Atlanta Lofts: The Heights Of Atlanta Real Estate

By Author: Julian Bryce
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Atlanta real estate ranges from luxury mansions to condos to the famous Atlanta lofts. There can be nothing less symbolic of the chic, classy style of urban living for young people than the trendy loft conversions that have been so popularised by a variety of television sitcoms. With the exposed brickwork, exposed pipes, hard wooden flooring and typical large paned windows overlooking the streets and parks from high up, these dwellings simply ooze character and appeal, and as far as style is concerned, they seem to be perfectly capable of lending themselves to an astonishingly wide range of looks and characteristics.

Since the majority of authentic lofts are from buildings built around the 1940s or even earlier, they are of a strong, sturdy construction, with a beautiful, unmistakeable original brickwork that has a warmth and character to it that is all its own. Because of this old fashioned feel, from the dark, pink flecked brickwork to the steel pipes and ducts, these apartments can be ideally suited to either a traditional decor, with a good old fashioned flame effect log fire, large chunky sofas that cocoon you in ...
... utter comfort as the city lights and stars lend a gentle glow to the living space through the large, arched windows that almost make you feel as though you're on a film set.

Having said that, as has been demonstrated in many television shows, these same, old fashioned and truly authentic Atlanta lofts are also ideally suited to a modern urban design, with vibrant colours and minimalist decor which work beautifully with the large chunky construction.

The most well known location within Atlanta for lofts is the Castleberry Hill district, and this is predominantly made up of these very same authentic buildings dating back sixty years or more. However, increasingly there has been such demand, and there is clearly a limit to the number of these older buildings that many developers have been taking the industrial office buildings in these areas, and converting them into lofts for those keen to get in to the real estate market and enjoy a slice of the Atlanta chic. These office conversions are usually very well done, with much if the basic infrastructure lending themselves to such a design. From the outside, these buildings tend to have a good deal less character, and nothing can quite match the authenticity of the old town buildings, but from the inside, they work extremely well.

The fact that many of these office conversions have resulted in lofts being very well situated, very close to, or right in the heart of the downtown areas or midtown areas, with convenient shopping, access to the parks and leisure facilities, and of course, to work, has increased their popularity, particularly with students and young people.

Indeed, there has been such a boost in sales that not only are prices creeping every upwards, meaning that getting hold of one of these lofts, whether an authentic one or an office conversion is as guaranteed an investment as it is possible to get, but that the demand is outweighing the availability of such properties.

In order to address this issue, many developers are now starting to erect purpose built loft buildings, with exterior styles which hark back to the authentic looks and appeal, whilst providing an internal style that is every bit the classy town loft, with the brickwork, hard wooden flooring and exposed pipes and ducts that you would expect. Some of the earlier designs were a little basic and predictable, but today there is an increasing number of such developments which are vying with the authentic buildings in the popularity stakes, and in many cases come at a lower price.

Another advantage with buying or renting a loft in Atlanta is the extra benefits which come with becoming a part of a building community. Often there are shared facilities, such as a pool, sports facilities and even retail facilities. This is not to mention the added level of security that you can expect, with most lofts being part of a building which has its own security arrangements, sometimes manned personally. Remember that you may well be expected to pay towards such extra conveniences, but they do represent exactly that - a convenience, and one well worth buying into.

Although Castleberry Hill is perhaps the most fabled and sought after location for trendy lofts, both the midtown and downtown areas are also very hot locations, and property is being snapped up very quickly in these areas. If you're looking to move in to a loft of your own, then you will need to be prepared to move quickly. Finding a reputable and knowledgeable agent is an absolute must.

As a city that hosted the Olympic games only just over a decade ago, Atlanta has a very strong sports and athletics side to its character, and there is an abundance of such facilities across the whole city - representing a wonderful opportunity for young people in particular to enjoy combining an enviable living space with more sporting opportunities than anyone could reasonably need. Not to mention, of course, the extensive nightlife for which Atlanta is also renowned. There could be little else that Atlanta could offer to provide a more enticing opportunity today.