For many people, there's just an innate desire to move into the city. They may not want to live amongst the hustle and bustle for their entire lives, but they at least want to experience it for a while. The idea of living in a loft in an urban setting has been romanticized in books and in movies, but many people who live in lofts will tell you the same thing: that notion is not far removed from reality.

The bottom line is that the loft life is a fun one. At the same time, it simply makes sense for many people. They can be close to work or other places they frequent. They do not have to spend much time on home maintenance. Owning a vehicle may be optional. And most people find they have plenty of space. In short, living in a loft is as practical as it is efficient.

Many people think of Europe when they think of lofts, but they truth is they can be found in nearly any urbanized area. So what, exactly, is a loft? You probably would be surprised by the variety of definitions people have for what constitutes a loft. As far as most people are concerned, the exterior walls of lofts are constructed of either brick or concrete; the ceilings are at least 10 feet high (though many lofts have ceilings much higher than that); and there are large windows that let in plenty of light. (That last characteristic is why lofts have been especially popular with artists over the years.)

You can further classify lofts and true, or hard, lofts, and as soft lofts. True lofts are those in buildings that once served an industrial purpose and that have been converted for residential living. If you move into one of these and read about the history of the building, you may have a great story to tell your friends. Soft lofts are built to resemble true lofts, but the buildings in which they are located are built specifically for residential purposes.

Lofts are great for people who like living in open space, but you can find lofts that have bedrooms or closets, for example, that are sectioned off from the rest of the unit and allow privacy. That is a big deal if a family with a kid or two decides to live in a loft. For many people, though, one of the primary draws of the loft life is the feeling that it makes things simpler. While you can find most of the amenities of single-family homes in lofts, there is no lawn to mow or take, and no sidewalk or driveway to shovel. There is no need to worry about maintenance that needs to be done on the outside, and leaving on vacation is as simple as packing your things and locking the door behind you.