Finding the right home, especially if it's your first, is usually about getting the perfect balance between what you want and what you can afford. If most people had their pick of a charming condo for rent in Toronto than they would likely see themselves in a spacious penthouse condo or a detached home with lots of outdoor space to separate them from their neighbours. When you're making compromises on a townhouse you might be wondering if going semi-detached or detached will suit you best. Here are some of the pros and cons to each option.

When you're looking at properties with your real estate agent you will likely notice first that semi-detached properties usually come with a smaller price tag than their detached counterparts. For a similar home in the same neighbourhood you might be looking at saving as much as $20,000. This could make a large difference on what you're able to afford when it comes to the space inside and the amenities that are included.

The downside of this, of course, is that you lose some privacy when sharing a wall with one or two other homeowners. Whether this is worth it usually depends on your living habits and the people that you're sharing with. Before looking at semi-detached homes for sale you should know if you're willing to handle some trouble with the neighbours should it come up. You could even knock on their door to meet them before making an offer.

There are a number of condo communities with semi-detached properties when you're looking at homes for sale or properties throughout the rest of the GTA. When you're getting a condo you have the benefit of being part of a homeowner's association that would help you deal with disputes should they come up. With a freehold townhouse you would be on your own.

On the other hand, there are some things that you will get with a semi-detached home that you will not get with a detached property. On top of thinking about your mortgage and how much you're willing to spend, you should also think about how much upkeep you're willing to do on the property. Semi-detached usually means that you will have less lawn to mow in the summer and some of the maintenance costs might even be covered by condo fees. This is certainly something to consider. If you still need to discuss mortgage options and home finances, talk to Marcus Tzaferis at MorCan Direct who is a well-respected expert in the field. (The website is here.)

When looking at the differences between semi-detached and detached homes you're likely going to need to decide based on a property-to-property basis. You never know what you're willing to give up until you walk around in a home and start picturing yourself living there.

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