What Is Horizontal Living?

As more people contend with traditional living models—like home ownership and apartment communities—the market is developing newer, innovative ways of living. Horizontal living, or horizontal housing, is one of those. Because these new communities can offer the best of both homeownership and apartment communities, more people are choosing it over any of the traditional options.

Horizontal Vs. Vertical Living

Vertical living can be thought of as a traditional apartment building with shared walls, ceilings, and/or floors amongst neighbors. Horizontal living is more like a housing development that is built to rent. It’s a unique choice that combines single-family rentals with many community amenities expected from modern apartments.

Some similarities between horizontal and vertical living include:
1. Shared amenity spaces
2. Planned resident events
3. Provided maintenance
And more

While many of the shared characteristics between these styles are things people love about apartments, rental home communities can offer even more. Horizontal living typically comes with more personal space like private backyards, improved privacy with no neighbors above or below, no elevators or stairs required, and fewer or no shared walls.

Essentially, horizontal living takes the best of vertical living, removes many of the negatives, and adds a few unique touches of its own. Combining the best of both worlds, the future of housing is living in a home without the hassles associated with buying or owning.

Why Renters Are Choosing Horizontal Living

With new generations of people moving out to live on their own, we’re seeing new patterns emerge. According to Pew Research Center, more U.S. households are renting than at any point in 50 years. In addition to a higher number of renters, these renters are demanding more from the places they’re renting from. For some, traditional apartment complexes aren’t doing the trick.

Horizontal living offers amenities apartments can’t offer—like backyards and no upstairs neighbors—while also offering a maintenance-free home and an easier lifestyle than homeownership. Renters, and especially renters by choice, are choosing horizontal living as the perfect combination of the two most traditional options.

Interested In Learning More?

Christopher Todd Communities has truly created A New Way To Live®. Our detached, single-story, single-family homes provide improved privacy over apartment rentals, less maintenance than owning a house, built-in smart home technology, and tons of space for entertainment and socialization.

Here, you get your own home and a private backyard maintained for you, luxurious community amenities right outside your front door, in-home features that add convenience, and regular resident events for a true neighborhood atmosphere. You can view our communities here.