{"id":23278,"date":"2021-04-28T14:32:52","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T21:32:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=23278"},"modified":"2026-03-22T17:53:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T00:53:34","slug":"buyer-what-is-a-penthouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-what-is-a-penthouse\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying a Penthouse Means You\u2019re at the Top of Your Game, but Not Necessarily on the Top Floor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Penthouses are known for their luxury amenities and sweeping city views. Perched on the top floor of luxury apartment buildings, they represent the best of the best. But they might not be exactly what you expect.<\/p>\n

Imagine \u2026<\/p>\n

Your real estate agent has found the perfect<\/i> penthouse. It checks all of your boxes, so you schedule a showing. The building is stunning and ideally located. So you board the elevator and settle in for your long ride to the top.<\/p>\n

But the elevator stops far short of the top floor. You turn to your agent, quizzically raising your eyebrows. Then the elevator door opens to reveal a unique floor plan, lots of natural light, high ceilings, and access to a balcony. What gives? If it\u2019s not the top-floor apartment, then what is a penthouse? Is the agent trying to pull the wool over your eyes? Not necessarily.<\/p>\n

The definition of penthouse has evolved over the years, but regardless of its location in the building or its layout, you\u2019re guaranteed top-of-the-line amenities and swoon-worthy views. As with any real estate, however, there are still pros and cons to penthouse living and this type of property isn\u2019t for everyone.<\/p>\n

Penthouses are quintessentially New York, but some of the best penthouses<\/a> can be found in Miami, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. So whether you\u2019re looking for beach views, city views, or a little of both, there\u2019s a penthouse that can deliver \u2014 for a price.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Source: (Zane Lee \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The history of a penthouse<\/h2>\n

Penthouses rose to popularity during the opulence of the Roaring \u201920s. Luxury and drama reigned supreme in every aspect of life, including over-the-top luxury apartments that were established as the top floor of many high-end apartment buildings. As with many success stories, however, the penthouse came from humble beginnings.<\/p>\n

The archaic definition of a penthouse<\/a> is \u201can outhouse or shelter built onto the side of a building, having a sloping roof.\u201d And believe it or not, the penthouse was originally built as servant\u2019s quarters where they could be tucked away on the roof \u2014 near chimneys and water towers \u2014 and out of sight. Before the invention of elevators, the \u201cpenthouse\u201d required a long haul up the stairs, making the top floor an undesirable spot \u2014 despite the city views.<\/p>\n

But after the invention of elevators and the elevator brakes that made skyscrapers possible<\/a>, the wealthy got wise to the fact that their servants enjoyed a much better view than they did. Once they realized what they were missing, the elite turned out the servants and New York City legalized penthouses in 1925<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Once the desire for a penthouse took hold, developers began to do what any good business people would do and designed the top floor of a building to exude luxury and finery. Two of the first penthouse owners were Cond\u00e9 Montrose Nast<\/a> of Cond\u00e9 Nast media company and Marjorie Merriweather Post, a businesswoman, socialite, philanthropist, and director of General Foods.<\/p>\n

Post is credited with owning New York City\u2019s first penthouse that she had designed based on the mansion that was demolished in 1925 to make room for 1107 Fifth Ave. Its opulence was astounding<\/a> \u2014 even by today\u2019s standards. Technically a triplex, it took up three floors and boasted 54 rooms. This building still commands high prices with apartments selling for over $16 million.<\/p>\n

So what is a penthouse now?<\/h2>\n

According to Jared Antin<\/a>, a Manhattan real estate agent who leads Elegran’s sales team, the classic definition of a penthouse is the full top floor of an apartment building. However, because developers understand that penthouses command premium prices, some take more liberties with the term and use it as a marketing point.<\/p>\n

The modern definition of penthouse has been expanded to refer to a variety of units. Units that are \u201cset back\u201d allowing for a terrace or balcony regardless of what floor they\u2019re on, those with a different layout than other units in the building, units with higher ceilings, and units that offer other amenities to differentiate it from the standard unit all qualify for penthouse status.<\/p>\n

Antin says that some apartments \u201cmay have terraces or some other characteristic that distinguishes them, and developers use it as a marketing point to be able to charge more per square foot. For instance, the penthouse floor may have a combination of higher ceiling height, private outdoor space, and nicer finishes.\u201d In some cases, there are multiple penthouses on one floor or one penthouse may take up multiple floors.<\/p>\n

The shift in what the term \u201cpenthouse\u201d means is due to a number of factors.<\/p>\n