Would you now, or at any point in your life, consider or have considered buying an apartment that's a 3 floor walkup?

Probably, when I was in my 20’s, it wouldn’t have bothered me much. But moving furniture would be a pain. If you haven’t seen the “Pivot” episode of Friends, check it out on YouTube. It’s pretty funny.
At my age now, I’m actually looking to down size. My house isn’t really that big, but there are steps every where. If I should have health issues, it would be a problem.

As I people age it’s more of an issue, so I would say yes, it can be a deterrent. The only plus is if you’re in a highly urbanized area distance from the ground level is good for noise and security reasons.

College (48 years ago), I did – top level of three story walkup apartment (not condo).

I was younger and more limber then, and it really didn’t bother me. As a grown adult, a walkup is not something I could deal with.

@elbanditoroso additional note to previous response -> shared apartment with three others, and we had it for a year.

I don’t think we would have rented it long term.

I would rent one, but not buy. I would like to live on the third floor but would want the option of an elevator for taking stuff up to the apt. I would walk up stairs to a third floor apt otherwise, as I do hate elevators. I live where hurricanes ban bring very deep storm surges and third floor is generally high enough to stay dry. I would not live above second floor if not on the coast.

Not now for sure. I have a home that is paid off and would not want to start another rent/mortgage payment. As for the 3rd floor walk up? Nope. Not even in my youth. My step-son moved into a 3rd floor walk up and it was a pain to even move in. Furniture didn’t fit in the small elevator they had and the stairs made bringing furniture up bothersome. We ended up tying a rope onto his sofa and pulling it up over the railing of the balcony. Even more of a pain!

I would never do it assuming I had the money that I could buy something more convenient.

If the third floor is a top floor I think people are more open to it, because a lot of people don’t like people above them. A young single person especially might not see it as very inconvenient. Grocery shopping might not be more than two bags.

There are a lot of three story rental apartments, and quite a few three story buildings in Florida (often they are condo conversions) and they do sell, but I think 3rd floor is a tougher sell.

NYC used to have 5 story walk-ups, probably some of the buildings are still that way. I can’t imagine it.

My kid (age 35) just moved out of such a place, they’d lived there for 11 years. They’re staying with me for a couple of months and are so delighted to not have t9 do all that anymore.

To buy such a thing? Never, I’d be afraid that I couldn’t sell when it came time.

I wouldn’t at my age. My friend has a lovely rental apartment in Manhattan but it is a 4th floor walk up. I don’t think she’d buy it. My kids in Paris own a third floor walk up and I find it tiring to get to the third floor (actually I think it’s 4 floors because the ground floor is the rez de chaussee..

However, for a young couple, I’m not sure it would be that much of a consideration.

A young couple who wants to have a baby I think forget it. Imagine being pregnant or having an infant. Back in the day maybe they did it because there was little choice.

In my 20s we had a third floor cold water flat !

PITA moving sofas and large furniture in the middle of the summer.

Nope never can’t stand being that close to neighbors,always had detached properties.

No. I see no benefits unless the view is unique.

Assuming you mean with no elevator at all? And on the 3rd floor rather than the 4th, using American floor-counting? (Oh and you also used the word “buy” – I’ve only rented such places.)

Yes, though it is a good point about the issues if/when one develops a mobility problem, as well as the added PITA of moving furniture etc in and out.

That is, if it’s a nice place, it can be well worth extra stairs. When I’ve lived on the 3rd floor (which actually now that I think of it, has been one of my most common arrangements, though I’m not sure if this question means 3rd floor or 4th floor), I think usually there was no elevator at all, and in the cases where there was, I’d usually only bother to use the elevator when I had something very large or heavy to bring up or down.

In those cases, it was one consideration of many. Usually the view and/or lack of upstairs neighbors, or other specifics, were more of a (positive) consideration. I’d much rather have a nice 3rd story view, than be down at ground level, or even on the 2nd floor.

(I’ve lived on the 20th floor, too . . . and walked up a few times, but only a few. In that case, the 20th floor view was much more of a feature than the height was a negative, but without an elevator, well, that would be a net negative unless I wanted lots of exercise and was willing to live on inflatable furniture.)

@JLeslie Someone in my family had a rental apartment that was 5th floor, in NYC. It was a great little studio apartment, nice wood floors, decent building, great neighborhood in the Village on a nice street. Those 5 floors of steps were a killer! I went there once with my parents and when we all got to the apartment, nboody was talking, we were all just breathing heavily. My relative whose apartment it was was in great shape, so for her, it was a non-issue. For us, it was a real deterrent. The building was probably built in the 1920s when elevators were more of a rarity.

Good points made by Jellies about the pain-in-the-assery of moving in furniture. Also, if you’re paying a mover, they charge more for having to go up many steps. Good point also about the trouble of going up and down the steps with a baby and all the baby stuff.

With my knees? Nope.

My first flat was three up but I had wings to carry me to the third floor. Now I must climb laboriously flight by flight and it has become a consideration.

This is the same issue as people who have a multi-floor house with only a bathroom on one level. It matters if you have health issues making those climbs. Typically you are traversing once or twice a day.

I had a 3rd floor walk-up in Southie (South Boston) right off Broadway when I was 29–33.
The location was what mattered as opposed to the walk up aspect. The walkup did not matter to me, nor was it an inconvenience.
One of my brothers own a McMansion with 3 floors. I visit often and it is not an issue to his family.

Would it matter now? Perhaps, but only if my health was the issue. Ask me when I get to 75 years old.

Now ya’ll see why I went single level ranch. Hreat house for seniors and of course, my old dogs. :)

“pivot! pivot! pivot!” Love that episode! @KNOWITALL brought up another consideration. If you have a dog, you’re going to be up and down those stairs a couple/few times a day for them, too.

With my back, knees, and mild emphysema, nope on the 3rd floor.

I had no idea walking gave people so much trouble.
When I see 3rd floor, I think of nice views.

@Blackberry wait until the cartilage in your needs begins to wear…

^^ Or even your knees.

damn typos :-) thanks @janbb

Great physical exercise.

No elevator? That seems like a PITA for moving furniture.

I would have rented one pre-kids. Buying, no.

Where I’m at I’m lucky to make the 2 steps onto the porch.

I rented a third floor attic apartment when I was 22. It was fine, but I wouldn’t buy one. You have to think not only about your own mobility, but also anyone you might want to visit.