Purchasing a Penthouse

For many people, buying a penthouse represents the pinnacle of property purchases. Of course, the quality and size of penthouses vary very much depending on location and the type and size of a development, but the penthouse is generally seen as the 'top' property in the development, literally.

Associated with rich people with all the mod cons conceivable and more with stunning views out over a river or major city, penthouses have a connection in the mind with the rich and the famous.

This usually means that they come at a cost, and indeed the premium for a property marketed as a penthouse suite compared to the rest of the building can be jaw-dropping. But if you are seriously considering buying a penthouse, the luxury apartment at the top of a block, then what should you expect?

Well, generally (but not always) the penthouse will be a lot bigger than other property, often two to three (or even more) the size of properties on lower floors, and often have some roof area such as a large balcony or a roof garden, so that you can make the most of the views from the top of the building. There will generally be a lot of light, with large windows to maximise both the view and light; sometimes you may even have 360 degree views from a penthouse.

One factor that affects prices is that penthouses are invariably in properties in prime locations, with good views over a city and often in the very heart of a city. If that's where you are buying, and there is an outside area, then make sure you actually go outside whilst viewing the property. Whilst you may expect it to be quiet, that is not always the case... in cities with lots of traffic it is amazing how sound travels upwards too, so you may find it surprisingly noisy at the top. And the wind can be a problem too, so it is worth trying to view on a windy day and see if either of these two problems occur.

Whilst some penthouses come ready furnished, sometimes this is not the case, so you also need to be clear on this and work out how much you will need to spend. A penthouse is only a luxury penthouse once it is furnished with top of the range sofas, rugs, the obligatory large plasma TVs and so on, so be sure to know whether you need to factor these into your calculations or not!

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Purchasing a Penthouse

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