Last week a got a call from a local Realtor asking how many bedrooms one of my listings has. It is a loft, it doesn’t have any bedrooms. I went looking on the internet to see if I could find a definition for the word loft, as it applies to housing. I did not find a good one, but found several, and noticed regional differences.
So I am going to go out on a limb here and define what we call lofts here in the Twin Cities. The picture above is of the Schurmeier lofts, unit #204, to be exact. The building was a carriage factory and was converted into apartments (rental units) and has now been converted into lofts. These units can be purchased and are a style of condominium. This unit is for sale.
It is a great example of an urban loft. It has one large room, has high ceilings, and large windows. When these buildings are renovated the builders often leave the brick, duct work, and beams exposed. This type of unit is commonly found in and around the downtown areas. The bathroom is in a seperate room.
There are also “loft Style” condos. These are sometimes in renovated buildings and sometimes in new buildings. They usually have a bedroom or two, but the main living areas are one large open room. They usually have high ceilings and large windows.
The picture is of unit #409, at the lot 270 building and is also for sale. Lot 270, is in the lower town neighborhood, near the farmers market. it was built in 2005. This unit has two bedrooms and two baths, and is in the loft style.
I have clients who have purchased lofts, and loft style units. People love the idea of owning a loft but are some times intimidated by the idea of putting all of their belongings in one large room. With the loft style units the bedrooms are in seperate rooms, making it a kind of hybrid loft.
There are many lofts on the market in the twin cities. We kind of went loft wild for a couple of years, converting warehouses and other buildings into housing. When looking at lofts, always check for available storage, and parking. Check to see if storage and parking are included in the listing price or are sold separately. I recently encountered two situations where the listing information indicated that there were garage stalls and storage units but found out that they were not included in the purchase price. I am not sure that is allowed by our local MLS, but it is happening just the same.
When looking at new construction you can have a Realtor represent you, or you can buy right from the friendly agent in the model who represents the seller.
Teresa – I accept your definition! We have many of these in Indianapolis; old buildings, churches, schools; almost anything really, converted to living space of some sort. Now we have a glut of condo/lofts available here.
Paula – I have noticed that the definition varies from one part of the country to another. When people from the east coast come my way they tell me what we have are not lofts.
That was a really informative post Theresa. Here in the South we don’t have a lot of lofts. Then again we don’t have a lot of ‘urban’ either, lol. The closest we get is condo’s or apartments. And there is not of lot of those either, come to think of it…
Lofts sure strike me as pretty cool. Sort of a nifty New York, trendy, starving artist kind of vibe. I’d like to live in one!!
Thank you for that definition. I think its right on the money. I work 20 miles outside of Manhattan – the HOME of the traditional “loft” and there seems to be a lot of confusion – even around here. There have been a lot of “lofty” or “loft-like” incarnations in my neck of the woods and the only thing loft-like about some of them is the slightly higher ceilings and (maybe) large windows! Drywall pretty much finishes everything and there are “defined” bedrooms (not merely partitioned.) I’ve stood inside and wondered “how can you call THIS a loft???” The only token effort to make these spaces true lofts is the fact that the kitchen/dining/living areas tend to be all-in one. But the space is so small to begin with, that’s hardly novel. It SOUNDS romantic, but then when people actually see the “real deal” they are shocked. Slapping the name “loft” on new construction may sound romantic, but it creates confusion.
Lofts are starting to show their face here in Arlington. One condo called it a loft because the bedroom did have defined walls.
I think it’s a way to have small places look large because of the illusions created by the high ceilings.
Teresa–Loft is the most mis-used term in Denver’s city center neighborhoods. I agree with your definition (as it IS accurate) and the available ‘lofts’ in Denver seven years ago represented that definition. Now, almost all newer, urban construction are loft styled condos that everybody just calls lofts. The word is completely dead in it’s former definition, at least in Denver.
Loft . . . when I think of loft, I think of Patrick Swayze in Ghost.
Teresa: this is a great post. Very inspiring definitions eh? The second photo was mice.
Deirdre Gonzales