High Rise vs Low Rise: Compare & Contrast, Which option is more suitable?

"What's the difference between High Rise and Low Rise?", "Which is the more suitable option for me?". Chances are, if you are looking for a condo for you and/or your loved ones, these questions have popped up in your head more than a few times by now. Before buying your first condo, make sure you know the differences between these two types. With that said, today PropertyScout will walk you through the differences between these two options as well as which would be a more suitable option.

What are the differences between High Rise and Low Rise?

High Rise: A High Rise condo stands above 23m, which roughly translates to around 20 stories and above, and must be connected to the main road within 10m according to the law

Low Rise: A Low Rise stands anywhere less 23m, which roughly translates to at least 8-9 stories in most cases, depending on each developers' unit height and size.

The Location

A High Rise condo tends to be well-located within a prime area, is convenient when it comes to travel (such as being located nearby the skytrain system or other means of public transportation), and more people list out for rent or sale when compared to Low Rise condos.

Price

Being located considerably far away from the main road or additional public transportation, Low Rise condos are always substantially cheaper than High Rise condos, starting at 800,000 baht. However, there are some rare exceptions in which Low Rise condos have been more expensive than High Rise condos, depending on the developer's fame & reputation, or decorations used.

Common Area & Fees

As for High Rise condos, specifically Economy Class and Main to High Class, there are up to 400-1000 units. Despite the whole project not being completely filled with units, there are still enough that the juristic office could still effectively manage and accommodate a common area into the mix. Due to the amount of residents and the income collected through the residents, the common fees aren't exactly that high. However, also because of the amount of residents, there may be excessive crowding which may result in fighting over common area usage, especially elevators may not be sufficient particularly during rush hours. On the contrary, Low Rise condos, there may not be as much integration of common areas due to fewer units.

Privacy

Thanks to having fewer units and not being located nearby the main road, Low Rise condos may be a more suitable option for those seeking more privacy and peacefulness.

Safety

Whether it's High or Low Rise, safety is a top priority for any potential resident as accidents and emergencies can happen at any given point in time, such as fire hazards or natural disasters. It's considerably harder and longer to evacuate from a 20+ story High Rise building, especially if you happen to be staying higher up and the accident is downstairs, to which blockage or damage to the fire exit stairs is an alarming potential obstacle. Moreover, in case of a fire hazard, fire trucks can only reach as far upward as 11 stories and according to most accident records, High Rise condos are at greater risk while Low Rise condos are at lower risk due to height differences.

Potential Value

Putting various factors into consideration, including buying for investment, or listing out for sale and rent in the future, High Rise condos could make more profit than Low Rise condos due to being located within a main street and being surrounded by various amenities. As for Low Rise condos, prices don't tend to skyrocket instantly despite there being value increase every now and then, ultimately being more suitablle for residential purposes thanks to its great offering of peacefulness and privacy. This also makes Low Rise condos easier and quicker sell than High Rise condos.

If you have any questions regarding listing out your property for sale or rent, or if you are looking to buy or rent a property in general, please get in touch with us at PropertyScout. Our property consultant team will be very happy to help answer your questions and concerns.