Although New Zealand may seem like it's playing catch-up in embracing the concept of apartment living, it's a common lifestyle choice in many global cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore, where population density is high. Surprisingly though, it's not just population density that makes apartment living popular. In Spain, 65% of residents live in apartments, and the trend is similar in Switzerland, Germany, Greece, and Italy. So why do these Europeans prefer the apartment lifestyle over a house and garden? Here are 10 compelling reasons: