If you love convenience and access to local hot spots, exploring the different styles of condos might lead you to your perfect home. A condo is a privately owned unit within a larger multi-unit community. A few advantages to living in a condo include low-maintenance living and awesome on-site amenities. Before moving into a condo, it's important to understand the difference between the Nashville high-rise condos, mid-rise condos and low-rise condos. Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of each style of condo and decide which one is right for you.

High-Rise vs Low-Rise vs Mid-Rise Buildings

What Is a High-Rise Condo?

A high-rise condo is a residential building that typically stands several stories tall, often exceeding 10 floors, and consists of individually owned units. These condos offer urban living with shared amenities such as fitness centers, pools, and security services, which are managed by a homeowners' association. High-rise condos are commonly found in city centers or densely populated areas, providing residents with the convenience of being close to work, shopping, dining, and entertainment. They are known for their impressive views, modern design, and a lifestyle that combines privacy with community living, as residents own their individual units but share common spaces and facilities.

What Is a Low-Rise Condo?

A low-rise condo is a residential building with a smaller number of floors, typically between one and four stories. These condos are often found in suburban or less densely populated urban areas, offering a more intimate and quieter living environment compared to high-rise buildings. Low-rise condos usually have fewer units, which can lead to a stronger sense of community among residents. They may include shared amenities like parking, small gyms, or courtyards, but often on a more modest scale than high-rise condos. The design of low-rise condos often blends more seamlessly with surrounding residential neighborhoods, providing a balance between condo living and the feel of a traditional home.

What Is a Mid-Rise Condo?

A mid-rise condo is a residential building that typically ranges from five to nine stories, positioned between low-rise and high-rise buildings in terms of height and scale. These condos are commonly found in urban and suburban areas where there is a demand for higher-density living without the towering presence of a high-rise. Mid-rise condos offer a balance of convenience and community, often featuring shared amenities like gyms, lounges, and sometimes rooftop terraces, but usually on a more moderate scale compared to high-rise developments. They provide a blend of the urban lifestyle, with accessibility to nearby shops, restaurants, and public transport, while maintaining a more approachable and less imposing architectural profile than taller buildings. Mid-rise condos appeal to those seeking the convenience of condo living with a greater sense of privacy and a less crowded environment.

The Benefits of High-Rise Condos

There are many benefits to living in a high-rise. Here are some to consider.

Awesome Central Locations

Generally situated at the center of a city, you never have to go far to get where you need to be. Many things may be walkable or accessible by bike, and convenient access to Nashville public transit can help you get to anything farther out. These properties tend to have great walkability and are close to stores, dining, entertainment, and more.

Views for Days

Living on a higher floor means enjoying gorgeous views. Condo developers know this, so they often incorporate large windows throughout the property to allow residents to take it all in. Being able to people watch and take in sunsets daily is a great mood and productivity booster. Buyers can find numerous high-rise communities with Nashville skyline views.

Luxurious Amenities

In addition to having a beautiful place to call home, many high-rise complexes also have a variety of amenities to take advantage of. This can include but is not limited to a parking garage, doorman, gym, pool, on-site laundry, a social clubhouse space, and other shared recreational areas. If you're outgoing, you may love a condo building with amenities that favor socialization. High-rise condos can also include top-tier private amenities. For example, there are several Nashville high-rises with rooftop pools.

Accessible Entertainment

For those who love a good meal out, retail adventure, or trips to the local watering hole, a high-rise is an excellent choice as it will put you right in the center of the local action. By choosing a high-rise in a premium location, residents can take full advantage of Nashville's famous bustling music scene.

More Floorplan Variety

A high-rise will usually have more variety in floor plans, views, and finishes. If you don't love the first unit you check out, ask to tour other vacant units until you find one that's a good fit for your wishlist.

Enhanced Hosting Experiences

Living in a great spot often equates to lots of visitors. It can be wise to plan for an extra bedroom or easily transformable sleeping space to make sure it's easy to accommodate out-of-town guests.

All in all, a high-rise can be a great investment for anyone looking for day-to-day convenience and for the opportunity to take advantage of all Nashville has to offer.

The Benefits of Low-Rise Condos

If living hundreds of feet in the air doesn't appeal to you, a low-rise condo might be a better option for you. There are still many options in and around downtown that provide excellent basecamps in Nashville. Here are some other benefits of living in a Nashville low-rise condo.

Character Galore

In a smaller complex, you're more likely to see older buildings full of condos that have undergone renovation throughout the years. There are hundreds of complexes, each with its unique design flare. This gives home shoppers access to an eclectic collection of potential homes to choose from.

More Affordable Options

Smaller condo buildings generally have fewer amenities. However, if you don't assign colossal value to a community room or on-site theater, a low-rise may be a better fit for your preferences and budget.

Easier to Get In and Out

It can be frustrating to wait for the elevator to stop on ten floors before it gets to yours or to encounter a traffic jam in the parking garage when you're running late. Choosing a low-rise condo will help you avoid these common pitfalls.

The Best of Both Worlds

For many, a low-rise unit brings balance. Living in a high-rise can be overstimulating but moving to the suburbs takes you too far away from the action. The tone is a little tamer in a low-rise, but the best of Nashville is still right outside your front door.

There are benefits to both high-rise and low-rise condos. The best fit for you will depend on your wants, needs, and budget. Here's a peek at some of the complexes that have current vacancies.

Popular Nashville Condo Complexes

Lofts are a trendy style in Nashville, and the real estate listings for the area reflect this.

Church Street Lofts

3rd Avenue is home to the Church Street Lofts. Located inside the Cheatham Building, the three-story property listed on the National Register of Historic Places contains seventeen one- and two-bedroom units with a stunning traditional loft design. Desirable features include exposed original brick, floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings, wood floors, private balconies, and modern kitchens. The building has a transitional design mixed with a bit of industrial flair. Still, most of the exterior, which features stunning ornate architectural qualities, has never been altered from its original state.

The Phoenix Lofts

A bit further down 3rd Avenue in historic Printers Alley, Phoenix Lofts are the pinnacle of urban living. In an upscale building, residents have easy walking access to dozens of nearby stores, pubs, restaurants, and arts, and entertainment facilities. They're also able to enjoy views of the Titans' stadium and the Cumberland River.

The Ambrose Lofts

Also in Printer's Alley, the Marshall & Brice Printing Company building, constructed in 1905, now houses Ambrose Lofts. The Ambrose Printing Company, which was the last printing company to move out of the district, acquired the building in the '40s. The building is a mixed-use complex home to two restaurants, a dental office on the first floor, and twenty-one residential units. The top two floors were converted to office space in 2006.

Encore

To contrast loft life, condos for sale in the Encore building sit 20 floors above the streets of the SoBro neighborhood, next to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Country Music Hall of Fame, Music City Convention Center, and Lower Broadway. Built in 2008, this highly desirable development is one of the most sought-after living condo developments in Nashville.

Residences at Broadwest

Encore is situated near the Residences at Broadwest, a luxury 34-story complex under construction with units starting in the mid $500s.

Low-Rise vs. High-Rise: Which Nashville Condo Is Right for You?

No matter which type of condo you choose, the Nashville real estate market's high-rise and low-rise options are abundant. With a bit of planning and patience, you're sure to find the perfect place for you.