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Living the good life in the middle?

Teri Rogers Headshot - Floral
By Teri Karush Rogers  |
June 25, 2009 - 8:55AM
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Voting blocs in co-op and condo buildings can coalesce around apartment size (smaller dwellings organize against the outsized influence of bigger units), apartment line (the B line needs a plumbing overhaul, for instance), and sociodemographics (newer, wealthier buyers often want more upgrades than thriftier oldtimers, though the Great Recession may be changing that).

Political lines can also be drawn by cross-section: What's good for the top of the building (like installing an expensive water pump to boost pressure) may not interest residents on the lower floors, where the water is fine, thank you.

So, is it better to live on the top, on the bottom, or in the middle? Some observations:

Life at the top: Great for views and status and the potential for outdoor space. Bad for roof leaks, air conditioning costs, higher maintenance charges, rooftop vermin and burglars, and the disproportionate loss in value if a skyscraper goes up across the street. Also, penthouse dwellers can be the object of class envy, translating into chilly treatment by the board.

Life at the bottom: Great for access during power outages and elevator repair work, lower purchase price and maintenance fees, water pressure, walking the dog, and rowdy children. Bad for views and street noise.

Life in the middle: Moderation is its strongest suit, says one current penthouse owner who has suffered most of the plagues outlined above and thinks buying in the middle would have been a smarter move. There's nothing so great and nothing so bad either, besides the higher likelihood of looking out onto an ugly rooftop.

What level do you live on and how does it affect your life? Where would you prefer to be?

Teri Rogers Headshot - Floral

Teri Karush Rogers

Founder & Publisher

Founder and publisher Teri Karush Rogers launched Brick Underground in 2009. As a freelance journalist, she had previously covered New York City real estate for The New York Times. Teri has been featured as an expert on New York City residential real estate by The New York Times, New York Daily News, amNew York, NBC Nightly News, The Real Deal, Business Insider, the Huffington Post, and NY1 News, among others. Teri earned a BA in journalism and a law degree from New York University.

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.

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