Living in a city apartment can be a lot of fun, offering an enjoyable lifestyle without the suburban drudgery of peak-hour traffic or the maintenance hassles of your average family home.
Entry-level prices are lower than houses as a rule because an apartment or condo doesn’t come with a land component even though they’re often in a better location. This means they are usually more affordable than an equivalent house whether you’re looking to buy your first property or cruising the luxury end of the market.
A host of studies suggest those who live in apartments have a more enjoyable experience of their neighborhood than house owners.
They also tend to be healthier and more socially engaged (possibly because they don’t spend their weekend mowing lawns and cleaning gutters).
As an experienced agent, there’s no doubt in my mind that location plays a critical influencing factor in why my clients love urban living. Being closer to schools, shops, cafes and restaurants adds significantly to the enjoyment of living in our neighborhood.
If you’re thinking of buying an apartment or condo – either as your first property or an upsize or a downsize move –I can show you some of the fantastic opportunities available.
In the meantime, here’s the seven benefits of choosing an urban lifestyle.
- Price is right – It’s not just about the cost per square foot that’s attractive with an apartment. You should never forget the fantastic locations and amenities that come with many apartment blocks – and that adds value to your lifestyle.
- Convenience – Few apartment blocks are built these days without consideration of the impact on traffic. This means local authorities will often add bus routes to cope with the additional demand. That’s great news for you, as it could even lower the cost of maintaining your car.
- Lifestyle choice – After affordability, the most influential factor in buying a property should be lifestyle. Apartments are perfect for those who love social life and enjoy urban surroundings that offer entertainment, cultural events, museums and galleries.
- Resort life – Many modern apartments in the mid- to top-tiers of the market come with fantastic facilities, such as a swimming pool, security, a gym and well-maintained gardens. Of course, you’ll share the cost of maintaining these facilities with other residents, but these are luxuries few of us could afford if we wanted a house.
- My time – Owning a house is awesome, but it comes with a lot of work. There’s always something that needs doing, whether it’s mowing the lawn, clipping hedges or general DIY maintenance. With an apartment, this is done for you, and that means you spend more of your time as you wish.
- Lower bills – Living in an apartment significantly reduces your energy bills and taxes, giving you more spending power.
- It’s green – Apartments are more environmentally-friendly than houses and reduce urban sprawl and all its problems, such as traffic-related pollution.