are searching for Dakota County townhomes for sale, let’s take a minute to talk a little bit about the pros and cons of townhome living. Millions of Americans have enjoyed living in townhomes and it just might be a perfect solution for you as well. As with any type of Minnesota real estate purchase it’s important that you understand the subtleties of any home style that you purchase before signing on the dotted line.

Prices for Dakota County townhomes for sale


Dakota County townhomes are often priced quite a bit less than traditional single family housing largely due to the shared walls and common areas. The townhome association to which you will be required to belong is responsible for upkeep of these common areas as well as some of the exterior maintenance of your home as well. This can make buying a Dakota County townhome especially appealing to busy first time home buyers as well as to retirees who prefer not to deal with that type of upkeep.

Townhome Association Dues


This does not mean that the maintenance is without cost, as you know. As part of your financial responsibility for owning a Dakota County townhome you will be required to pay a monthly association fee. These dues cover a variety of things but the extent to what it covers can vary from one association to another. For example, while your association fees might include home insurance in one association, you might have to shop and buy that on your own in another. It is important to review this information before you sign a purchase agreement to buy a Dakota County townhome as your monthly costs could vary significantly depending upon the association.

Dakota County Community Information


Dakota County, located in the southeast portion of the Twin Cities area, is the third largest county in Minnesota. Some of the largest cities of the county include Burnsville, Apple Valley, Eagan, and Lakeville. The county seat for Dakota County is in Hastings,MN. As one of the fastest growing areas in the Twin Cities real estate market, the population has more than doubled since the 1980 census. Minnesota first time home buyers benefit from affordable homes in the area as well as the down payment assistance from the Dakota County First Time Buyers Program.

One item to note is that in almost all associations, the interior contents of your home will not be covered by the association insurance. All this means is that you will need your own separate policy for the interior contents of your Dakota County townhome, which is an additional annual fee to your insurance company. If you need mortgage financing for your Dakota County townhome your lender will require you to buy this type of insurance for your Dakota County townhome.

Dakota County townhomes for sale: The Pros


  • Lower maintenance lifestyle
  • Less expensively priced housing
  • Shared amenities such as recreational areas l
  • Often a small back yard
  • No neighbors located below or above as is common in condos



Dakota County townhomes for sale: The Cons


  • Townhome association monthly dues
  • Small yard or occasionally no yard at all
  • You will share walls with neighbors

      First Step In The Process
      For many MN first time buyers the big question is where do I start? Your very first step towards buying your first home is to get prequalified for a home loan. By doing so you find out how much of a loan you are qualified for so that we can search for homes in the right price range.

      Robert Phyle,CSP,GRI,RSA
      Broker Associate, Realtor
      Coldwell Banker Burnet
      rlphyle@cbburnet.com
      Cell 612-801-4657
      Direct 952-997-1955
      Fax 952-432-8372
      7741 147th St W.
      Apple Valley, MN 55124
      www.facebook.com/robphylerealestate
      Visit my website to find Minnesota homes for sale
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