House or apartment? This question has remained acute for residents of megacities for many years. In order to determine what is best for yourself, it is worth "walking" the pros and cons of these types of housing.
Recalling history, the first apartment buildings were built in ancient Rome around the 3rd century BC. The brick houses, which were called "insuls", had from 2 to 5 floors. On the first floors there were shops and apartments of the Romans with high incomes. The upper floors were reserved for the poor people of the city. All communications and kitchens were only on the first floors, so residents from 2nd to 5th were forced to use public toilets. Now we can see only fragments of such "insuls", and most of the information is taken from documents and texts that have survived from that time.
Apartment buildings continued to develop in the 19th century. During the industrial revolution, they reached the form that we see now. At that time, apartments in buildings with 3-5 floors were rich and spacious. They had dressing rooms, offices, rooms for servants. Of course, only the wealthy strata of the population in large European cities could afford such a housing option. The entire house belonged to one owner, and apartments were often rented out. In the Soviet Union, after the October Revolution, luxurious apartments turned into ordinary communal apartments. Thus, the Soviet government tried to solve the problem of housing shortages.
So, let's consider the factors that can influence your choice of “house or apartment”.
The first thing everyone who prepares to buy a home pays attention to is the price. This parameter, both in private houses and in apartments, depends on certain factors:
Location Whether you want to live in the heart of the city or on the outskirts.
Infrastructure. Is it important for you to have schools, kindergartens, grocery stores, etc. nearby?
Property type (secondary or primary)
Building quality
For example, if we talk about Kiev, then here a plot of 6 acres and a house with an average area will cost about 300 thousand dollars. This is the price of a good 3-room apartment near the city center. You need to understand that private sectors are usually located in the outskirts, where there can be problems with infrastructure. If you want a house, for example, in Pechersk, get ready for a price of several million dollars.
The second factor is service. In addition to the fact that the house may be larger than the apartment in area, in addition to it is the adjacent territory. All the functions that the housing office undertakes in the case of an apartment: cleaning the territory, sewerage, heating, etc., becomes an additional item of expense and effort on your part.
Safety. Speaking of a large private house, it is worth remembering that a considerable amount of funds will be required to protect it: security systems, sensors, a high fence and even a few guard dogs - all this costs money.
If you do not want to enclose your house with a high fence, preferring free space - safety in such cases is in question.
As for the apartment, it is easier to protect the place where you can get, most often, only through one door, by installing an alarm. Apartments on the first floors are in a greater risk zone, because you can get there through the windows. However, modern security systems can be installed anywhere in the house.
An undoubted plus to the safety of the apartment is the fact that in any dangerous situation there are always people around who can frighten off thieves or call the police.
When buying an apartment, pay attention to its area. Often a pleasant price can hide unpleasant details behind it: the area can be dangerous, with a crime situation.
In this case, a private house has an undoubted advantage. A house that is not even located in an elite village is devoid of the risk of getting into trouble - there is always an opportunity to isolate oneself from strangers.
One of the most important advantages of a private house is the realization of all your wishes, architectural and design. Turning to a good architect for the services, you can arrange your home the way you want it. Layout, interior, exterior, landscape design - all this will look the way you want. The only thing that can hold you back is the financial issue.
An apartment building in this regard fetters your fantasies. In the apartment, you can change the layout only slightly, as far as the norms allow. The exterior of the building, the adjacent territory - you have nothing to do with a radical change in these elements of your home. However, nothing prevents you from making the space around you cozy and comfortable. You can team up with your neighbors and turn a boring staircase into a real paradise.
Another important selection parameter is the view from the window. Here you should be based purely on your preferences: cityscapes or nature.
In the apartments, panoramic views of the city are possible only in some areas and only on the upper floors. Rare nature and gray high-rise buildings - most likely such a view from the window is waiting for you in the apartment.
A private house is also not always a view of the sea or a green forest, but you will not observe faceless tall houses outside the window.
Dates. In order to live in your private house you will have to wait a couple of years. Choose a site, find an architect, approve a project, decide on an interior. With an apartment, everything is much faster: you decide on the area, the process of buying and selling is a couple of months and, in general, you can move in.
The main disadvantage of the apartment is the lack of sound insulation. Everything that happens with your neighbors is heard at home. You can install sealed windows and soundproof the walls, but this will not help completely get rid of the noise problem.
In a private house, you can enjoy peace and quiet.
Location and infrastructure, as already mentioned above, also affects your choice. If you are used to living in a city where all retail outlets and entertainment centers are within walking distance, have resigned yourself to the noise of neighbors and dependence on electricity and water supply channels, then an apartment is an option for you.
Living in a country house does not have the same disadvantages as an apartment. You can enjoy the silence and nature. However, the distance to hospitals, schools, shopping centers is increasing significantly. In addition to spending more time on the trip, there will also be a waste of gas for the car.
The choice “house or apartment” is difficult, but after weighing the pros and cons, listening to your needs, it can be successfully made.
