| One of the increasingly popular ways to live in the | | | | of sun (and fog!), you want all the sunlight you can |
| densely populated city of San Francisco is in a | | | | capture inside your home. |
| residential or mixed-used live/work loft. Although lofts | | | | In addition to residential loft living, lofts have strong |
| can be traced back to the early 1900’s, it was | | | | appeal to San Francisco artists who use their loft |
| during the 60’s that loft living really started to | | | | homes as galleries as well as well as people who are |
| become a fashionable way to live. This loft-living | | | | just starting out with their own businesses and require |
| movement was led by progressive artists who loved | | | | dedicated home office space. Additionally, since lofts |
| the idea of loft living because of the tremendous | | | | have so much open space, some families view lofts |
| amount of open space and structural design that can | | | | as a viable housing option for raising children in a |
| inspire art itself. | | | | crowded city like San Francisco. |
| San Francisco has always been known for its | | | | Before you start shopping for a loft in the San |
| lassiez-faire attitude and its casual laid back sense of | | | | Francisco Bay area, there are a few key terms you |
| style, so it is no surprise that the idea of loft living in | | | | will want to know when it comes to looking at available |
| renovated factories and buildings, or newer | | | | lofts. The term hard loft means the entire area will be |
| construction loft residences, has grown in popularity | | | | open besides the bathroom and often the original |
| over the years. Loft living is essentially living in a | | | | architectural elements are left in place, although |
| wide open space that may be divided by structural | | | | decorated to match the live / work space. A soft |
| components such as timber or concrete beams and | | | | loft on the other hand, has walls dividing the area that |
| exposed ventilation ducts, but is mainly all livable | | | | do not reach the ceiling, but still help provide family |
| space. Without walls and other dividers throughout | | | | members with separate living spaces. Most |
| most lofts, you have a tremendous amount of usable | | | | homebuyers and renters have a strong preference for |
| floorspace. Additionally, the large and open floor | | | | the type of loft space they desire and sharing your |
| plan of lofts is frequently complimented with large | | | | preferences with your real estate agent will enable |
| industrial size windows which illuminate the space, and | | | | them to find the perfect loft living space for you in San |
| if you live in a city like San Francisco which sees a lot | | | | Francisco. |