Highrise vs. Midrise (Duluth, White: apartment, HOA, lofts)

[MizterKewl]

I am thinking about buying a condo. Do you think a highrise or a midrise has the best resale value?

[testa50]

What do you mean by 'midrise'?

Are you talking about something steel/concrete-built, and cool and hip like MidCity Lofts? Or something stick-built that wouldn't be out of place in Duluth like Peachtree Walk Condominium? (Not sure if that exact development is stick-built, but you know what I mean.)

If by midrise you mean the latter, I would definitely go with a highrise. There aren't a huge number of newer midrise condos in this city that I find spectacular (although a lot of older ones are awesome).

[ATLTJL]

I think that whether the building is high rise or midrise is rather insignificant.

The more important issues are going to be location, amenities, floorplan, etc. The only differential I can think of that could make a difference in otherwise comparable buildings is view. Obviously, highrises are going to have some higher floors available which may provide better views and add some value to the property.

Aside from that, it's all personal preference.

[waronxmas]

To me, the only real difference between a highrise (8 stories+) and midrise (8 stories max) is the time to get to the unit on the elevator. In a well occupied highrise, it can take forever in the morning or after work to go up or down. In a midrise, you can easily take the stairs. Really it comes down to personal preference. Personally I am a little claustrophobic, so I couldnt see myself stuck on a elevator for long periods of time every day.

[MizterKewl]

i'm kind of comparing Element vs Twelve AS...I probably will look at other condos as well though...

[NTATL]

I recently purchased a condo and was looking at several different properties, including the Twelve (both downtown and AS) and the Element. I ended up going with a different midrise building that I thought had more character, and thus, (hopefully) will help with resale.

My feelings were that the Twelve properties are too similar to other properties such as the Metropolis, Spire, Viewpoint, Plaza, etc...when it comes to resale, not only are you competing with other units in your building, you are competing with other similar properties. The Element was too much like apartment living for me, the construction didn't impress me at all. You could feel the floor bouncing when you walk on it.

I like the location of the Twelve AS and the Element, though it could get annoying with all that traffic. The parking deck at Atlantic Station is a nightmare to navigate, especially on weekend nights.

At the end of the day, it all depends on your preferences. I chose to go with my building and I couldn't be happier.

[George Chong]

Like everyone has stated - it's all about personal preference. Some just adore a penthouse view

Originally Posted by NTATL

I recently purchased a condo and was looking at several different properties, including the Twelve (both downtown and AS) and the Element. I ended up going with a different midrise building that I thought had more character, and thus, (hopefully) will help with resale.

I think that with resale, one does have a better chance in a mid-rise to have better resale because there is just less competition involved. Most high-rises are built in stacks. So a the unit below and above you is the same floor plan. What will distinguish you from the unit below you other than being on a higher floor? In a high-rise, the higher the floor is the best in my opinion too unless you have an obstructed view.

[Atlanta-Kid]

A highrise condo is Something like the SOveirgn or peachtree mansion, a mid rise is like a 8 story loft. Highrises are more expensive, If you speak buck head, but are probably the best to live in.

[Columbuskidd92]

midrise for sure.

[K-SawDude]

I'm a bit biased because I chose something more Midrise-ish for myself (White Provision, which has one tower with 9 stories but is still fairly small overall). While I liked aspects of the highrises when I was shopping around, I underestimated a lot of the benefits of a smaller building. You have amenities, and you have neighbors that you'll actually have a better chance of getting to know. People in my building have said that there's more potential for a "community" feel in a midrise than in a highrise, though I'm sure different buildings have really different characters. In any case, I feel stronger about our HOA going forward because we've had a better chance to get to know one another. (And you want a strong, functioning HOA.)

In terms of resell, the posters above make very good points about competition. Wherever you buy, try not to buy a unit that looks identical to a billion other units in the city.