Why living in a townhouse is a great lifestyle choice

Firstly I’d like to begin this post by putting forward my credentials to write this post, consider this my ‘cover letter’ as to why I can write about townhouse living;

• Lived in a townhouse pretty much all of my life (in England, we call them terraced houses or semi-detached).
• Currently lives in a townhouse in Christchurch
• Builds townhouses for a living

There you go. Impeccable credentials I hope! Let’s delve a little deeper into why I live in a townhouse these days...

The story of a mid-life down-sizer, initially not by choice but now fully by choice  

Many moons ago, Rosefern used to be a ‘do-er-upper’ company and we purchased 4 of 6 townhouses in a complex, took over the body corp and set to work on repairs and renovations. Little did I know at the time, one of the townhouses would end up being my next home.

Let me explain how that happened and what I learned from the experience.

The previous home I’d lived in was a 320m2 house on the hill with triple garaging, elevated decking and plenty of outdoor area and views for days. So this move was a literal downsize to almost a third of the size of my previous home. Due to a change in life circumstance - relationship separation - I was on the lookout for a new pad. Being from the UK I was used to terraced style housing - Kiwi translation ‘townhouses’ - so I asked my fellow business partners in Rosefern if I could buy the last remaining townhouse from my own company.

After negotiating with Scott and Paul in a jovial but serious jostle about how much I’d be paying for the privilidge of a my home, all was agreed and I moved my life from gargantuan floor plan on the hill, to small but perfectly formed in the city. The location is outstanding, it’s very central and within walking distance to the beautiful Hagley Park, the bars and restaurants of The Terrace (which can be dangerous on a sunny summers afternoon). And not to mention, a plethora of amazing eateries hwich seem to multiply on the weekly - my favourite lately is Tiny Door which has just opened and, what a great concept it is. It’s as described, a Tiny Door, in a wall, and behind it lies a commercial kitchen. Different restaurants ‘take over’ the kitchen so you are always treated to variety depending on the day and the time. Wonderful!  

Adapting to townhouse living and how it compared to a bigger home

One of my only concerns with townhouse living was the fact that I have dogs. Two beautiful rescue dogs from Oamaru Pound Paws (a great organisation btw) called Marty McFly and his sister Molly McFly - obligatory photo collage below, you’re welcome. These two had been used to having a large house and good sized garden to tear around causing untold chaos as they loved to do. How would they cope with the downsize? Well, they’re more adaptable than many humans and they now have a wide variety of coffee shops and dog-friendly pubs that allow pooches to come in with their owners - my favourite furry friendly bar of late is The Church - a stunning fit our from the team at Inkster Company - who are also the team behind OGB - which is a mere few hundred meters from the new town pad. Finally, regular trips to Church will be had, if only there was a confessional box in there...

Why townhouse living has drastically reduced my sausage consumption

Don’t get me wrong, I love a trip around Bunnings as much as the next guy. Go in for a pair of pliers, come out with enough supplies to set up a small woodworking shop in my garage - ahhh, those were the days.

But townhouse living is very, very easy.

The low maintenance aspect is something we market when promoting our new homes but it isn’t until you’ve actually experience it that you realise how much on a time recoup it actually is. I have NO grass. I have SmartGrass - about 6m2 for the dogs to do their business on. I have planter boxes with stones and easy care shrubs. I don’t own a lawnmower and I like it that way. It’s certainly a mindset shift but once you realise you don’t need to ‘do jobs around the house’ every second week - it liberates your weekends! Guilt-free Saturdays out with the dogs then off to football then out in the evening, not a line-trimmer or hedge cutter in sight from Friday to Sunday.

I’ve owned homes in the past that needed constant upkeep. My first home for example, a small do-er upper in Dallington, an 80m2 ex-state house on 800m2 of land. I ate many sausage sizzles when I owned that place, I may as well have worked at Bunnings in a red overall and green undershirt! But they say processed meat is bad for you...so townhouses for saving our health, woop woop!

Living in a townhouse can be a great lifestyle choice for many reasons. Here are my top 6 reasons why:

1. Location: Townhouses are often located close to ammenities, making it easy to access all that the area has to offer. You can easily walk or bike to restaurants, shops, cafes, and other entertainment options.
2. Low maintenance: Compared to larger homes, townhouses require a lot less maintenance as discussed above. This can be a great benefit for those who don't want to spend their weekends gardening or maintenance jobs.
3. Community: townhouses often have a strong sense of community and camaraderie among the residents. This can be especially beneficial for those who are new to an area or are looking to make new friends.
4. Security: Many central townhouses are located in gated communities or have security systems in place, providing an added layer of safety and security for residents - see our Hills Road development for clever use of a solar gate)
5. Affordability: Townhouses are often more affordable than larger homes in the same area, making them a great option for those who want entry level access without breaking the bank. The electricity bills aren’t horrifying either, they’re easily heated and modern trimmings like LED lighting means you pay less to run the home.
6. Investment potential: Because central townhouses are often located in desirable areas, they can be a great investment opportunity. As property values increase over time, so too can the value of your central townhouse.

Whats the long term plan with the townhouse

The beauty of living in an easy-care, low-maintenance home is that it transitions nicely to be an easy-care, low-maintenance rental property. I know I won’t live in my central city townhouse forever, but I really hope I own it forever as it’s a great place for tenants to enjoy easy living in too.  

I also see the upward trajectory that Christchurch is on - even without my rose(fern) tinted glasses on here - the city is undervalued currently and more cool stuff keeps popping up on a weekly/monthly basis. Not to mention the larger projects that are in the pipeline to be completed soon - the new Te Kaha, Metro Sports - and many more.

I mean, even the Anchor Projects are getting done. I do like what Antony Gough said about why they are called Anchor Projects - because they ‘slowly drag along and they’re hard to get out of the ground’!

I could go on and on about Christchurch’s growth here, but I won’t. However, if you do want to read me go ‘on and on’ please download our ebook ‘Christchurch Rising’ which should be titled - Ant; going on and on about Christchurch.

And for the future...?

We’re always trying to look around the corner in our business, it’s actual forced habit. We need a view on the future - without getting a crystal ball - to see where the next opportunity is. And it’s right here, in our city with international tourists and domestic migration both surging. I talk to a lot of people in town (they mainly want to pat Marty and Molly) and the volume of people coming to Christchurch is huge and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. This is what makes a city vibrant. A good mix of proud locals and transient passers-through who become cheerleaders for the city.

And, if you don’t believe me - follow this link - yes, that is David ‘The Hoff’ Hasselhoff in Christchurch city on the day of writing this post...we have finally made it Christchurch, the Hoff has been here!

Just imagine The Press headline as he hurdles down New Brighton pier to save a troubled surfer...