“What is the difference between a townhouse and a penthouse and an apartment?”

Penthouse is luxury housing. The apartment is a spacious apartment and is usually located on the upper floors. This type of housing is great for those who want to have many rooms, but at the same time want to avoid relocating to the countryside.

In most cases, a penthouse has two floors, but there are also single-level properties. The layout of the apartments can be varied.

Housing of this type first appeared in America in the 20s of the 20th century. At that time, mansions began to be built in the United States on the roofs of multi-story buildings. Only wealthy people could afford such apartments.

Some call a spacious apartment occupying the top floor a penthouse - this is a misconception. Housing of this type has clear characteristics.

Abroad, penthouses are being bought very actively. The demand for such real estate remains stable, even despite the economic crisis.

Features of townhouses

This type of real estate is a compromise between an apartment and a private house. A townhouse differs from an apartment in that there are no neighbors below or above, only on the sides. It differs from a private house in that the land plot included in the total area of ​​the property is quite small.

Nevertheless, a townhouse is quite economical and at the same time interesting housing in its characteristics. A fairly large family can live in such a house, located on two or three floors. In addition, living on the territory of such a building is safe and peaceful.

What is a townhouse?

Finding out how a townhouse differs from a penthouse and from an apartment, it’s time to look at what the first type is. A townhouse is a large house of several apartments united by common walls and, of course, a roof, but with separate exits and entrances. We can say that these are original city cottages, surrounded by a small plot of land, with an area for a garage or a small parking lot. On the one hand, an apartment in a townhouse is an opportunity to live almost in your own house, surrounded by nature. On the other hand, townhouses are often located within the city limits, so they cannot be called houses in the village.

Penthouse Features

In order to understand the difference between a penthouse and a townhouse, you need to understand what a penthouse is. This type of real estate is an apartment on the top floor of a high-rise building. In addition to the apartment itself, the owners are provided with a terrace. As a rule, this is a spacious outdoor area.

It is safe to live in this type of property. In addition, intruders will never get to it, because a separate elevator is equipped to get to the penthouse, which becomes a real obstacle for thieves. And the panorama from the windows of this type of property is simply amazing, the whole city is at your fingertips. As they say, “above the clouds.” Well, this is all for everyone.

Meaning of the word "penthouse". Story

Penthouses come from the USA . Previously, when there were problems with housing in America and people did not have the opportunity to move into ordinary apartments, they moved into attics or so-called technical premises. It was very noisy in them, since there was an elevator shaft behind the wall, and nothing was visible from the tiny windows.

Today, penthouses are different and have practically nothing in common with previous penthouses, except that they are located on the roof of the house.

Why is such expensive housing called this? How is "penthouse" translated? Translated from English, the word penthouse means attic. This is the main feature of luxury housing - it is located at the very top of the house .

In the 20s of the last century, when mass construction of skyscrapers began in America, there was great demand for penthouses. From low-grade housing, such real estate has sharply grown into luxury real estate.

People realized what advantages were open to them: the owners of penthouses had their own access to the roof, where they could install a swimming pool, a deck, make a winter garden, etc.

Modern penthouses are one of the most expensive apartments, where movie stars, millionaires, and “golden youth” live.

Which is correct: penthouse or penthouse?

Despite the fact that penthouses appeared in Russia relatively recently, people have already begun to modify the transcription of this word. Today you can find the following interpretation of the penthouse - “pent house”, “penthouse”. However, it is most correct to say “penthouse” .

What is the difference between a townhouse and a penthouse in terms of layout?

These two types of real estate differ not only in name. Also, a penthouse and a townhouse differ in the layout of the living space. A townhouse is usually a two-story house, sometimes three floors, in which rooms, bathrooms and a kitchen can be located on both floors. This type of real estate is somewhat similar to a private house, but in terms of layout it can also be compared to a two-story apartment.

A penthouse is a large apartment located on the roof of a building. Its location looks like an attic, but in reality it is the most spacious and luxurious apartment. Only the exit from the room is not to the balcony, but to a large equipped terrace.

What is the difference between a house and a penthouse?

Not all people know what a penthouse is and how it differs from a house. Therefore, you should consider the features of each residential property and conduct a comparative analysis.

Penthouses have become increasingly common lately. This housing is quite expensive. Therefore, only rich families can afford it. On the territory of such a structure there are not only bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms, but also a swimming pool and other recreation and entertainment areas. As a rule, a separate staircase or elevator is provided to reach the penthouse.

This eliminates interference with neighbors. The advantage of the penthouse is the beautiful view from the window. Typically, such housing is built on the roofs of skyscrapers. But for people who are afraid of heights, this type of room will not be the best option. The distinctive features of a penthouse and a private house are shown in the table below.

Expert opinion

Irina Vasilyeva

Civil law expert

Private houses are more affordable and popular. They cost much less than penthouses and are more suitable for families.

Benefits of a penthouse

Penthouse and townhouse have their advantages and disadvantages. In order to understand which type of real estate is best for you, you should study the pros and cons, and proceed from there. So, what are the advantages of buying penthouse housing:

• Without a doubt, the views from this type of property are magnificent.
• As a rule, penthouses have a gas boiler, which provides individual heating and water heating.
• Due to the fact that such an apartment is located “above the clouds,” the air here is fresh and not polluted by road dust.
• Most often in penthouses there is the opportunity to freely plan each of the rooms.
• Those who live in a penthouse have no neighbors behind the wall. For some, however, this may not be an advantage. In addition, sometimes penthouses are built on several floors, which will provide separate space for all family members. And there is always a place for friends or relatives who come to visit to stay overnight.

  

• Living at a height, you will not watch the curious glances of passersby outside your windows.
• A penthouse is considered an elite type of real estate. This type of housing is often chosen by wealthy people and celebrities.

These are the main advantages of pentauses. In fact, each person will be able to choose their own advantages in this type of real estate.

What does the word penthouse mean?

Because of the word “house” in the name, many begin to mistakenly believe that the word “penthouse” means a type of house. But in this case, the "pent" part probably comes from the Latin appendix, which means "application." As a result, the word has the translation “attachment to the house.”

Historically, this was indeed an annex - a technical extension that was often located at the rear of the upper face of the building. It was used as housing if there was not enough square footage, and to protect soldiers who were preparing to repel an attack on a city or castle.

Over time, the word came to mean the technical attic that any apartment building or skyscraper has. In England and the USA, they were not closed, but were turned into utility rooms for storing utensils, utilities were installed there, and air conditioning equipment and elevator motors were installed. But then these attics began to be converted into housing.

Ultimately, the answer to the question “What is a penthouse in real estate?” sounds like this:

A penthouse is a living space, a rooftop extension that usually occupies an entire floor. Moreover, most often these are not apartments, but apartments with appropriate features.

Penthouses are considered high-end and expensive housing because they almost always take up the entire rooftop without forcing the owner to share the floor with someone else. That is, there are a lot of square meters, as well as space for a design project. Some even have swimming pools in their penthouses.

Disadvantages of penthouses

To clearly understand what a penthouse and a townhouse are and how they differ, it is also necessary to study the disadvantages of each building. So, why might you choose not to purchase this type of real estate:

• First of all, the cost is very high. One penthouse can cost more than all the apartments in a high-rise building. It’s not surprising, because there is even a separate elevator for accessing your home.
• Also, another disadvantage is that sometimes penthouses are not even indicated in the general design of the high-rise. Developers are afraid of changes in legislation, so they may decide not to take risks and not include the planned penthouse in the house project. This drawback applies exclusively to cases when real estate is purchased in an unfinished house or even at the excavation stage.

Now you know the features of this type of real estate. To get the full picture, you also need to study the features of townhouses.

Which is better: duplex, townhouse or penthouse?

What is better: duplex, townhouse or penthouse? If we take into account the above descriptions of these types of housing, it becomes clear that an adequate comparative description can only be drawn up between a duplex and a townhouse (and that is a matter of each buyer’s priorities). The penthouse is completely out of this range, a fundamentally different type of housing, and accessible to an extremely narrow circle of people (only similar phonetics to a townhouse). So, what is the fundamental difference between a duplex and a townhouse? Well, firstly , in the number of neighbors: in a duplex there is always one, but in a townhouse there are already two (unless, of course, you are the lucky owner of the outermost block); Secondly , the size of the adjacent land plot: for a duplex it is 2 times larger than for a townhouse; Thirdly , the infrastructure of townhouses, as a rule, is much more developed and “rich”; And finally, the price: for obvious reasons, it is higher for duplexes than for townhouses. This is probably where the differences between duplexes and townhouses end; in all other respects they are almost identical. In fact, a duplex can be considered a type of townhouse, only with strict adherence to the number of blocks, there should always be two of them. Everything else is a matter of priorities, possibilities and taste, which, in fact, is not disputed.

Advantages of townhouses

A townhouse can be compared to both an apartment and a private house. As a rule, the cost of this property is approximately the same as what you would have to pay for an apartment in a high-rise building. So, what are the advantages of this type of real estate:

• Affordable price.
• Safety. As a rule, the developer fences the area, and there is a security guard at the entrance to the closed area.
• Personal parking. In apartment buildings, you have to spend a considerable amount of time in order to find a parking space. And living in a townhouse, you can leave your car on the property or in your own garage without unnecessary worries.
• Your own piece of land that you can use at your own discretion. If you want, install a swing, or if you want, organize a mini-garden.

  

The advantages are quite significant, so it is worth paying attention to this type of real estate. It is ideal for those who have always dreamed of owning a private home, but have never been able to save the required amount.

Disadvantages of townhouses

If penthouses have a significant drawback - they are too expensive, then townhouses have their own disadvantages that you need to know about before placing a bet on this type of real estate. A number of disadvantages include:

• Distance from the city. To be honest, this nuance is not always and not for everyone a disadvantage. For some, the distance from the stuffy, bustling city is its reward. Of course, this will be a disadvantage for those who work in the city.
• Another disadvantage is the difficulty in cleaning the space. Naturally, cleaning an apartment is much faster than cleaning a two-story house.
• Repairs in a townhouse will have to be done more often than in an apartment. However, in such buildings the roof and facade may leak more often, because these buildings are budget-friendly.

  

Actually, that’s all among the significant disadvantages. Now you understand what a penthouse and townhouse are. Each person, naturally, can see advantages in minuses, and disadvantages in pluses, but all this is purely individual.

Penthouses: housing for sophisticated people

Penthouses: housing for sophisticated people

When it comes to penthouses, one immediately thinks of the blue tall buildings that are located in Moscow at the intersection of Mosfilmovskaya Street and Minskaya Street. Although it is worth noting that there are many houses with penthouses not only in the capital, but also in other Russian cities. Most often, penthouses can be found in luxury buildings, but sometimes they are also offered in business-class complexes. Real estate market experts spoke about what penthouses are, what their distinctive characteristics are, and also how much this housing costs.

In Moscow, when the luxury real estate market was just beginning to take shape, ordinary two-level apartments on the top floors were passed off as penthouses, and people purchased such housing, believing that it was, indeed, a penthouse. Meanwhile, a real penthouse has a very specific set of parameters that it must comply with. The US Linguistic Dictionary has the following definition of a penthouse: “a luxurious single-apartment residential building located on the roof of a high-rise building and classified as the most expensive apartment.” Thus, a penthouse can be said to be not just an apartment, but rather a separate house located on the roof of a skyscraper in a prestigious area of ​​the metropolis. It is worth noting that in all countries a penthouse is considered a luxury item.

“The Russian penthouse market has its own distinctive features,” says Polina Medelyanovskaya, director of key client relations at Kalinka Group. — The birthplace of penthouses is the USA, or more precisely New York and Chicago, where penthouses were located on the roofs of skyscrapers in the city center. However, Moscow has completely different climatic conditions, soil composition, architectural traditions, and historically developed buildings. New York is a young city compared to Moscow; it does not have such volumes of historical buildings. In Moscow, the most prestigious part of the city is the low-rise historical center, where strict height restrictions apply, so penthouses, instead of the 30-50th, are located at the 6-9th floor level. In turn, most of the high-rise buildings in Moscow, which offer unique panoramic views, are not located in the most prestigious areas and belong to the premium class, not de luxe. The exception is MIBC “Moscow City”.

Piece goods

Penthouses occupy a large area and are mainly located on the upper floors of luxury buildings. According to Sofia Lebedeva, General Director, another distinctive feature is that the penthouse is an exclusive property and there can be 1-2 of them in the complex.

If you pay attention, you will notice that in Moscow not everything that developers call penthouses should be classified as this type of real estate. Speaking of penthouses, it is worth noting that this is not just an apartment under a roof, but truly elite housing, a piece of goods. There are fairly clear criteria by which residential premises can be classified as penthouses. Among the obvious characteristics: location under the roof of a residential building with its own entrance and elevator. In addition, the presence of a usable roof - a spacious terrace on which you can equip a winter garden, a swimming pool, a sports area or even a helipad.

Conventionally, penthouses in Moscow can be divided into two groups. The first category is penthouses with an area of ​​300 to 500 sq.m in the Central Administrative District or South-Western Administrative District, designed for large families with children, the second is penthouses in new projects with an area of ​​100 sq.m. One of the main features of penthouses is their higher ceilings compared to ordinary apartments; the difference in ceiling heights starts from 80 cm and can reach 2 meters. As a rule, penthouses have good views, which are emphasized by panoramic glazing. Realtors unanimously say that views are the key advantage of this type of apartment.

Penthouses are most often purchased by sophisticated people, so swimming pools, tennis courts on the roof, fireplaces are built for them, individual elevators and helipads are installed. “A prerequisite for clients when choosing penthouses will be good views, and the presence of a veranda will be a more than welcome bonus,” assures Elena Lashko, director of the sales department of the exclusive real estate agency Usadba. “Penthouses differ in style: some prefer high-rise buildings on Sokol or in the area of ​​Leninsky Prospekt, while others prefer the 6th-8th floor of Granatny Lane with views of the historical center of the capital.”

“Today, the maximum number of floors for penthouses is three floors with a height of about 6.6 m, the third floor of which is reserved for an attic or a small floor with an area of ​​60 sq.m.,” says Alexey Shmonov, general director of the real estate portal Move.su. — The minimum area of ​​a penthouse is 80 sq.m. The area of ​​penthouses currently presented on the premium and luxury housing market varies from 200 to 750 sq.m. m."

If we talk about penthouses in the northern capital, then in St. Petersburg the supply of penthouses is concentrated primarily in the city center, in particular on Krestovsky Island, says Inna Anisimova, head of the Center for Elite Real Estate of the Ithaca Academy of Sciences. “In new luxury residential complexes, all the upper floors are, as a rule, allocated to penthouses,” she notes. — The demand for such apartments is stable, because these are exclusive offers with unique views. The area of ​​penthouses in St. Petersburg starts from 200 sq.m., the cost is from 250 thousand rubles. per square meter. One of the most common wishes is to have a serviceable roof.”

Exclusivity

Evgenia Korosteleva, general director of the luxury real estate agency bon ton realty (part of the NDV Group of Companies) notes that the main wish of clients when choosing a penthouse is its exclusivity. “A penthouse is a piece product, that is, it would not be very correct to “average” the needs and wishes of buyers of this real estate format. - she thinks. “There are very few transactions of this kind on the market, and each time the wishes can be very individual.” It is clear why. After all, as a rule, buyers of such apartments have enormous financial resources, and financial independence does not limit their imagination at all. Therefore, they organize the internal space the way they want. Features and bells and whistles can be completely different - from quite standard billiard rooms or home theaters, to pools with sharks and special rooms where you can train ninja skills.”

Maria Litinetskaya, general director, in turn adds that each of the penthouses is unique and has its own exclusive characteristics. “For example, the decoration of public areas from the world-famous designer Kelly Hoppen (Kelly Hoppen for yoo) is only available in the Barkli Virgin House residential complex, and only the Maple House residential complex can “boast” of its location on the first line of the Moscow River with views of the statue of Peter the Great.” , she notes. — Examples of projects where there are penthouses include the English Quarter, DOMINION, Mosfilmovsky, Ostozhenka Park Palace, Garden Quarters, Chocolate, KnightsBridge Private park, Barkli Park, Barkli Residence complexes. Aquamarine”, “Bulgakov”, Smolensky Deluxe, “OKO”, etc.”

Other properties can also be noted among the attractive penthouses. For example, a penthouse on Ostozhenka 9/14, which is due to the location and specifics of the Golden Mile Private Residences project. According to Polina Medelyanovskaya, this is the only new De Luxe class property in this location, corresponding to all the most advanced ideas about luxury housing. “A house like this could come up in Knightsbgidge or Kensington in London,” she says. — In working on this project, the latest trends in the high-quality housing market were used, taking into account the needs of the most demanding Russian buyers. Penthouse projects have excellent views - residents have panoramic views of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Kremlin and the entire central part of the city. The cost per square meter is $50 thousand.”

Enviable stability

It cannot be said that the demand for penthouses is large in the overall demand. However, this segment of real estate has its loyal buyers. As with the entire luxury real estate segment, demand for penthouses is limited, since there are not many people who can afford such a purchase. Nevertheless, according to Ekaterina Fonareva, commercial director of the Barkley Corporation, the demand for penthouses is enviably stable. “First of all, buyers are attracted by the status of such housing - the penthouse favorably emphasizes the social status and material wealth of its owner,” she says. “In addition, such apartments are distinguished by a higher level of living comfort. Large areas, a large amount of light, panoramic glazing, the presence of a terrace or a usable roof where you can make a pool, garden or barbecue area, as well as excellent views from the window - all these characteristics can attract almost any person. In fact, a penthouse can scare off buyers just because of its price.”

Maria Litinetskaya also notes that the demand for penthouses is low, but stable. The duration of exposure of penthouses ranges from a couple of months to several years, she says. “It all depends on the characteristics of the object itself (including price and location), as well as on how well the advertising campaign is organized.”

“In 2014, in the first half of the year, there was a sharp increase in demand in the secondary sales market, which is associated with a shortage of primary supply of penthouses,” notes Polina Medlyanovskaya. — Over the past two years, the most liquid and most expensive properties have left the market. In 2012, buyers purchased 15 penthouses on the primary market, in 2013 - 19. The greatest interest was shown in the Turandot Residences, Barkli Park, Barkli Virgin House, Italian Quarter residential complex, Garden Quarters residential complex and a number of others.”

Closed segment

If we talk about prices, then first of all it is worth noting that the penthouse market is one of the most closed segments. Their prices, like the prices for any luxury goods, do not have specific, average parameters and can range from $6 to $60 million, and sometimes even higher.

First of all, the cost of a penthouse depends not only on the area and number of rooms, but also on the class of the house, the cardinal directions on which the views open, the quality of repairs, the degree of completion of the house (if it is a new building) and so on. Prices start from $15 thousand per sq.m., and have no upper limit.

According to Grigory Altukhov, commercial director of FSK Leader, in the Zodiac residential complex the cost of a penthouse with an area of ​​170 sq.m. is 54.3 million rubles, a penthouse with an area of ​​240 sq.m. – 86.7 million rubles. In this case, the buyer can count on several gifts at once: a design project for the penthouse and its rough finishing, plus one parking space in the underground parking of the complex.

According to Maria Litinetskaya, some of the “cheapest” penthouses are sold in the Vesna na Baltiysky residential complex, where their cost starts from 34.5 million rubles. “Among the most expensive properties is a penthouse with an area of ​​561 square meters. m in the Golden Mile private residence apartment complex, which costs $28.08 million,” she says.

According to Anna Karpova, director of the Est-a-Tet Luxury Real Estate Department, the minimum price for penthouses with an area of ​​over 300 sq.m. in the South-Western Administrative District is about 280 thousand rubles / sq.m., in the Central Administrative District - 600 thousand rubles / sq.m. “For example, in the new “House on Lyusinovskaya”, which is at the initial stage of construction, the cost per square meter in a penthouse with an area of ​​100-130 sq.m. with a ceiling height of 5.4 m and views of the Kremlin and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is 310 thousand rubles” , she notes.

Ekaterina Fonareva adds that the range of prices for penthouses is quite wide - the average cost per square meter varies from $20 to $50 thousand. On the primary market, the most expensive property now is a penthouse with an area of ​​619.7 square meters. m, located in the Barkli Virgin House clubhouse on Ostozhenka. Its cost is $30 million. This price is quite justified. Firstly, this is the most prestigious address in Moscow. Secondly, this is a club house designed for only 21 apartments. Thirdly, the house was created with the participation of the designer of the British royal court, Kelly Hoppen, in collaboration with the yoo company. This is a new word in modern luxury housing construction. Fourthly, the house itself is completely built and delivered. And finally, the penthouse itself is simply magnificent, and the views from its windows are breathtaking - the Kremlin stars, the golden dome of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Moscow River, the ancient Conception Monastery.

Summing up, it is worth noting that, as mentioned above, penthouses are a piece goods, and this, as they say, is worth a lot.

Author: Sugra Gadzhieva

What is the difference between a penthouse and a townhouse?

The photos, which everyone has probably already captured with their own eyes, make it clear what the difference is. Yes, the two types of real estate have both pros and cons. But it’s great that people have the opportunity to choose their dream home from a variety of offers.

Knowing what a penthouse and a townhouse are, you can clearly understand for yourself what you like and what you don’t. You will also have the opportunity to place a bet on the type of real estate that best suits you in terms of cost and characteristics. The main thing is to clearly study all the nuances. And even if you are not yet planning to purchase your own home, you need to know about the important features in order to make the right choice at the key moment.

Whatever type of real estate you consider the best, living in your own nest will definitely be comfortable. The main thing is to think over a design that will make it as pleasant as possible. Each person has their own ideas about ideal housing. While some people like to live “above the clouds,” others prefer a “down to earth” lifestyle. Well, every person has the right to choose, and he feels best in the type of real estate that is closest to his dream. And it doesn’t matter at all whether it’s a penthouse, a townhouse or an apartment in a high-rise building.

How much does a penthouse cost?

Prices for penthouses may vary and depend on parameters such as:

• area where the house is located;
• classiness of the house;
• features of housing - the presence of designer renovation, finishing of the building, additional functions in the possibilities.

The price range for such luxury housing on the primary market in the capital ranges from 18 to 50 thousand dollars per 1 sq. m. m . If we are talking about buying a penthouse on the secondary real estate market, then prices may drop slightly and start from 15 thousand dollars per 1 sq. m. m.

Only very rich people have the opportunity to purchase a penthouse. There is always a demand for this type of real estate and it does not depend on the market situation, exchange rates or other factors.

By the way, the cost of a penthouse is usually 140–150% higher than the cost of apartments located below this luxury housing.