PROPERTY GURU. 17TH MAY: High-rise or low-rise? Weigh these factors before you decide.
If you’re considering buying a home, you’re probably looking at factors like price, location, and/or developer before you decide to purchase. One thing you should also consider is whether you’ll be more suitable for high-rise or low-rise living.
Whether it’s for short-term or long-term living, many people tend to prefer high-rise condos because they are well-maintained, packed with facilities, and highly secure. Choosing a condo over other types of housing seems like a no-brainer, but living in a low-rise residence offers advantages too.
We recommend taking the following aspects into account when deciding between a high-rise and a low-rise.
Convenience: Low-rise has easier street access but there’s a caveat
Residents in low-rise apartments don’t have to use the elevator when getting out of their houses. And because low-rise apartments are closer to the street, it’s easier for residents to go to the office, school, store, park, and other places.
The downside is that many low-rise apartments tend to have busier hallways or corridors, especially those that don’t have elevators. In addition, units tend to be prone to flooding-related damages. On the other hand, living in a high-rise residential building may require residents to use the elevator to go anywhere, but it offers convenience in many other ways.
For example, high-rise serviced apartments have fully equipped units, complete sets of homewares, and other conveniences you can imagine. These and other comforts await in a property like Conlay (Winner, Best Luxury High Rise Development – Central) by Eastern & Oriental Berhad.
Future residents of the luxury development will enjoy an array of home comforts, including built-in cabinets, his-and-hers bathrooms with branded fittings, 24-hour concierge, and housekeeping services. And because it’s located in the city centre, going to retail and other establishments will be a breeze.
Availability of amenities: More residents, more facilities
Low-rise apartments typically have plenty of amenities like a clubhouse, jogging tracks, children’s playground, nature trails, and paths to nearby gardens and other green spaces. But there’s no shortage of high-rise serviced apartments and condos that offer these same facilities. Many high-rises are designed with a specific type of residents in mind: those who want unbridled access to facilities like a fitness centre, swimming pool, children’s playground, and gardens.
Vierra Residence (Winner, Best Value High Rise Development) by Fajarbaru Builder Group Berhad will offer homeowners quality modern living spaces plus access to several amenities, such as children’s playgrounds, fitness stations, sports facilities, barbecue pavilions, infinity pool, and more. The condo development’s green open spaces, eco-design, energy-efficient features, and LRT links will delight families and young professionals alike.
Security: High-rise, high level of security
Living in a low-rise apartment means you have fewer neighbours as compared to living in a skyscraper. It can also be a lot easier to socialize due to the generally more intimate environment, and it’s quieter too. But while low-rise apartments can have security features, ground or first-floor units tend to be accessible to trespassers.
On the other hand, high-rise condos offer much tighter security, and if you live in a unit on the upper floors, you can enjoy greater privacy. UDA Holdings Berhad’s 38 Bangsar Residensi (Winner, Best Secure High Rise Development) is a serviced apartment that takes security seriously. In this high-rise development, CCTVs will be installed in all areas, including the lobby, common areas, lifts, and parking areas to cover literally all grounds.
Unit owners will have access cards for entry to their units while visitors will be monitored digitally via a community app that unit owners can use. All vehicles will have Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) access to make for a secure yet smooth entry.
Views: Scenery like no other
If you want to live somewhere with sweeping views of the city, or just views of the street, living in a low-rise might get you down. Granted, living in a high-rise condo does not guarantee that your unit will have majestic views — it depends on the unit. But you are at least guaranteed to have more than just a view of the street.
Living in a residence like Gabungan AQRS Berhad’s E’Island Lake Haven (Winner, Best Waterfront High Rise Development) should, however, give you more than a handful of choices. The development has 3-bedroom units with spectacular 360-degree lakefront views, guaranteeing enviable views in Puchong no matter the time of day.
This property also offers numerous amenities for residents. There’s quick access to in-house facilities like a fitness centre, waterfront jogging and cycle tracks, sports court, playground, and nursery school.
Access to nature: Greener high-rises
If you live in a low-rise apartment, it’s undoubtedly quicker and easier to go a garden or park. You might even prefer a low-rise precisely for that reason. But many high-rise residences today are designed to satisfy residents’ need to be surrounded by nature. One such development is Parc 3 (Winner, Best Lifestyle High-Rise Development). Eupe Corporation Berhad’s development has three parks, namely, the wellness-centred Central Park, the youth-targeted Sky Park, and the serene Moonlight Deck.
It is close to Taman Pudu Ulu, a greenery park a few steps away from the nature-inspired serviced apartments. Parc 3 and similar properties are proof that park living is possible in a high-rise.
Affordability: High-rise, low price
One of the reasons high-rise apartments and condos are popular among young property buyers is the affordable units. In addition, those who live in condominiums pay relatively lower electricity bills because many condos have good insulation. Living in an energy-efficient residential building helps you save on energy, which helps cut down power bills.
Property buyers looking for value for money should consider a development like Residensi Bintawa Riverfront (Winner, Best Value Waterfront High Rise Development) by Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia. The group is committed to developing affordable housing, and its soon-to-rise riverfront property in Kuching will attract those who are looking for high-rise living in spacious two- or three-bedroom units, riverside communal features, and bang for the buck.