What is the difference between comfort class and economy class residential estate?

This kind of uncertainty in the primary real estate market resulted in many unscrupulous developers having started to sell apartments in undoubtedly low-budget houses, but offer them as business class ones. So if investors are not particularly versed in the issue, do not know what classes the housing may be and how to distinguish between them, they can trust the developer and overpay for an apartment.

How can residential class be defined?

As already noted, the boundaries of each segment are quite blurred, so there is no clear list of parameters for a particular class of buildings. However, there are a number of criteria by which you can determine the comfort classes of real estate:

• The location of the house, in particular its distance from the city centre;
• Types of construction technologies used;
• Quality of building materials;
• Architectural solutions;
• Apartment layouts;
• The number of floors of the house and the number of apartments in it;
• Public improvements;
• Adjacent territory (landscaping, security, closed / open);
• Parking places;
• Extra options (elevator speed, video surveillance, a lobby, access to an open terrace, etc.).

Just about 15 years ago, the main criterion was the house location. That is, houses in the city centre were a priori considered a business class or an elite class, and new buildings on the outskirts belonged only to low-budget segment. The result was that many developers to start building the cheapest homes in the central parts of cities, setting prices per square meter, as for premium homes. However, there is more than one criterion that determine belonging the real estate to a certain class, and location is not a primary option.

Economy class

There is a lot of this class housing in all cities of Ukraine, including Kyiv. Square metres in economy class buildings are inexpensive. They mostly erect this kind of new buildings in residential areas, on former wasteland sites. Usually these houses are more than 10 floors high, with a large number of apartments and a small adjacent territory, families with children often live there.

Economy class new buildings usually have a standard facade shape with no complex lines. Accordingly, the planning of such objects is already familiar and typical since the post-Soviet times. If we consider the comfort classes of residential estate, the economy class buildings have many disadvantages:

• Lack of parking spaces (especially in the capital);
• Heavy traffic on the roads nearby;
• Lack of normal infrastructure;
• Poor acoustic and heat isolation of apartments;
• Failing to choose from several layout types;
• Lower security level;
• A huge number of apartments in the house.

If you describe such real estate in one sentence, it will be: a lot of residents and little space.

Comfort class

Comfort-class housing is best represented on the real estate market. According to the information available, this houses account for approximately 45% of all new buildings. This speaks for a great demand for this kind of residential estate.

A comfort-class residential complex should be located in a place with good public structure: shops, a kindergarten, a school, a public transport stop or a metro station should be nearby. This houses are mostly built of bricks or gas blocks. In a residential complex of a comfort class and above, covered parking spaces are an indispensable condition for comfortable living, because there will be more space for children's and sports grounds, more greenery and pedestrian zones in the yard with an underground parking. As for the territory improvement, it should be a closed orderly territory. The housing stock is represented not only by 1-, 2-, and 3-room apartments, but also by penthouses.

In Kyiv, Ok'Land RC may easily exemplify the comfort-class housing. The residential complex is situated near the metro station, there is a covered parking, the territory is fenced and is under round-the-clock video surveillance.

Many investors who understand what housing classes are, often prefer comfort class. This is due to the fact that such housing is considered the best choice as far as price and quality ratio is concerned.

Business class

Business class housing is presented mainly in the central districts of the city. Developed infrastructure and good transport interchange are indispensable conditions. From the point of view of architecture, the unconditional criterion is the unique author's concept of the project. Residential complexes in this segment are distinguished by original finishes of organic, environmentally friendly, durable and energy-saving materials.

Business class apartments are characterized by free layout and large areas, spacious kitchens and balconies. Floor-to-ceiling windows are often installed on the upper floors, offering a beautiful view of the city. Thanks to the use of high quality building materials and modern construction technologies, this kind of residences are warm and well soundproofed.

The classification of housing by class in Ukraine provides that business-class housing must have a closed, guarded and improved adjacent territory, as well as parking spaces. Often there are lounge or even barbecue areas in the outdoor space of such houses that residents and guests can use.

Much attention is paid to the safety of residents: concierge, security service, including stationary posts, video surveillance at the entrance to the house and around the perimeter.

A good example of business class housing is Nordica Residence residential complex. It was built according to the author's architectural design, has its own inner territory, good location, developed infrastructure nearby and other features inherent in this class of housing space.

Luxury housing

The premium segment is housing for the elite. Here, among other things, the aspect of prestige is also important for the buyer. Only wealthy people live in such houses, and many of them want to demonstrate their status.

This kind of houses are located exclusively in the city centre, with parking lots, children's and sports grounds, and lounge areas on the territory which is guarded around the clock, so there are almost no strangers here. Premium residential complexes include a cinema for the residents, a wine cellar for their wines, a prestigious restaurant on the ground floor, a conference hall and much more.

Speaking of different classes of housing, the highest prices for apartments are certainly in premium class houses.