Mid Rise Apartments | Pros & Cons, And Comparison with High Rise Apartments?

By: ROS Team

You are hunting for an apartment but having trouble deciding which apartment to choose, and your search is made even more challenging by unfamiliar terms like mid-rise and high-rise apartments. We have prepared a short guide about mid-rise apartments and their benefits over high-rise apartments.

Mid Rise Apartments

Mid-rise apartments have at least four floors and no more than 12 floors. There are mid-rise condos in nearly every major city in the U.S. They are usually located in metro areas where real estate is expensive, but high-rise buildings are not allowed. Since the building has at least four floors, most buildings also have an elevator, and many have private balconies.

Advantages of Mid Rise Apartments

• Better views of the city;
• Most buildings have the added convenience of having retail shops located on the ground floor;
• Elevators are available in addition to stairs;
• Most mid-rise buildings include a central courtyard and other amenities like a swimming pool and private balconies, which enhance the aesthetics; and
• Most buildings offer garage or covered parking.

Disadvantages of Mid Rise Apartments

• Living in mid-rise apartments leaves you with less privacy. Though, it may also give you a chance to make new friends.
• Families with young children usually prefer to live in mid-rise apartments, so you are likely to hear plenty of echoes. Brace yourself for a lot of noise.
• Living in a mid-rise apartment is comparatively less secure than high-rise apartments. Mid-rise buildings are more open to strangers. Make sure security in the area is tight.

High Rise Apartments

A high-rise building typically has more than 12 floors, although the floor levels may vary by city.

Advantages of High Rise Apartments

• Great views of the city, especially the Manhattan skyline;
• High-rise apartments get more natural light;
• Shorter commutes since most high-rise apartment buildings are located in the city’s center;
• High-rise apartments are often more secure;
• High-rise apartments always have elevators; and
• Most high-rises have furnished apartments available.

Disadvantages of High Rise Apartments

• If any of your family members have any disability, living in a high-rise building can be very challenging. It becomes harder if the building is not equipped for people with special needs.
• Emergencies come uninvited, and you never know when you might have to evacuate the apartment like a fire drill or fire cut, etc. Running down 20 or more flights of stairs can be highly inconvenient.
• Living in a high-rise building detaches you from street life. It reduces the chances of encountering other people and may sometimes lead to isolation and depression.
• It costs high to build high-rise buildings; thus, high-rise apartments are sold at a premium. Therefore, developers charge higher rent for high-rise buildings.

Which Floor Should You Live On

We’ve shared the advantages of both mid-rise buildings and high-rise buildings. However, some of the benefits may become disadvantages depending on which floor you live on. For example, someone living on the ground floor in a high-rise building won’t have the same stunning views of the city as someone living in an apartment on the 30th floor of a high-rise building. Additionally, you are likely to have more privacy, less noise, and cleaner air than a mid-rise apartment in a high-rise building.

Mid Rise VS High Rise Apartments: Home Buying Tips

Before you decide to invest in one of those high-rise or low rise developments, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• First thing first, take into consideration the need of your family and your priorities
• Get to know how old the building is. You can guess a lot that what you may expect in an apartment by the age of the building.
• When you visit the apartment, ensure that there is proper ventilation in the building.
• Survey in the surrounding and, if possible, talk with the building residents to find out about the builder’s reputation.
• When you finalize the location and building, also get to know about the development plans for the neighborhood.
• Pay close attention to the layouts
• If possible, try to avoid the ground floor and the topmost floor, regardless of whether the building is mid-rise or high-rise.
• Conventionally, lower floors are considered unsafe because they are easily accessible. If you keen on living in a mid-rise apartment, examine the security arrangements in the surrounding.
• Lower floors don’t offer much privacy, especially if the building is in a busy area. If privacy is your primary concern, the higher floor is likely to be quieter and more private.
• If you choose to buy on the high floor, examine the fire safety system of the building.
• Ideally, there should be a minimum of two lifts in each building, and there should also be stair access.
• Lower apartments are generally cooler than higher apartments; thus, they consume less electricity. Buying a low-rise apartment is likely to reduce your utility bill.
• If you aim to buy for investment purposes, of course, higher apartments fetch bigger rents, but the rate of occupancy is better in low-rise apartments. If you are buying in a competitive market like NYC, occupancy would not be that big a problem.

Having said it all, it always goes in your best interests to enlighten yourself with every aspect properly before buying an apartment.

FAQs

What does a Midrise Apartment Cost?

In the United States, the cost of a mid-rise apartment can range from around $1,000 to $3,000 per month, with the average being around $1,500 to $2,000 per month. However, this can vary greatly depending on the city and neighborhood.

What do High Rise Apartments Cost?

In the United States, the cost of a high-rise apartment can range from around $2,500 to $10,000 or more per month, with the average being around $4,000 to $6,000 per month.

What makes a Building a Midrise?

There is no universal definition of a mid-rise building, but it generally refers to buildings with between five and ten stories.

How many Floors is Mid Rise?

As a general guideline, mid-rise buildings typically have between five and ten floors.

What are the Types of Midrise Apartments?

Here are some common types of mid-rise apartments: Luxury mid-rise apartments, loft-style mid-rise apartments, mixed-use mid-rise apartments, Senior mid-rise apartments, affordable mid-rise apartments, student mid-rise apartments, and co-living mid-rise apartments

Is Living in a High Rise Worth It?

Whether living in a high-rise is worth it or not depends on your personal preferences and priorities.

Does Living on a High Floor Affect your Health?

Living on a high floor in a high-rise building is generally not harmful to your health.

Are High-Rise Apartments Safe?

High-rise apartments can be safe, but safety largely depends on various factors such as building design, maintenance, security measures, and resident behavior.

Final Thoughts

Census data suggest that the population of large U.S. cities is getting denser.  Over the next few years, apartment buildings will reach even higher into the heavens. Whether you have a front-row seat to the stars will be up to you.

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