One thing that anyone interested in purchasing a condo should be used to seeing is condos advertising "loft" units. The question here is are they real lofts? Unfortunately most are not. A real loft is essentially a converted warehouse space that still has all the old trappings of the business that was formerly there. You find exposed brick walls, old hardwood flooring and exposed pipes and ductwork everywhere. You will also find huge windows and no room divisions. There may be a mezzanine but that is more of a modern convention. The bulk of what are advertised as lofts now are what could be called "soft lofts." These are basically new units designed to capture the ambiance of the loft style without actually being lofts.



It is pretty easy to tell whether you are dealing with a real loft or a soft loft. Is the building new? If so then you have a soft loft. If you are the kind of person that really wants a true loft then it might take some searching. Being that real lofts depend on old warehouses or factories, numbers can be pretty limited and with the popularity that lofts currently have the prices can get inflated due to the competition for units. That being said, the newer units offer some pretty spectacular advantages. There is the security from living in a newly constructed building with all of the modern conveniences. Also these building are almost always located in the heart of the city, providing ease of access to the business sector and all the shopping of a downtown area.

Whether you are a loft purist or simply like the idea of an open concept living space, a loft might be exactly what you are looking for. These days lofts come in so many flavors that it's not too hard to find that perfect living space. Many of the current offerings in major cities also come with a design ready option that allows buyers to customize their new homes to their particular tastes. All in all it is an amazing value. The allure of living in an urban area with great access to amenities, transportation, shopping, entertainment and sport, made all the more valuable by the fantastic open feeling that comes with living in a loft.