Author: NN

Due to the boom in demand for properties in urban areas and a scarcity of land, real estate developers and municipal authorities have focused on expanding upward by creating apartment buildings/strata where common areas are shared by all owners. For homebuyers, choosing a property type (apartment or house) can be confusing. However, the apartment option may be the best for first-time homeowners for several reasons.

Benefits of apartments

• Low maintenance of the property as the common areas of the corridors, stairs, elevators, gardens and parking lot are all maintained by a company or individual hired by the strata committee. If there's a problem with pipes, residents only need to call the property manager to have them fixed.

• Shared amenities in apartment buildings give residents access to facilities such as gyms, pools and laundry rooms. Residents can save time and money by not leaving the complex to use an external gym or laundromat.

• Living in an apartment building gives a sense of security to residents that a house could not . A shared security system with electronic gate, cameras and security guards are all features of a multi-unit building that keeps residents safe. Residents are usually given buzzers or keycards to gain access inside the building. The close proximity of neighbors also offers peace of mind in case something happens.

• Apartments are usually located in prime locations close to amenities such as schools, hospitals, clubs , supermarkets. Public transportation is usually easy to find and residents can get personal services done and return home in minutes.

Compared to a house, an apartment allows the homeowner to focus on living in the home rather than the maintenance of the building. Living in a house, by contrast, will require regular cleaning, landscaping, and some painting every 5 years or so. Owners of a house may also need to build fencing to secure their property and install cameras and alarms for their own security. For the professional who would rather go home and relax without thinking about gardening or sweeping the driveway, an apartment may be the best option for getting on the property ladder.