Until someone builds something else between you and your view.

I love the photo.

I doubt I'd pay more for a view. The idea of it is nice, but I honestly never look out my windows. Growing up I had a view of a lovely little mountain range from my bedroom window, but I didn't really realize this until last year when I went back home to visit my parents.
Even now, I never open my bedroom curtains, and only look out my front windows to see who's making all that noise in the street.

Neat post.

We don't live in a big city like DC or NYC, but we do live on a major road in Atlanta. And while the front of our house might overlook a busy road (though our yard is quite large), the back looks out onto the woods, not a neighbor in sight. I hope that when we eventually sell, a buyer will be able to appreciate such a seemingly private backyard despite the big road location.

You can get a sense of the "treehouse" feel through the windows in this post:
http://thenestinggame.com/2011/08/26/nest-tour-family-room/

Give me the ground floor any day. Give me grass, a patch of yard, bird feeders and trees. A view overlooking the city seems cold and impersonal. Mountains, a forest or a lake would be acceptable too!

I've never paid more for a view. I actually lived in a terrible building on the 3rd floor in a crappy apartment. But I moved in knowing that the top corner unit would be opening up soon (my friend's uncle lived there at the time), and I had seen it and knew it was beautiful.

The view we had of the skyline from that apartment was breathtaking, and honestly better than some of the views from upscale highrise condos in the area, but the unit was still extremely cheap because of the building it was in. Friends would come over and be a little creeped out, but once they saw the view they knew why we liked it so much.

At our current place, the view isn't spectacular, but we can see high speed chases on the main road we live off of, so that's cool. But we have always made it a habit of living on the 2nd floor or above. I would rather have no overhead neighbors.

Location, location, location! Location + a view? Better yet! I pay more for a view (and not a brick wall) and it's worth it, in my opinion.

i have a dumb little view of some hillsides in silverlake, and the coffee house across the street from my bedroom window. i love it! gazing outside longingly is one of my favorite pastimes.

I just recently wondered the same thing. And found a lot going on behind that price.. http://mindshapedbox.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/vie/

luckily I work in an office which gives me the exact same view, so I do not have to pay for it.

In Boston, there is most definitely a difference in price when comparing upper-level duplexes to lower-level duplexes. Upper-level duplexes (second and third floors) are priced higher, and these units are not considered comparable to lower-level units. My realtor made that very clear to me, as any credible agent should.

I used to have 11-ft windows looking down from the 12th floor over Trinity Church in the NYC Financial District. Every morning I'd go stand at the window and see what the city was doing, and marvel at the architecture. Sometimes I'd stick my head out the window for a peek of the Hudson River. It was thrilling and calming and breathtaking all at the same time, and I loved every minute of it.

The building charged higher rents by floor, but I found I didn't like the view as much 10 floors up because I couldn't see the church as well. I'll probably never have a place again with an amazing view like that, but to me, it would be worth paying more for a great view if I could afford it.

@New York Muhtari: Me too! But I'm up on the 56th Floor, so it's broader. We actually get paid to be in the place with the view. Win/Win.

What I would pay for an elevated view! Unfortunately, we live out west and there aren't many tall buildings. We did get lucky enough to have a great view of the downtown LA skyline though!

I will consider «a view» after these: sufficient space, good working order, quiet, good neighbours and safe neighbourhood, insulated for the winter, affordable, good landlord. I wouldn't sacrifice any of these for «a view». But if I can have it all, I'll take it.

According to this post, my unobstructed water view is worth 15%-80% more than 'similar properties'. I'm here to tell you that my unobstructed view of the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Intracoastal Waterway, including free sunsets on the Gulf, are PRICELESS!

I'd look for the view only for the light it offers... The problem with windows facing brick walls or alleys is the definitely the lack of light. Open view means a lot more light for me... Although the view is certainly a plus.

Those percentages seem low. Here in Cincinnati, there seems to be a typical 10% to 20% increase with each floor. I live on the 4th floor with a few of the city, stadium, river and wooded hillsides in the distance. As well a freeway interchange which turns out to be my favorite thing (even though it seems to be reviled by most). The unit above was offered at 20% more than mine.

I honestly would give up the views if I could have an enclosed garden space in the city. But otherwise my place rocks considering I pay less on mortgage than I did on rent.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ekalb/sets/72157619817960291/

It's a good point that views are never guaranteed. We see that a lot these days with infill/intensification in cities. Someone loves their view of the lake, but when a developer puts a condo up in front of them and the view is obstructed, they take the developer to court saying, "But my unit was sold to me with a view!" "With a view" doesn't hold up in court. You are not guaranteed a view for any amount of time. Do your research and find out what the Zoning permits on adjacent properties so you know whether or not 'your' view might be taken away in the future.

I'd pay extra for a better view, but it's hard for me to calculate it in dollars and cents. Guess I'll know when I see it. :)

I might pay more for a great view if I had lots of money to throw around (someday...) but at the moment it's not worth it.

I would never rent/buy anything overlooking a wall, alley, or dumpster, though.

As long as I live in an apartment, I just can't imagine giving up a view. I have a medium elevation view of several buildings and lots of roads, and it's just amazing to watch all the life that goes by day after day. It's one thing to get up to see the sunrise but a totally different experience to see the sunrise and the traffic that starts, or to see people who are probably driving home from the night shift. It makes you feel kind of small as compared to the thousands of people who drive by your home every day, and it never gets old to watch traffic during a leisurely breakfast.

there are some views that really detract from value, imo, like the classic brick wall, parking lot, etc. there are some views that are breathtaking and understandably bump up cost. then there are all the views in between and in that case, which is most, the view is in the eye of the beholder.

I imagine that a lot of people here saying they wouldn't pay for a view don't live in an urban area where "ground floor" doesn't always mean trees, birdfeeders, and grass. Ground floor in my apartment building still faces a road, a tennis court, a wall, etc. The density of stuff around the building is such that a ground floor apartment would still be right next to trees or a road or some other buildings.

And as far as never opening the window or looking out - I imagine this has to do with just how large your windows are. We have floor to ceiling windows and whatever you see out of them just smacks you in the face every day, so if it's a brick wall, you'll see that brick wall in all a 9 foot frame every day. I suspect that people who put more value in a view are ones who have had huge windows in which a good view (and a bad view) is magnified.

Where I live, in a new build condo, the price increases by $1000 for each foot. I paid $50k more to be really high up with an incredible view of our tall landmark, skyscrapers and water. Totally worth every penny.

I'm in Seattle, and lucked out with an apartment (that's not even on the top floor) where I can see all of Ballard, Magnolia, and Fremont, and then see out to Puget Sound and the Olympic mountains. Even in Seattle, there aren't too many people who can claim that they can see glaciers from their bed.

My rent is very reasonable, and though the apartment is a little small, I've stayed for four years because of the view.

View is everything. Of course, you pay more. But you can have to much of a good thing. In an earlier home, I was initially impressed by a 12th floor view of the Gulf of Mexico. But, it got really pretty boring after the first week. And at night it was just a black hole. I now live on a lake with birds and animals and the occasional canoe. Much more interesting.

@ Nesting Game...no lie, I think I have a folding chair IDENTICAL to the two that you have. And mine was also abandoned! Color is the same and everthing. It doesn't fold like a typical chair, right? The seat flips up and the legs fold in separately two at a time?

Fortunately, the vinyl seat is still in really good condition so I haven't yet had to fiddle with replacing it.

I'm guessing it's late 50s/early60s? It has a Cosco label.

It's all about priorities for me: I live in a basement.

BUT my basement comes with a fenced in yard for my dog to run in, an in-house washer/dryer right across the hall from my bedroom, and a separate office. We have plenty of entertaining space, all new energy efficient appliances, and some of the sweetest neighbors a person could ask for.

Would I love to have a view or a real window? Sure. But for now, what we have is almost perfect.

I moved from a 2nd floor 1,550 sq ft. apt to a 1,250 sq ft one that I rented for about $200 more per month just to get more LIGHT (east instead of north orientation) and VIEW (of the Potomac). It was totally worth it!

I looked at a flat that was for sale in a "highly desirable listed Regency crescent" in Brighton, UK. It was on the top floor (4th floor attics) and it was huge. However, although the building faced the sea, all you could see from the flat was slanted rooftop rising in every direction, not even a little glimpse of the sea.

I can't imagine why anyone would have bought it. No address, however posh, is worth a view of .... nothing. As far as I am concerned it was almost worthless without a view.

I think the figures given here are a bit conservative.

I care about light more than the view, to be honest. If the view is bad, I can put a curtain or film up or something, but I don't do well without natural light!

Living in a house at the moment, I love our view - from the front, it's just the street (suburban residential), but from the back, we get sweeping bush views (Australian bush) - trees everywhere, interrupted only by a building off in the distance. It's great!

If I could afford it, I would gladly pay more for a great view. Or rather, compromise on other apt features to get a great view in my price range.

My parents have a place on the 24th floor in a building in Rosslyn VA. They are right on the river and have the most amazing panoramic views of DC, from the National Cathedral all the way to the Pentagon! And the place has huge floor to ceiling windows in every room to make the most of it! At night I like to turn off the lights and just sit on the couch staring out the window. Priceless!

@BlakeFox. Doesn't the Carew look pretty when lit up at night! Sigh. I miss Cincinnati.

The funny thing about living on upper floors is often you're looking at neighboring building's roofs - and their ugly air conditioning units and equipment... :(

Great post! Thanks for sharing. Here's how we value a view in the South Bay in California.

http://www.southbayresidential.com/blog/how-much-is-a-great-view-worth.html