Buying a house is a joyful milestone – and a huge undertaking. A little homework could help you find the house that’s the best fit for you.. Every home buyer has unique needs and tastes that shape how they envision their dream home. The following guide will show you some popular home options, including their strengths and weaknesses, renovation options, and the distinct features that make each one shine.
Find Your Dream Home: 9 Types of Houses
As you're preparing to buy a home, it's exciting to imagine the place you'll call your own. The style is more than just part of curb appeal; it shapes your day-to-day life, from how you decorate to how you cook dinner and entertain guests. Sure, the look of the place might be what first catches your eye, but there's a lot more to consider. Think about the ideal neighborhood for your dream home, whether you're up for some DIY, how the house fits your budget, and how you'll keep its charm alive.
With so many house types out there, making a choice can feel overwhelming. But we've broken down 9 popular house styles, complete with their perks and quirks, to help you navigate your options and find the right match.
#1 Ranch-Style Houses
Ranch-style houses are single-story homes that emerged as an affordable option for home buyers around the 1930s. They typically have low-pitched roofs and sprawling floor plans without clearly defined living areas. Bedrooms are often grouped on one side of the house.
While ranch-style houses may be small, they frequently have big yards and outdoor areas. Common renovations make use of the outdoor space. For example, you might build a porch or patio where you could have parties and enjoy your morning coffee.
#2 Craftsman-Style Houses
Careful details, natural materials, and thoughtful living spaces set craftsman-style houses apart. They typically have features like exposed beams and rafters that draw attention to craftsmanship, as well as low-pitched gabled roofs. A typical craftsman has one or two stories.
Common renovations for craftsman houses focus on modernizing amenities while preserving the classic aesthetic. Updating your cabinets and appliances could help you make the space more usable but preserve the look you love.
#3 Tudor-Style Houses
Tudor-style houses are known for their storybook charm that hark back to the 1500s. Tudors feature stucco or brick, accented by decorative dark timber. They often have steeply pitched gable roofs and chimneys. Windows are long and narrow. Some Tudors even have stained glass details.
Home buyers are often drawn to Tudors for their aesthetic appeal, so renovations usually keep the façade intact. You may even add features that play up the Tudor look, like arched doorways. Of course, practical updates like appliance and insulation upgrades are common. In addition to modernizing appliances and fixtures, you may want to brighten up your Tudor by opening living spaces and changing interior paint color schemes, wallpaper, or tile colors.
#4 Colonial-Style Houses
Versions of colonial-style houses exist throughout the U.S. Their simple, symmetrical designs focus on function. A basic colonial typically has a rectangular base, at least two stories, and a steep-pitched roof. The front door is usually in the center of the façade, with multi-paned, shuttered windows on either side. Inside, you’ll likely find a centered hallway leading to spacious, open living spaces and a grand staircase leading to smaller bedrooms upstairs.
Colonial-style houses are adaptable, with variations across the country. Each has distinct features designed for specific environments and charming stylistic flairs. You could easily blend the historic look of a colonial home with today's comforts. Common renovations may include transforming attics or basements into living spaces, updating windows for added insulation, and removing walls to create more of an open floor plan.
#5 Victorian-Style Houses
Home buyers in search of architectural character will find it in Victorian-style houses. There are a few Victorian house styles, but they share the same whimsical design. Victorian-style houses are known for bold colors and a mix of architectural elements, textures, and décor. Their extravagant profiles feature towers or turrets, which give the houses a castle-like appearance. Victorian roofs are steeply pitched and gabled. Ornate details range from stained glass windows to patterned brickwork, arches, and detailed woodwork.
The asymmetrical profile of Victorian houses lends itself to varied interior living spaces with plenty of nooks and crannies. Common renovations for Victorian houses include revitalizing outside space, restoring decorative elements, and adapting irregular indoor spaces for practical use. For example, the inside of a tower might make an excellent library or office with a bit of elbow grease.
#6 Bungalow-Style Houses
If you’re interested in the look of craftsman house styles but not the size, a bungalow may be the right fit for you. These compact houses usually have only one story. Sometimes, the low-pitched roofs contain a second half-story, making for a cozy bedroom if you don’t mind low ceilings. While bungalows are small, they typically have an open-concept interior that makes them appear more spacious.
When you imagine a bungalow, you might think of a stucco building by the beach. However, there are many different types of bungalows adapted to different environments. Most feature natural wood and plenty of windows. Because bungalows offer limited indoor space, common renovations make use of outdoor space instead. For example, you may add landscaping to the yard or a new patio or porch.
#7 Mid-Century Modern-Style Houses
Mid-century modern-style houses are a particularly beloved type of modernist houses. Like other modernist architecture, function informs the form. This option features clean lines and a mix of wood, metals, glass, and vinyl. Like modernist homes, they typically have flat, low roofs and an expansive footprint with open interior spaces. Rooms may have multiple doors and windows to the outside to emphasize the connection to the natural world.
Mid-century modern houses have a little more flair than your standard modernist house, with floor-to-ceiling windows and pops of earthy color, including yellows and greens. Renovations focus on restoring original features and upgrading appliances and fixtures only when necessary because this home style is sought after.
#8 Contemporary Style Houses
Contemporary-style houses are built in the 21st century with today’s needs in mind. They come in a wide variety of styles that reflect current trends. Most have simple, minimalist designs with clean lines and flat roofs, like their 20th-century counterparts. However, others have irregular roof lines due to the asymmetrical façade. Contemporary architecture favors muted or neutral colors for a refined look, with little to no ornamentation like moldings.
A contemporary house is a blank slate. It allows you to incorporate the features and additions that make sense for your family. While additions may affect other houses’ authenticity, they work well in contemporary houses. You might also incorporate more technological integrations, including automation and energy efficiency features.
#9 Split-Level Style Houses
A split-level house is a variation on a ranch-style house that offers more space. Typically, the home features at least three levels, splitting the living spaces into sections. Unlike a two-story structure, a split-level house’s floors are staggered and separated by a short staircase. Split-level houses have low-pitched roofs and distinct “zones.” In one popular layout, you enter at the ground level and can step up onto an elevated level, with stairs that connect to the full second story.
Living areas in split-level homes are clearly delineated since they’re physically separated. The ground floor is an open living space, like a den or playroom. The living room, kitchen, and dining room are typically on the second level, with bedrooms upstairs. It’s common to convert the lowest floor into a different type of space, like another bedroom, a home gym, or an office. You may also want to upgrade insulation in draftier areas of the house.
Structural Home Types
While a house’s architecture and construction are important, home buyers should also consider the living structure that most closely meets their needs.
Single-Family Homes
A single-family home is exactly what it sounds like — a dwelling designed and zoned for one family to live in at a time. While the legal definition of a single-family home could include a variety of structures, including town houses, the term often refers more specifically to free-standing houses. If you buy a single-family home, you own the structure itself and the land it sits on.
Many home buyers opt for single-family homes because they offer privacy and freedom. You could make virtually any changes you want to your home and yard (within reason and in accordance with homeowners association bylaws if you have an HOA). However, single-family homes can be more expensive, and they come with a lot of responsibility. Owners are accountable for all repairs, maintenance, and utilities. A single-family home may be a good choice if you want space without much restriction.
Townhouses
Townhouses are often found in big cities. They’re narrow, with living areas divided across multiple stories. Residents share at least one wall with another unit, though you may have neighbors on either side of you. Like single-family homes, ownership encompasses the land your townhouse sits on. However, it’s usually a smaller plot of land.
Townhouses usually cost less than detached single-family homes near the same area. They might have patios, gardens, or small yards. While town house owners typically still have to cover their own utilities and repairs, they might have some shared resources, like gyms or pools. These structures have a lot of character and are a good fit if you want to own a home near a bustling city.
Condominiums
Condominiums (or condos are units within multi-unit residential complexes. If you own a condo, you don’t necessarily own the land it sits on. Condos are popular for first-time home buyers who previously rented apartments. That’s partly because condos and apartments are similar; in fact, they may even be in the same building. The main difference is that you rent an apartment but own a condo.
Condos usually come with shared amenities, including parking spaces, gyms, or roof decks. Owners may have to pay a condo fee to a board of elected owners to pay for maintenance. Each property is different, but some provide certain utilities as part of the services covered by the condo fee. Condos offer home ownership without as much responsibility as other types of homes.
Tiny Homes
Tiny homes offer an alternative to traditional homes. As you may have guessed, they’re small — usually under 500 square feet. While many consider tiny homes to be affordable, the cost depends on the materials you use and the features you want. You might purchase a made-to-order tiny home, or if you’re a DIY expert, you could build one yourself. Whether you plan to park in a friend’s yard, buy a lot, or rent a space in an RV park, research zoning for your tiny home carefully to avoid legal issues.
Prospective owners of tiny homes should also prepare to find innovative strategies for everyday tasks like cooking, showering, and washing clothes — all potential challenges in a small space shared with others. Tiny homes may not be for everyone. However, they offer home buyers freedom, flexibility, and simplicity that are hard to achieve with another type of home.
Choosing the Type of House for You
Before you buy a new home, especially as a first-time home buyer, you have much to consider. What's the best fit for your wallet and where do you dream of setting down roots? What goes with your style and the interior design you want for your place? How much room do you and your family need?
As you weigh the pros and cons, remember to enjoy the journey. After all, a new house marks the start of an exciting new chapter. To navigate the home buying process, consider working with a reputable real estate agent in your area.