Garden Complex vs Mid Rise

[Mr. Lisle]

I have a client insisting that I change the description of a condo complex from Mid Rise to Garden., anyone have a official definition of Garden complex, & Mid Rise?

 

[gregb]

Some discussion on mid-rise buildings:
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/4632-how-do-you-define-a-low-rise-high-rise-etc/

 

[residentialguy]

I have a client insisting that I change the description of a condo complex from Mid Rise to Garden., anyone have a official definition of Garden complex, & Mid Rise?

Mid rise is usually 4-9 floor buildings (may vary with different markets)

A garden is not a complex but a description of a unit that has some portion of its area below grade (steps down) - it may be a lower unit of a mid-rise building.

 

[gregb]

The 'Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal,' 3rd Edition states a Garden Apartment is:

"An apartment development of two- or three-story, walk-up structures built in a garden-like setting; customarily a suburban or rural-urban fringe development."

 

[Mr. Lisle]

Mid rise is usually 4-9 floor buildings (may vary with different markets)

A garden is not a complex but a description of a unit that has some portion of its area below grade (steps down) - it may be a lower unit of a mid-rise building.

This is the issue, I have a low rise, 3 floors above grade, one below (4 total levels), subject is on the 2nd story. Since Fannie took the low rise off, I checked "other" and entered low rise, the lender insists I need to check "Garden", and garden 1-3 stories. I have always considered garden a unit type below grade, as you said and refused to call this a garden complex.

 

[residentialguy]

Is this is DEU requesting this or the lender or AMC reviewer requesting this? If it isn't the DEU, tell him that only the DEU can request that change. You are the specialist in that area and in that area the best description for the subject that you (who's opinion that report represents) is low rise - you feel that low rise is best.

If he can point in Da FHA Rule Book where it must be marked as a Garden, then you can change it....otherwise, go pound sand.

 

[DTB]

The 'Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal,' 3rd Edition states a Garden Apartment is:

"An apartment development of two- or three-story, walk-up structures built in a garden-like setting; customarily a suburban or rural-urban fringe development."

This is the issue, I have a low rise, 3 floors above grade, one below (4 total levels), subject is on the 2nd story. Since Fannie took the low rise off, I checked "other" and entered low rise, the lender insists I need to check "Garden", and garden 1-3 stories. I have always considered garden a unit type below grade, as you said and refused to call this a garden complex.

I think your description as a low rise development is correct and the one I would use. Most of my work was city/inner ring suburbs and I have never appraised a unit in a Garden development in the Chicagoland area.

See if they'll go for 3 story walkup?

 

[Mr. Lisle]

I think your description as a low rise development is correct and the one I would use. Most of my work was city/inner ring suburbs and I have never appraised a unit in a Garden development in the Chicagoland area.

See if they'll go for 3 story walkup?

My thoughts exactly, I have lived in the city all my life, and have never seen a garden complex in Chicago. For some odd reason they are dead set on me calling this thing a garden complex. They think garden is a 2-3 flat, all because Fannie removed low rise form the 2005 form...

Does anyone in Chicago call a low rise in Chicago "garden"?

 

[residentialguy]

Chicago Beer gardens count? Been there, done that!

 

[SteveSpy]

I've seen vintage courtyard complexes referred to as 'Garden Complexes' by Realtors.

Tomato-Tomatoe. Provide a bit more in-depth details on the subject project. If you define the term, I see no issue in using it.