Five top tips for buying an apartment

Apartment living is becoming increasingly popular with people seeking low-maintenance lifestyles with access to outstanding facilities and everything they need at their doorstep.

When you are considering purchasing an apartment, however, you should also be thinking about how well it will appeal to other buyers in 5 to 10 years’ time – by which time you may well be contemplating another move.

Looking at your apartment through the eyes of a future buyer, or tenant, is one of the keys to benefitting from strong capital growth and returns on your investment.

R&F Property Australia’s National Sales and Marketing Director Jon Quayle provides his top five tips for apartment buyers:

Location: It’s the old adage but it’s still as relevant as ever. Easy access to employment hubs, future infrastructure, schools, health services, entertainment and lifestyle precincts, sports and recreational facilities as well good public transport links are strong indicators of how valuable your home will be in the future.

The right spot can make all the difference. Often it can also come down to being on the right road, in a progressive suburb and some standalone features that offer a point of difference – such as a great view.

From their unrivalled vantage point as the tallest building south of the Brisbane River, residents of our extremely popular Brisbane 1 project enjoy some of the best views in the city.

The development is also located at the heart of a huge array of cultural, entertainment, employment, transport and educational services, and only one kilometre from the CBD.

Design: Apartment living shouldn’t mean contracted living. Look for full-size kitchens, cupboard room and clever use of space for storage.

The kitchen is still the hub of many homes and ample bench space and room for full-size appliances make life easier.

Layout: Consider the size of the bedrooms, their separation from the living spaces, and the functionality of the floor plan.

Integrated outdoor spaces can make a living area seem much more expansive. The key here is floor-to-ceiling windows with a view that offers a connection to the surroundings.

Also consider how your needs might change in time. Research suggests one in five Australians live in a multi-generational home and that this trend is likely to continue growing in the future due to both financial constraints and increasing care needs.

As well as apartments ranging from one bedroom to luxury penthouses, Brisbane 1 features an exclusive selection of dual-key apartments. These apartments are divided into two self-contained and secure residences with a shared foyer, offering many extra advantages for both owner occupiers and property investors.

Owners can live in one apartment and have older children or elderly relatives in the second apartment while still enjoying the privacy and convenience of separate living spaces.

Alternatively, they can move into one residence and rent out the other for extra income to offset their own living costs. Property investors also have the option to generate two incomes while only paying one set of body corporate fees and council rates.

Amenity: These days brand new apartment living means having access to a wide array of exclusive recreational features, which might include rooftop gardens, pools, spas, gyms, kids play areas, resident lounges and dining rooms, and fabulous inner-city views.

Easy access to high-quality, shared facilities helps to build connections among residents and a sense of community spirit, in addition to being features which may help attract and retain a future tenant or buyer.

At Brisbane 1, the amenity is unmatched.

Each tower has access to an expansive recreation deck on level six, featuring a 25-metre lagoon pool and barbecues and alfresco dining areas.

Residents also enjoy a host of other exclusive facilities, including two spas, lush rooftop terraces, three plunge pools with bird’s eye views, a gymnasium, theatre, children’s playroom and other entertainment spaces.

The Developer:   Finally, before you sign a sales contract, take the time to research the developer and their track record.  What is their history, not only locally but in other markets?  Take note of other projects they have delivered and who their development partners are, such as the profile of the architect and builder.

R&F Property Australia is part of R&F Properties, a highly respected global property development group. Established in 1994, the group has completed more than 420 projects in 140 locations worldwide.

To find out more, book an inspection or take your own virtual tour of our apartments for sale in Brisbane 1, click here.