Condo Living: Exploring the Highs and Lows of Condo Living
Are you grappling with the timeless question of which condo floor is the ultimate pick for your new abode? Selecting the perfect floor can be just as challenging as finding the ideal location, with an array of unit options offering various qualities and orientations in each building. Amidst all these choices, your budget often takes center stage, influencing your decision significantly. Luxury condos often come with a hefty price tag, driven by their exquisite design and features. Thus, the decision between a high-rise or low-rise floor entails careful consideration of factors such as elevation, unit positioning, room layouts, and internal functionalities.
In this all-encompassing blog post, PropertyScout is here to explore the advantages and disadvantages of living on higher or lower floors in a condo. We'll guide you through the process of making an informed decision, ensuring that your condo living experience is both delightful and fulfilling, while also being a sound investment for your future. Let's embark on this journey together to find the perfect condo floor that suits your needs and aspirations.
Higher Floors
The following are the various pros and cons with higher condo floors or at least mid-level condo floors.
Benefits
Unobstructed view of the surroundings
Living on the top floor of a condo offers a golden opportunity to indulge in breathtaking cityscapes or mesmerizing river views, day and night.
Better returns in Selling or Renting Out
High-rise condos with stunning views of rivers, gardens, or cityscapes become prime selling points for owners seeking to rent out their units. These picturesque vistas not only attract tenants easily but also promise excellent returns. Similarly, when it comes to future resale, top floors have a clear target audience, ensuring a faster and more lucrative market.
Close Proximity to Facilities
Opting for a top-floor condo in a development designed with elevated communal spaces, such as rooftop pools, fitness centers, and lush gardens, offers unmatched convenience, allowing you to exercise, swim, and unwind effortlessly.
Peacefulness
Choosing a ground-floor condo may expose you to noise pollution, like traffic sounds from nearby roads, especially if it's situated near bustling areas with shops, restaurants, bars, or even sizzling hotpot joints. The constant buzz can be a daily annoyance. However, opting for a higher-floor unit offers a serene haven, mostly shielded from such disturbances.
Better Ventilation
Top-floor condos are a breath of fresh air, quite literally! With fewer obstructions, the breeze flows freely, providing excellent ventilation when you open windows or balcony doors. Enjoy a refreshing and cooler indoor environment compared to other floors, thanks to the unhindered circulation.
Pest-Free
Living in a high-rise condo alleviates mosquito and insect concerns, as their presence is significantly reduced compared to lower floors. This allows you to open balcony doors or windows with peace of mind, enjoying fresh air and breathtaking views without worrying about pesky intruders.
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Drawbacks
Heat
Typically, this issue arises mostly with condos on the highest floors before reaching the rooftop. As the units receive sunlight through the walls, they also get indirect sunlight from the upper ceilings during noon and afternoon hours.
Water Leakage
There is a possibility of encountering water leakage from the rooftop, especially during rainy periods, or in units located beneath common areas like swimming pools.
Concerns regarding Safety and Evacuation in case of a fire or earthquake
For potential buyers eyeing top-floor condos, safety during fire incidents or earthquakes is a valid concern. However, there is a level of assurance due to building regulations that enforce fire escape stairways. Before purchasing a high-rise unit, it's essential to inspect the building's layout and confirm the presence and proximity of fire escape routes to the desired rooms.
Dodgy Mobile Signal
Phone signals often come from high towers with signals radiating downward in a cone shape to the ground. However, this setup may result in weaker reception for high-rise units or those on the opposite side of the tower.
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High Price Point
Top-floor condos are often priced higher than units on the floors below, as mentioned in the advantages section, due to their breathtaking views and increased privacy. Moreover, in some projects, developers design common areas on the top floor, further enhancing the appeal of these high-rise dwellings.
Lower Floors
Many people might assume that choosing a top-floor condo is superior and that lower floors come with significant drawbacks. However, in reality, living on a lower floor also has its fair share of advantages. Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons before making a well-informed decision, which are as follows:
Benefits
- Convenience in entering and exiting the building.
- You don't have to stand around waiting for the elevator and you can just enter your unit right away.
- Convenience in carrying large items, cleaning out garbage, or hanging clothes.
- Creates a sense of homey atmosphere akin to living in a townhouse or house.
- Embrace the touch of nature with surrounding gardens.
- Easy exit in case of an emergency.
- 20-30% the cost of the sales price.
Convenient entrance and exit
Even though you may lack the stunning views of higher floors, living on a lower floor offers the convenience of easy access to and from the building. You won't have to tire yourself climbing stairs, nor waste time waiting for elevators. Additionally, you'll be closer to parking areas, making it convenient for remodeling or moving furniture within the unit.
Cheaper than units located on higher floors
Ideal for budget-conscious buyers, as lower-floor condos typically come at a more affordable price, approximately 20-30% lower than their higher-floor counterparts in every project.
Reduced risk in contamination or infections
Living on a lower floor reduces the risk of exposure to contagious diseases, as there is less reliance on elevators shared with fewer people. This minimizes the chances of coming into contact with a large number of individuals.
A sense of homey atmosphere like a house or townhouse
Living on a lower floor provides a homely ambiance, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere. Enjoy the ground-level view akin to a house, creating a sense of connection with nature through surrounding gardens.
Safety
Living on a lower floor at a condo allows you to escape quicker and easier in case of an emergency, such as a fire or an earthquake.
Drawbacks
Less Privacy
Because there will be residents from the entire project passing through, in many projects, the surrounding areas of lower floors are designed as communal spaces accessible to everyone in the development. If the division of functions within the building is not well-planned, residents from the entire project may traverse through these areas.
Discomfort from pests
Living on lower condo floors makes you more prone to pests such as mosquitos and other insects, due to living near the road and the garden.
Some safety concerns
Living on lower condo floors also means you are more prone to thieves or burglars breaking in through your balcony and windows because it is not totally out of the burglar or thief's area of reach.
Lack of stunning views
It's common for lower condo floors to have obstructed views due to surrounding buildings, which can also result in reduced sunlight exposure. This may lead to challenges in drying clothes. If you choose to live on a lower floor, consider installing a clothes dryer in your unit for convenience.
Why Views Matter when Choosing a Condo Floor?
Views play a crucial role, and it aligns with the orientation of the room. Suppose you select a unit with your desired orientation, and, let's say, the east side of the project has obstructed views due to neighboring buildings hugging closely. However, the west side has an unobstructed city view, providing more sunlight exposure. Despite the west side being warmer, it remains a better choice due to the stunning view and ample sunlight. It's still preferable to a room facing the windows of adjacent buildings.
As for heat concerns, you can address them by installing sunshades on the balcony or opting for specially designed sun-blocking curtains or window films. Now let's explore what views you may have if you choose a unit without obstructions.
Garden or Common Area Views
When selecting a condo floor, consider opting for a view of the garden or common area instead of relying solely on external views. This view is typically available from mid-level floors, such as around the 5th or 6th floor, in a 20-story building. Choosing a condo floor with this view may come at a relatively higher price in low-rise condo projects. However, in high-rise condos, it may not be significantly more expensive, as the crucial advantage of a common area view remains consistent throughout the development.
Striking Cityscape and Skyscraper Views
This view captures the essence of the cityscape, featuring a panoramic outlook of the city and its majestic skyscrapers both during the day and illuminated by city lights at night. The beauty of this view depends on the condo's location and the side of the city it faces. For a condo situated in the heart of the city, the higher the floor, the wider the view, and the more spacious and unobstructed the panorama becomes. Choosing a higher floor within a high-rise condo allows for a sense of openness, as neighboring buildings at the same height are fewer, providing a luxurious, airy ambiance. However, it is important to note that the higher the floor, the higher the price tag, making it an undeniable factor to consider.
Suburb Views
The charm of this view is often seen from condos located on the outskirts of the city or near expanding public transportation lines. It offers a glimpse of the city from the outside, where high-rise buildings are less prominent, and you can still observe low-rise residential houses or even some green spaces. While it may lack the grandeur of cityscapes, the advantage lies in the tranquility and unobstructed openness of the surroundings. During nighttime, the view may be slightly darker, but with higher floors, the difference becomes less noticeable, as the sense of spaciousness prevails. Opting for a higher floor in such condos ensures an expansive, soothing view that brings a sense of comfort.
Natural Views
This view captivates with its natural beauty, offering enchanting scenes like lush public gardens or picturesque riversides. It stands as a unique selling point, appealing to those seeking tranquility and harmony with nature. When selecting a condo floor, it becomes essential to carefully consider the view it presents. For instance, a river view may require an optimal floor height that captures the graceful curves of the water without being too high or too low. On the other hand, if the condo overlooks a public garden, opting for a moderately high floor, say around the 10th level, allows for a delightful perspective that enhances the beauty of the green surroundings.
Blended Views
The allure of mixed views can be truly captivating when choosing the perfect condo floor. Imagine a unit that offers both the serene sight of a glistening swimming pool and the expansive cityscape in one glance. This combination creates a unique and visually appealing experience that is highly sought after. While such a view is undeniably stunning, it comes with the understanding that its exclusivity comes with a higher price tag. However, for those seeking a remarkable blend of natural and urban beauty, this choice is well worth it.
So, which would you prefer?
As we've explored the various aspects of choosing a condo floor, we've come to realize that it's just one piece of the puzzle in making a decision. The real key lies in our individual preferences – what truly resonates with our lifestyle and desires. This article serves as a valuable reference for everyone embarking on their condo-buying journey. Remember, it's all about finding that perfect balance between the pros and cons, aligning with what truly speaks to us. What suits one person may not be the ideal fit for another. So, keep your eyes peeled for more captivating content coming your way soon! Happy condo hunting!
Looking for an excellently-located condo with captivating views of your surroundings? Let PropertyScout help you make your dream haven a reality today!
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