janie -- really late so I haven't read all the thread but here speaks a realtor!!!

A town house and a condominium are two totally different things. A condominium is a form of ownership. A condominium can be a free standing house, a town house, a unit in a high rise -- anything you can think of. The issue is that you own your space and the common areas are owned and managed in common with many others. You own from your four walls in and the Association owns outside the walls. In all honesty, I don't see you as a condo person. You are regulated by a series of rules and regs when you live in a condo from the minor (don't park junk cars outside your house ) to the more serious ( you are not allowed to have pets -- even quiet innocuous cats).

And you can own a town house or a flat in a large building or whatever, and NOT be part of a condo association -- you can own it as your own personal home and to hell with the neighbors. I suspect you would not enjoy condo living.

There are some plusses -- your monthly fees take care of the outside maintenance of the building, snow plowing -- boring stuff like that. But if you buy a very small house you may save money (no condo fees) and there are always hungry teenagers who will plow out your car for you........

I'm working on finding you a realtor in your area that you would feel comfortable with........give me a few days. DON'T RUSH THIS .....it is a big decision. PM if you want to talk