Abstract: Novel residential elevators, and novel methods of installing and using residential elevators. A residential elevator of the invention typically includes guide rail structure, a car, lift apparatus, and cables connecting the lift apparatus to the car. The guide rail structure is mounted to the building. The car is mounted to the guide rail structure. The car has a range of upward and downward movement, along a path of travel between an upper limit and a lower limit. The lift apparatus lifts and lowers the car, and is mounted to the guide rail structure, at a location such that the lift apparatus is above the top of the car when the car is at the upper limit. Preferably, the cables extend directly from the car or car frame to the lift apparatus without passing over or around any sheave or around any other direction-changing structure.