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Whether you want to remodel, add a second floor, or just make your home look better from the outside, knowing the style of your house can help you come up with a good plan. Whatever stage of the home-buying process you’re in, you’ve certainly observed that the terms used to describe various houses and their construction can be confusing. In order to identify the home of your dreams, foresee any problems during your inspection and learn about the advantages of particular home types, it’s important to understand this terminology. You’ll also learn more about how your house was planned and put together by knowing the types.

Courtesy: Fast Sale Home

Types of Houses

Whether you’re looking for your first home, a rental property, or a place to put your house on the market, you should first determine what kind of building you prefer. If you’re on the lookout for a new home, you’re likely to come across one of the varieties listed below.

• Townhouse

In townhouses, residents share two walls with their neighbors unless they live at the end of the building. In urban places where a land is a premium option, you will typically discover older townhouses. Cities with limited space are where they are most popular.

Townhouses are often built with multiple floors in order to maximize vertical space while minimizing horizontal space. Townhouse complexes may have common amenities, such as a pool or gym.

• Apartments

A residence is part of a collection of comparable apartments within a single building. Although lease agreements vary, most landlords are responsible for repairing and improving the rented unit. Some apartment communities have amenities such as a laundry facility, fitness center, or swimming pool. Frequently, apartments include a repairman on-site, a laundry room, a fitness center, and a swimming pool. There are several extra benefits and cons to consider when determining whether to buy or rent a home, despite the lack of privacy and equity accumulation.

• Cottage

Today’s quaint and cozy cottage-style homes were influenced by the medieval architecture of the English countryside, which served as an inspiration for American architects. During the 1920s and 1930s, the style gained widespread popularity in America. These small residences were typically constructed in states with a dense population of individuals who could not afford the magnificent, classical homes of the era. Currently, cabins and cottages often describe rural or semi-rural residences of a traditional design or size. These homes typically include stone or wood siding, a gravel or brick walkway, and brighter exterior colors. Cottage-style house plans typically have steep roof pitches, cross gables, arched doors, and casement windows with small panes, brick, stone, or stucco cladding.

• Co-op

A co-op resembles a condominium or apartment in appearance and function, but the financial and legal structure is significantly different. Each business or individual that purchases a share in a co-op does not own a specific unit but rather a percentage of the building. Co-op owners are comparable to shareholders in a whole building, and they lease their unit from the co-op. Typically, the number of shares you hold corresponds to the amount of space you have in the co-op. After being approved into a co-op and purchasing shares, you will get a vote on common areas and share maintenance and other costs.

• Farmhouse

The farmhouse is situated outside of a city or other urban region. The vertical development of buildings or apartments has accelerated in recent decades. Typical characteristics include high ceilings, exposed beams, a spacious front porch, a rectangular floor plan, and a central fireplace. Some farmhouse-style residences have roofs styled like barns, while others are less literal. Typically, the details are rustic and feature exposed brick and stone. The modern farmhouse style combines a rustic appearance with cleaner lines and other contemporary elements.

• Bungalow

“Bungalow” comes from an Indian word that means “Bengali house.” It is a small, one-story, square house with a porch in front. Most bungalows have square or tapered columns that hold up the roof, many living spaces on the main floor, and a fireplace. In the 1900s, the simple, cheap style became more popular in America. There are different kinds of bungalows, like the California style, the Michigan style, the Chicago style, and the ranch-style, but they all are the same type. There is also a single dormer window built into the pitched roof in the attic.

• Ranch

Ranch homes have one story, are wide, are made of brick or wood, and have a garage in the front and the middle. If you wanted to buy a ranch house in the growing suburbs, you had to have a car. That’s why these houses usually have such a big garage. Most of these homes are one story and have low-pitched roofs, big windows, sliding glass doors, big backyards, open living areas, and garages attached to the house. They can be split-level, storybook, California, or raised ranch, among other styles.

• Colonial Homes

The colonial style is one of the most popular home styles in the United States. It dates back to 1876. Most houses in the colonial style have two or three floors, fireplaces, and brick or wood on the outside. The kitchen and family room is usually on the first floor of a Colonial-style house, while the bedrooms are on the second floor. You can easily add on to the side or back of these homes. It can be hard to match siding to a brick facade, but a builder or designer can help you find siding that goes well with the brick. Even though the colonial style had its roots in the 17th century, traditional and modern colonial homes can be told apart by how they uniquely use symmetry. On one side of the house, windows, doors, and columns are often mirrored on the other side. Other features include a square, symmetrical front, windows with multiple panes and shutters that are evenly spaced, and fireplaces with chimneys that are the same size.

Conclusion

Before you start looking, it’s helpful to know because it allows you to narrow down your options. Finding the home of your dreams can be difficult, but understanding the different types of houses can greatly assist you. Other than the ones mentioned above, you may want to consider other home types.

References

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• “15 Popular And Common Types Of Houses | Quicken Loans.” 15 Popular And Common Types Of Houses | Quicken Loans, www.quickenloans.com, https://www.quickenloans.com/learn/types-of-houses. Accessed 15 May 2022.
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