In Perth, apartment living has become “de rigueur” over the last five years: gone are the days of high-rise eyesores.

Modern apartment developments can also offer pretty enviable perks, including swimming pools, gyms, rooftop hangouts and communal gardens. Developers are following the overseas tend of allowing pets into complexes and they’re situated near amenities that enable a great lifestyle for occupants, unmatched by green-title living.

In Perth, apartment living has become “de rigueur” over the last five years: gone are the days of high-rise eyesores.

Modern apartment developments can also offer pretty enviable perks, including swimming pools, gyms, rooftop hangouts and communal gardens. Developers are following the overseas tend of allowing pets into complexes and they’re situated near amenities that enable a great lifestyle for occupants, unmatched by green-title living.

It’s no coincidence that there has been a boom in apartment building at precisely the same time as Perth city has become a far more exciting place to live.

Small bars, cafes, restaurants, pop-up shops, the Fringe Festival, hawkers markets, interesting public art, Elizabeth Quay: Perth’s inner city has become much more vibrant and that makes it a far more attractive place to live.

The list goes on, other attractions of living in apartments include:

• Maintenance covered and taken care of by the landlord or the body corporate
• An apartment is ideal for those who choose to live alone
• Save on utilities including water and electricity
• Safety of living in a secure environment
• An affordable option to live in a wealthy suburb and have the advantages of all it provides
• The opportunity to create a sense of old- fashioned community
• Apartment prices have gone up, especially in areas near water, train stations and close to busy centres.

In 2015, there was a surge of apartments building under the “build to rent” concept, especially in Rivervale, the CBD, East Perth, Scarborough and South Perth.

Developers are now concentrating on “build to live” clients and looking closely at what potential buyers want in apartment living.

In Western Australia in 2016, 17,569 dwellings were approved, and apartments and townhouses made up 7966 of those, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. According to the Housing Industry’s forecasting growth report 2017/18, the number of house sales in the Perth metro region has declined marginally by 4.7 per cent in the year to September 2017, but multi-residential unit sales experienced an uptick, by 1.5 per cent over the same period.

Unfortunately, West Australians are spoilt with their double brick homes and big backyards. Many have a strong belief that privacy will be lost with apartment living and that the strata company will control your life. But that is not the case, if you choose well.

So, where should you look to buy or rent an apartment to get the lifestyle perks? My top picks for apartment living suburbs are Perth Hub in the new Perth City Link area – this is a new off-the-plan project completely surrounded by lifestyle amenities and public transport. You will never be bored.

North Coogee has a selection of apartments to suit all price ranges, plus several boutique apartments. Claremont provides a good balance of houses and apartments and the amenities in the area are excellent.

Developers are optimistic that in 2018, more apartments will be springing up with better designs, at reasonable price points, adopting more energy efficient methods and in areas that have a vibrant lifestyle. So, will you consider apartment living in 2018?