A condo is a privately owned unit within a larger multi-unit community. A few advantages to living in a condo include low-maintenance living and awesome on-site amenities.

Before moving into a condo, it's important to understand the difference between Nashville high-rise condos, mid-rise condos, and low-rise condos. Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of each style of condo and decide which one is right for you.

Quick Look at Condo Building Types

• Condos are generally categorized as high-rise (10+ stories), mid-rise (5–9 stories), and low-rise (1–4 stories).
• High-rise condos emphasize urban convenience, central locations, skyline views, and luxury amenities.
• Low-rise condos prioritize quieter living, community feel, architectural character, and affordability.
• Choosing the right condo depends on lifestyle, commute, social preferences, and long-term plans.
• Touring properties at different times and renting first can help make your condo choice.
• Nashville’s condo market includes low-rise lofts and modern high-rise towers to suit different needs.

High-Rise vs Low-Rise vs Mid-Rise Buildings

What Is a High-Rise Condo?

A high-rise condo is a residential building that typically stands several stories tall, often exceeding 10 floors, and consists of individually owned units. These condos offer urban living with shared amenities such as fitness centers, pools, and security services, which are managed by a homeowners' association.

High-rise condominiums are commonly found in city centers or densely populated areas, providing residents with the convenience of being close to work, shopping, dining, and entertainment. They are known for their impressive views, modern design, and a lifestyle that combines privacy with community living, as residents own their individual units but share common spaces and facilities.

What Is a Low-Rise Condo?

A low-rise condo is a residential building with a smaller number of floors, typically between one and four stories. These condos are often found in suburban or less densely populated urban areas, offering a more intimate and quieter living environment compared to high-rise buildings.

Low-rise condos usually have fewer units, which can lead to a stronger sense of community among residents. They may include shared amenities like parking, small gyms, or courtyards, but often on a more modest scale than high-rise condos.

The design of low-rise condominiums often blends more seamlessly with surrounding residential neighborhoods, providing a balance between condo living and the feel of a traditional home.

What Is a Mid-Rise Condo?

A mid-rise condo is a residential building that typically ranges from five to nine stories, positioned between low-rise and high-rise buildings in terms of height and scale. These condos are commonly found in urban and suburban areas where there is a demand for higher-density living without the towering presence of a high-rise.

Mid-rise apartments offer a balance of convenience and community, often featuring shared amenities like gyms, lounges, and sometimes rooftop terraces, but usually on a more moderate scale compared to high-rise developments. They provide a blend of the urban lifestyle, with accessibility to nearby shops, restaurants, and public transport, while maintaining a more approachable and less imposing architectural profile than taller buildings.

Mid-rise condos offer the convenience of condo living with a greater sense of privacy and a less crowded environment.

The Benefits of High-Rise Condos

There are many benefits to living in a high-rise. Here are some to consider.

Desirable Locations

Generally situated at the center of a city, you never have to go far to get where you need to be. Many things may be walkable or accessible by bike, and convenient access to Nashville public transit can help you get to anything farther out.

For those who love a good meal out, retail adventure, or trips to the local watering hole, a high-rise is an excellent choice as it will put you right in the center of the local action. By choosing a high-rise in a premium location, residents can take full advantage of Nashville's famous bustling music scene.

Views for Days

Living on a higher floor means enjoying gorgeous views. Condo developers know this, so they often incorporate large windows throughout the property to allow residents to take it all in.

Being able to people watch and take in sunsets daily is a great mood and productivity booster. Buyers can find numerous high-rise communities with Nashville skyline views.

Luxurious Amenities

In addition to having a beautiful place to call home, many high-rise complexes also have a variety of amenities to take advantage of. This can include but is not limited to a parking garage, doorman, gym, pool, on-site laundry, a social clubhouse space, and other shared recreational areas.

If you're outgoing, you may love a condo building with amenities that favor socialization. High-rise condos can also include top-tier private amenities. For example, there are several Nashville high-rises with rooftop pools.

More Floorplan Variety

A high-rise will usually have more variety in floor plans, views, and finishes. If you don't love the first unit you check out, ask to tour other vacant units until you find one that's a good fit for your wishlist.

Enhanced Hosting Experiences

Living in a great spot often equates to lots of visitors. It can be wise to plan for an extra bedroom or easily transformable sleeping space to make sure it's easy to accommodate out-of-town guests.

All in all, a high-rise can be a great investment for anyone looking for day-to-day convenience and for the opportunity to take advantage of all Nashville has to offer.

The Benefits of Low-Rise Condos

If living hundreds of feet in the air doesn't appeal to you, low-rise condo living might be a better option for you. There are still many options in and around downtown that provide excellent basecamps in Nashville.

Character Galore

In a smaller complex, you're more likely to see older buildings full of condos that have undergone renovation throughout the years. There are hundreds of complexes, each with its unique design flare. This gives home shoppers access to an eclectic collection of potential homes to choose from.

More Affordable Options

Generally, low-rise condos offer more affordable living compared to high-rise units. The difference? Location and amenities. Fewer amenities mean lower HOA fees every month. Low-rise buildings also tend to have lower utility costs. Smaller buildings are easier to heat and cool.

Easier to Get In and Out

It can be frustrating to wait for the elevator to stop on ten floors before it gets to yours or to encounter a traffic jam in the parking garage when you're running late. Being close to the ground floor in a low-rise condo will help you avoid these common pitfalls.

The Best of Both Worlds

Low-rise buildings typically bring balance. Living in a high-rise can be overstimulating, but moving to the suburbs takes you too far away from the action. The tone is a little tamer in a low-rise, but the best of Nashville is still right outside your front door.

The Drawbacks of High-Rise Condos

High-rise living isn't all skyline views and rooftop pools. Here are some things that might make you think twice.

Elevator Dependency

You're running late for work. The elevator stops on every single floor. Again.

Living in a high-rise means you're at the mercy of elevators. During rush hour, you could wait 10 minutes just to get downstairs. Power outage? Hope you're ready to climb all those flights of stairs.

Higher Price Tags

That panoramic view comes at a cost. Units on higher floors with better views can cost $50,000 to $100,000 more than lower units with the same square footage.

Monthly HOA fees tend to run higher too. You're paying for that doorman, the fancy lobby, and all those amenities—whether you use them or not.

The Crowd Factor

More units mean more neighbors. More neighbors mean more noise, more competition for amenities, and limited parking spots in newer buildings.

The gym at 6 p.m.? Packed. The pool on summer weekends? Good luck finding a lounge chair. The clubhouse for your birthday party? Better book it months in advance.

Feeling Removed from Street Level

Living 20 floors up can feel isolating. Running to your car takes 10 minutes instead of two. Forgot your phone? That's another 20-minute round trip.

Some residents in high-rise apartments say they feel disconnected from the neighborhood. You're watching the city from above instead of being part of it.

The Drawbacks of Low-Rise Condos

Low-rise living has its own set of challenges. Here's what might surprise you.

Limited Views

Let's be real—your view is probably another building, a parking lot, or trees. Skyline views? Not happening from the third floor.

Natural light can be limited too, especially if you're facing another building or stuck on the ground level.

Fewer Amenities

Smaller buildings might mean fewer perks. Many low-rise condos skip the pool, skip the fitness center, and definitely skip the rooftop terrace.

If you're drawn to condo living for the amenities, you might feel shortchanged compared to high-rise options.

Location Trade-Offs

Low-rise condos are often in suburban or residential areas farther from downtown. Your commute just got longer. Late-night dinner plans in the city? Factor in extra travel time.

You're trading convenience for quiet. That's great if you love suburban life, but it's a dealbreaker if you thrive on urban energy.

Stair Climbing

Four flights of stairs might not sound bad until you're carrying groceries. Or moving furniture. Or dealing with a broken elevator.

Some older low-rise buildings don't have elevators at all. That charming walk-up loses its appeal fast when you're exhausted or helping elderly parents visit.

How to Choose Between High-Rise and Low-Rise

Want to buy a condo but can't decide which condo style fits your life? Here's how to figure it out.

Consider Your Daily Routine

How do you get to work? If you commute downtown and rely on public transit, a high-rise near the action makes sense. Work in the suburbs? A low-rise might actually cut your travel time.

What's your typical day look like? Hit the gym before work? High-rise amenities win. Prefer outdoor morning walks with your dog? Low-rise green spaces are calling your name.

How social are you? Love meeting neighbors at building events? High-rises offer more opportunities. Prefer knowing your neighbors by name in a smaller community? Low-rise living creates that intimate feel.

Tour at Different Times

Visit your top choices during rush hour. How long do you wait for elevators? How crazy is parking?

Come back on a Saturday morning. Is the building quiet or noisy? Can you actually use the pool, or is it mobbed with residents?

Walk around the neighborhood at night. Do you feel safe? Is street noise a problem?

Picture Your Life in 5 Years

Life changes. Will that high-rise with a single bedroom work if you want to start a family? Can you handle stairs if you injure your knee?

Is the neighborhood improving or declining? Low-rise areas can transform dramatically when new development arrives. That "up and coming" area might explode in value—or stay stuck.

Test Drive Your Decision

If possible, rent in the area first. Spend 6 months in a high-rise or low-rise before buying.

You'll quickly learn what matters to you. The view you thought you'd love? Maybe you never look at it. The long commute you worried about? Maybe it's peaceful downtime to decompress.

Popular Nashville Condo Complexes

There are a number of popular condo buildings in Nashville, but here are just a few and where they fall on the low- to high-rise (or mid-rise!) scale.

Church Street Lofts: Low-Rise

3rd Avenue is home to the Church Street Lofts. Located inside the Cheatham Building, the three-story property listed on the National Register of Historic Places contains seventeen one- and two-bedroom units with a stunning traditional loft design.

Desirable features include exposed original brick, floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings, wood floors, private balconies, and modern kitchens. The building has a transitional design mixed with a bit of industrial flair. Still, most of the exterior, which features stunning ornate architectural qualities, has never been altered from its original state.

The Phoenix Lofts: Mid-Rise

A bit further down 3rd Avenue in historic Printers Alley, Phoenix Lofts are the pinnacle of urban living. Residents have easy walking access to dozens of nearby stores, pubs, restaurants, and arts and entertainment facilities. They're also able to enjoy views of the Titans' stadium and the Cumberland River.

The Ambrose Lofts: Low-Rise

Also in Printer's Alley, the Marshall & Brice Printing Company building, constructed in 1905, now houses Ambrose Lofts. The Ambrose Printing Company, which was the last printing company to move out of the district, acquired the building in the '40s.

The building is a mixed-use complex home to twenty-one residential units. The top two floors were converted from office space in 2006.

Encore: High-Rise

To contrast loft life, condos for sale in the Encore building sit 20 floors above the streets of the SoBro neighborhood, next to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Country Music Hall of Fame, Music City Convention Center, and Lower Broadway. This highly desirable development is one of the most sought-after living condo developments in Nashville.

Residences at Broadwest: High-Rise

Residences at Broadwest is a luxury 34-story complex with units starting in the mid-$700s. It's located just off of Broadway and is close to I-40 and several bus stops—not to mention all the fun downtown.

Low-Rise vs. High-Rise: Which Nashville Condo Is Right for You?

There's no perfect option—just the right option for your life right now.

Choose a high-rise if you want: Convenience, building amenities, city living, and don't mind higher costs and crowds.

Choose a low-rise if you want: More space, quieter surroundings, community feel, and can handle longer commutes.

The Nashville condo market offers both. With some planning and honest self-assessment, you'll find the perfect fit for your lifestyle and budget.

No matter which type of condo you choose, high-rise and low-rise options in Nashville real estate are abundant. With a bit of planning and patience, you're sure to find the perfect place for you.