The modern real estate market quite accurately segments the categories of objects, determining their classes and purpose. Apartments are an example of ambiguous attitude to the property. On the one hand, this is a type of commercial space that can be put on a par with offices and studios. On the other hand, almost every applicant for an inexpensive apartment during a consultation with a realtor hears about apartments as a very attractive housing option. Accordingly, the question arises: "Apartments and apartments - what is the difference between them?" As they deepen in the subtleties of the existing differences, some decide to purchase traditional housing, while others are attracted by the novelty and modern approach to organizing life in apartments. In both cases, the choice can justify itself - the main thing is to accurately analyze all the features of real estate and correlate them with your requirements for an object for living.
Legal status
Much of the features of the apartments becomes quite obvious if we turn to their legal status. Initially, this type of real estate was positioned as an object of tourist infrastructure - roughly speaking, this is a separate hotel room. But today this classification has also lost its power, and the premises that were designed as apartments are represented by realtors and developers in the form of small studio apartments. Nevertheless, the law does not provide for accommodation in facilities of this category. This nuance and determines what the apartments differ from the apartment in terms of law - the legally valid possibility of permanent residence.
Registration and registration
Since the apartments are not intended for living, they are not recorded in the residential real estate fund . And at the same time, registration in such premises is impossible. Of course, today the importance of registration is not so great, and yet problems can arise if linking to medical facilities, schools and kindergartens is required. But here another feature is important - as a housing for the family, apartments are the least popular.
House service
The contents of the building in which the apartments are located also conceals a number of unpleasant features for those who decide to purchase such a living space. The legislation does not provide tools that would regulate the economic management of a house through a housing code. Despite this, the buildings are successfully operated. So another question arises: "Apartments and apartments - what is the difference in the content of objects?" The fact is that the developer independently and at his discretion selects a company that provides services in the technical and economic part of managing the house. The quality of services is determined by the nuances of their agreement, while the law does not have power over this part - the rights of consumers in this case are irrelevant, since we are talking about a non-residential property.
Utility Rates
Future apartment owners should also be prepared for high utility bills. In this part, the status of commercial real estate also plays a role, respectively, and tariff calculation is based on prices for non-residential premises. This is an important factor for understanding how the apartments differ from the apartment in terms of savings and maintenance costs. However, the specific numbers will depend on the characteristics of the facility and the developer who selects the service company. On average, water tariffs increase by 15% compared with an apartment, and electricity often costs twice as much.
Tax payment
The financial burden for apartment owners in terms of paying taxes is also not encouraging. The percentage of the value of the property for which property tax is charged significantly exceeds the same rates for apartments. The amount of payment increases as the value of the property increases. There are several levels, for each of which a certain percentage is charged. So, for premises whose market price varies from 300 to 500 thousand, the tax is 0.3%. And for apartments that can be sold for 1 million - 0.6%. This is another financial indicator that determines how apartments differ from apartments. The difference in tax payments becomes even more obvious when one considers that for some categories of apartment owners benefits and forms of subsidized support are provided. In the case of commercial apartments, of course, you can’t count on such help.
Unwanted neighborhood
Now you can go to the immediate living conditions in the apartment. To begin with, it is important to note that the buildings themselves are oriented towards commercial use. That is, with a greater degree of probability other rooms in the house will be occupied by offices, salons, storage areas and studios. In such conditions, it is especially noticeable what is the difference between an apartment and apartments - customer flows, maintenance staff, organizational and inventory measures behind the wall will certainly make themselves felt. However, the situation may be different if the object is located in a luxury house, where everything is subject to the requirements of a calm and comfortable life.
Infrastructure and location
If the efforts of marketers and development companies can present the apartment as a full-fledged housing with a well-equipped internal space, then the location cannot be changed in any way. Houses with commercial premises, of course, are not always located in remote areas and on the outskirts, but sleeping areas are not their element. An unfavorable location in terms of infrastructural accessibility is another sign for understanding what apartments are and how they differ from an apartment or a private house.
But there is another trend. This applies to new facilities, which are also designed on the principles of small hotel-type rooms and are specifically designed for the target audience of apartments. Developers seek to find places in the city center and in prestigious areas. At the same time, remoteness from social institutions also plays a lesser role, and the advantages of location from the point of view of a business person or tourist come to the fore.
Actual living conditions
A full impression of the features of the maintenance of the apartments is possible only during the operation of the premises, but its parameters and functionality can be assessed during the first inspection. As a rule, these are two small-sized rooms (possibly a larger number), the total area of which is at least 40 m 2 . Then we can proceed to the following question: "Apartments and apartments - what is the difference in terms of comfort?"
Unlike apartments, apartment design excludes compliance with sanitary and hygienic and ergonomic standards. That is, the object can be located above the non-residential premises, not have the proper level of sound insulation and natural light. In fact, the owner gets the close conditions of the studio, which can be located near the motorway. On the other hand, developers aimed at selling apartments as housing strive in every way to minimize flaws in comfort. And in some cases this gives tangible results.
Economy or business class
The level of comfort can be judged by various criteria. Due to the fact that the apartments do not require isolation on separate sites, as is realized in city apartments, rework and re-equipment are possible only inside. Although there are exceptions if the whole house has elite status. In this regard, a legitimate question arises: "Apartment or apartments - what is the difference if we compare economy and business class?"
Budget objects, respectively, have a minimum level of comfort. Developers are limited to more or less high-quality finish, installation of double-glazed windows with PVC, modern engineering systems and reliable wiring.
At the business class level, the same quality of the design implementation in which apartments and apartments are carried out is noted. The difference can only be expressed in spatial limitations, but this “barrier” often becomes a plus. Fashion for small studios led to the emergence of a whole direction in design, focused on free layouts. Elite apartments are characterized by a high level of comfort and high-quality execution of engineering systems.
What are the benefits of an apartment?
In addition to ultra-modern layouts, apartments are a profitable acquisition in terms of financial investments. Their belonging to the commercial real estate segment is becoming a plus - the object can be positioned on the market both as an office space and as a living space.
Flexibility in planning decisions is also an advantage. There are some differences in the procedure for changing the design of the internal space, although theoretically both apartments and the apartment lend themselves to this adjustment. What is the difference of approaches? In the case of non-residential facilities, the procedure for obtaining permits for redevelopment is softened due to less stringent requirements for the rules for operating commercial premises.
Another advantage of the apartments and, perhaps, one of the most attractive, is the initially low price. Compared to apartments, it is cheaper by an average of 20%. It was this factor that made it possible to position it on the market as the most affordable in the early stages of the formation of the segment.
Conclusion
Comparing the advantages and disadvantages of apartments, one should not ignore another aspect - the purpose and nature of future operation. Perhaps some flaws will turn into pluses, and vice versa. Also, the choice should be made on the basis of liquidity, a high level of which both apartments and apartments can possess. The difference in the practice of operating real estate is, of course, more noticeable, but some characteristics in terms of comfort, favorable location, quality of finishing materials and engineering systems are noted in a detailed analysis of the object.
Many differences are very arbitrary and depend on the particular house, its level and location. Nevertheless, the legal status of the apartments entails a lot of legal problems for those who plan to use the premises for permanent residence. They can be justified by the use of the facility for its intended purpose or, in extreme cases, for temporary residence - the technical data of modern apartments allow you to implement many operational ideas in both directions.