A townhouse or town home is an architectural design, not a form of ownership. A townhouse can be a condominium or an apartment. Townhouses are built in rows. They are not stacked one upon another. Often, but not always, the first level includes a private garage and then one or two levels of living space are constructed above. Townhouses may also be built above a common parking garage, but again, the units are built in rows, and are not stacked one above the other. A condominium is a form of ownership and a type of common interest development. Condominiums can be stacked, townhouse style, or detached homes. Many people prefer townhouses because they have no neighbors above or below, only side to side.

Planned Developments

A planned development (PD) is a type of common-interest development defined by the Davis-Stirling Act. Some governing documents use the term "planned unit development" (PUD) which is the term used by the California Department of Real Estate. They both mean the same thing. The Davis-Stirling Act defines "Planned development" as a real property development, having either or both of the following features: (1) Common area that is owned either by an association or in common by the owners of the separate interests who possess appurtenant rights to the beneficial use and enjoyment of the common area, and (2) Common area and an association that maintains the common area with the power to levy assessments that may become a lien upon the separate interests. Unless the CC&Rs otherwise provide, the common area is owned by the owners as tenants in common, in equal shares. In a planned development, members own a lot (described on act map) and some or all of the improvements on the lot. Common areas will often include private streets, greenbelts, gates, and perimeter fencing.

Community Associations - Names

Loft - Live Work Projects

Master Planned Communities - Master Associations