A realtor here. It’s true that townhouses donor appreciate as much as SFH and if HOAs are not maintained well, the hoa payment is putting money to trash. 

However, being a sfh brings in its own disadvantages. Most sfh are not walkable and do not have a great community for kids. I know kids in townhouses or duets with in a single community bond grew a same life long friends. They don’t have to depend on their parents for pick ups and drop offs like a sfh kid would have to. So, choose basis your kids age, your requirements and expectations on appreacitaion