The name “patio home” suggests that you’re probably buying a home with a patio. However, that’s not actually what the term means. They were first popularized in the 1970s, and are also sometimes called garden or cluster homes. What the term refers to is a compact single-family home built on “zero lot lines,” which means they sit right up against the edge of other properties, often sharing at least one wall with a neighbor.
Because they often share walls with a neighbor, it can easy to confuse them with condos or townhouses. They are significantly different from condos in that condos only sell you the interior unit, leaving the land in the hands of a joint association. If you own a patio home, you also own the land, albeit there typically isn’t much. The primary difference between a patio home and a townhouse is that townhouses stretch vertically across two or three stories, while patio homes feature single-level layouts. It’s also possible for patio homes to be detached, while townhouses are always attached.
Patio homes are often good choices for first-time buyers or people who want to downsize. They offer accessible open-concept floor plans, usually with two or three bedrooms all on one floor. In addition, they are often located in planned communities with shared amenities like pools or clubhouses and offer you the chance for independent homeownership with minimal yard work.