[brianl703]

Even an attached single-family home (townhouse) doesn't require $500 maintenance fees, negotiations with building managers or co-owners if it's not a condo (most around here are not).

Negotiating with the HOA might be a different story, but that can affect detached single family homes too.

[umgud]

Where I live, you can still buy a 1,500 sf single family home w/attached garage for less than $125,000. I wouldn't be a city slicker, even if I could afford it. I even have enough room to have a pool and park a semi-truck and trailer beside my house (even though I don't have one).

[TheMole]

Even an attached single-family home (townhouse) doesn't require $500 maintenance fees, negotiations with building managers or co-owners if it's not a condo (most around here are not).

I don't understand what you're trying to say. Here's the data directly from the real estate listings in the story itself:

140 W. 69th St.
Square feet: 250
Price: $139,000
Maintenance: $505 a month

113½ W. 15th St.
Square feet: 220
Price: $130,000
Maintenance: $433 a month

Whether or not the buildings are structured as condominiums, these are non-negotiable fees that are not part of the mortgage and must be paid.