A lofty aspiration
According to a report from Metrohouse Real Estate Agency, lofts suitable for conversion to residential purposes are increasingly difficult to find. Usually only available within residential cooperatives, purchasing this kind of real estate is problematic, as priority of ownership is often given to the members of the cooperative, who in most cases would be buying the loft in order to extend their own neighboring apartment.
In the past, on less developed markets, lofts were considered a relatively cheaper alternative to a standard apartment. However, on more mature modern markets, where loft apartments' cosiness and individual architectural features are increasingly in demand for customers, many developers are now converting attics into spacious lofts.
Besides their obvious charm, the price of lofts still makes them more attractive to buyers. "Attics are on average 10 to 15 percent cheaper than normal apartments," said Katarzyna Cyprynowska from Metrohouse.
Cyprynowska adds that the most sought-after lofts are those with elevator access. However, elevator or no, finding such an apartment will prove to be hard work, as most attics that came onto the secondary market were snapped up years ago. According to Metrohouse's report, anyone interested in purchasing this kind of apartment should be prepared for a long and tiresome search.
Another problem that aspiring garret-dwellers could face is the legal status of their desired home. According to Cyprynowska, prospective buyers need to remember that after buying their loft, they may be required to change its legal status from attic to residential apartment.
The lack of loft apartments on the secondary market has attracted the attention of developers, some of whom are now offering flats of this kind.
In Warsaw, JW Construction, with its Konstancin and ul. Łukowska projects, offers modern loft apartments at prices from zł.5,400 to almost zł.6,000 per sqm. In addition to Warsaw, developers from Wrocław and Gdańsk are working on similar residential developments.
In Wrocław, Inter-ES will soon begin construction works on the Obrońców Poczty Gdańskiej residential development and lofts that will be offered there for sale will cost about zł.4,400 per sqm.
In Gdańsk, the Inpro company is in the process of building the Myśliwskie I and II residential development and its loft prices are zł.5,100-6,750 per sqm.
