The Vertical Lifestyle

WHAT IS VERTICAL?

Condo, loft and townhome communities build vertically - up and efficient - not sprawled out flat across the desert. These Vertical communities optimize land use and in doing so build intimacy, community and security into the living experience. Many Vertical communities in the Valley range in heights of 2-5 stories with some current and planned residential high-rises reaching heights of 40 stories or more. Recently completed, renovated and under-construction Vertical communities are providing exciting new energy to urban infill areas and are stimulating a range biltmore-jewel-phoenix-arizona-townhome-condo-loft-200.jpg of new commercial ventures and public projects. Downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe have all seen a dramatic renaissance to their urban cores and new residential projects showcase a wide range of architectural designs, prices and lifestyle choices. Suburban markets are booming with large new office complexes, easy highway access and a range of retail, recreational and entertainment pursuits with many new Vertical communities developed in lockstep with the residential demand. Golf course, resort and waterfront developments have well-maintained older and stunning new Vertical projects for every taste and budget. Many older Vertical communities offer fantastic urban and suburban locations, great pricing, mature landscaping and quiet residential streets all without the expense and upkeep of a single-family home. And the Valley market offers niche Vertical styles such as luxury, hotel and resort, “green”, ultra modern, live/work or age-restricted communities to rival anything in the nation.

Vertical living allows for a flexible intelligent lifestyle whether a lock-and-leave vacationer, corporate user, investor, retiree, downsizer, student, or simply for those with busy schedules that are striving for a simpler approach to their daily lives. It can be a frantic world but a Vertical living space could be your refuge.

CHOOSING YOUR VERTICAL.

We break Vertical living choices into three main headings: Vertical Style, Lifestyle and Location.

Vertical Style

There are 4 major Vertical groups: Condos, Lofts, Townhomes and Attached Homes.

Note: Condos are both a method of taking title and a residential “style”. The style “Condo”, which is used in builder marketing materials, is a “residential flat” or “apartment home”. Condos are typically 1-story units stacked within a building (which may be grouped with other buildings). Separately, “condo ownership” is defined as taking title to a specific unit and a shared interest in the common areas (and not specific title to the land underneath). Most of our profiled condos and lofts are condo ownership (vs Fee Simple) unless otherwise noted.

condo-int-scottsdale-arizona-townhome-condo-loft-200.jpg There is no typical condo style. There are condo flats (otherwise known as apartment homes) and now popular condo/loft hybrids (”soft lofts”). Lofts and condos share many of the same attributes and there exists many gray areas in separating the two. For us, condos describe a 1-story floorplan (some units and penthouses may have 2-3 floors) where the ceilings may be raised or vaulted (not generally to the extent of lofts), usually no exposed walls and ductwork, and more defined room spaces and walls within the floorplans. Floors are usually tile, wood and/or carpet and the windows can range from small accent windows to floor-ceiling glass walls.

Lofts are a condo but with some important differences. These include the structural (it may be multi-story w/ open floorplans & high ceilings) and the aesthetic (typically exposed walls, ductwork and trusses, and may include other differences in flooring (polished concrete to mimic the warehouse feel) and window size (larger)). While few buildings in Phoenix lend themselves to an “authentic” urban loft experience since many areas in Phoenix are not old or originally developed enough to have the buildings desired for conversion, many newer buildings have worked hard to get the look and feel of the warehouse loft experience. An advantage of new construction is that it can include many features without the expense and limitations of a conventional loft conversion.

Townhomes have the widest range of personalities. Add brick construction or a veneer and you have a brownstone. Maintain similar exterior features along the row of homes and it can be called a rowhouse. Locate it downtown and we’ll call it an urban home. Build it bigger with unique exterior stylings and you’ve got a attached villa or, as in midtown Phoenix, even a 5,000 s.f. 5-story attached mansion complete with personal elevator. Townhomes may differ in their exterior presentation but inside there is one specific feature: multi-story floorplans with no one living above or below you. At least one wall will be attached to another unit. Ground level uses may range from garages, live/work spaces, flex rooms and main rooms. Upper floors typically contain bedrooms and some units now come with exposed roof decks and more.

Finally we include attached homes into our profiles. Known also as patio, garden or semi-detached homes and not usually more than 1-story, these homes usually share a wall, provide a range of community amenities, are located in many great urban and suburban infill locations, and provide the ease of ownership typical of the other Vertical groupings. Buildings usually have 3-4 units and are grouped into a range of building configurations around community amenities.

Lifestyle

Whether live/work or luxury, vacation to investment, and from lakeside to golf views Vertical living provides you with a wide range of unique lifestyles. What are the actual reasons defining why you may choose a specific community? Are you looking for a penthouse, resort or luxury experience? Are you on a budget looking for the best use for your money? Are you an investor or a corporate user looking to nail down the right answers to your specific purchasing needs? Is this a vacation home, a 2nd home or do you desire to live in a age-restricted community? Is there an ambiance that you desire whether on a golf course, a mountain, on the water or looking out onto the quiet desert? The right questions will help you avoid making a bad purchase decision.

You’ll always have control of your home’s interior space. But you have an image in your minds of the perfect lifestyle at this point in your life. Trust us to find exactly what your looking for.

Location

You may have an idea which city or direction you want to live but have you considered other micro-markets within each city. Phoenix’s famous Biltmore area features upscale and intimate living surrounded by high-end retail, golf courses and the 24th Street financial district. Or the expanding ASU/Arts/Biotech campus downtown Phoenix surrounding the new Sheraton Hotel, the new Phoenix Convention Center and METRO Light Rail opening this year. Downtown Phoenix’s rapid expansion is one of the most aggressive in the nation with a range of living styles, entertainment venues, office, retail, restaurants and bars already offered with numerous cranes driving up the skyline further every day. The warehouse district of Phoenix continues its upswing on the success of the huge sports facilities downtown and now Cityscape’s groundbreaking on its huge multi-use footprint. Other markets within Phoenix, including those within and around historic districts, offering many unique lifestyles and accessible recreational and retail pursuits.

North in Scottsdale lies McCormick Ranch, Scottsdale Ranch and 6 miles later the upscale Kierland and the Scottsdale airpark corridor. North still and now you are exploring the higher Sonoran Desert with spectacular views, cooler temperatures and mellower pace of life. Ranging from sleepy bedroom communities to ultra-luxury, Scottsdale has long been a top residential destination with its defining culture and high national profile and its many neighborhoods offer a unique living experience.

Tempe, with the high-profile and developing ASU campus and Tempe Town Lake, offers neighborhoods and an intimacy unlike that of the surrounding cities. Mill Avenue has become one of the defining pedestrian corridors in the city and Tempe is now seeing a rapid development of its urban and suburban markets with one of the widest architectural ranges of new Vertical residences.

Many other locations within the Valley offer unique neighborhood personalities that we can help you explore. Life is more than just a city name. Its a culture and a neighborhood that your next home will be located in.

SO, CAN I LIVE VERTICALLY TOO?

Sure! Living Vertical can fit almost any lifestyle imaginable while plugging you immediately into the dynamic of a more intimate community and a wide range of amenities. We’ll help you target the area, the price, the community features and the pace of life that fits you best. Check us out, look in the mirror, and give us a call. It’s time to move up Vertically and start living again.