From 200 square feet to 20,000 square feet, there are a lot of different sizes and types of houses and even more architectural styles. Before we get into some specifics, here are the two high-level categories to keep in mind: house types and house styles. The types of houses refers to the general category of the building structure – single-family home, condo, townhome, tiny home, duplex – while the house style refers to the architectural style and design of a house.

After covering some of the types of homes, you’ll find information on some of the most popular house styles and the characteristics that define them. That way, you can confidently know the difference between Cape Cod homes and Victorians and all the styles in between. Understanding the differences can help you explore options and decide which style will be best for you on your home buying journey.

Types Of Houses

Following are some of the best known and most-owned building structures (types of houses):

Single-Family Home

A single-family home is a standalone house that is detached from other building structures, unlike condos, townhouses, apartments, or duplexes. It is designed to be a residence for one family, person, or household. Single-family homes are the most popular type of home, offering more privacy and independence to make decisions about the property. It has:

• A private entrance
• Direct street access
• Typically some type of yard or outdoor spaces
• Land that is owned by the homeowner

Condo

A condo, or condominium, is similar to an apartment in that it has multiple units within a building. Unlike an apartment, each unit is individually owned by a homeowner. Public common areas – like pools, gyms, or green spaces – are managed by a homeowners association (HOA). You pay a fee to the HOA to maintain the public spaces, so there isn’t the upkeep of a single-family home. But, the HOA will likely have rules about upgrades or additions that you can make.

A co-op (housing cooperative) is similar to a condo, except you own shares in the corporation that owns the co-op building rather than the individual unit itself.

Duplex

A duplex is a type of multi-family property divided into two separate living units, which can be side-by-side and sharing a wall or one on top of the other (one up, one down). Each living unit has its own entrance, interior rooms, and utilities, and often share a driveway, front porch, or backyard.

Townhouse

Individually owned, a townhome or townhouse shares at least one wall with another home and is usually two or three stories tall with its own garage and an entrance from the street or a shared driveway. Townhome communities can have an HOA that insures and maintains public areas and exterior spaces.

Tiny Home

A tiny home is a type of single-family home that is compact – normally between 100 and 400 square feet – and designed to be more affordable while maximizing the efficient use of space to focus on living with less. They can be built on a foundation or on wheels.

Architectural Styles

After reviewing the more broad category of types of homes, let’s drill down into the variety of house styles (also called architectural styles) that are some of the most popular and longest lasting. The architectural style and the features that characterize that style help make each house a home.

Bungalow

A bungalow is a small, single-story or one-and-a-half story house or cottage that often features:

• Larger, sloping roofs
• Wide, covered front porches with columns
• Open floor plans
• Built-in furniture like bookshelves or benches

Cape Cod

Cape Cod homes were first built in New England in the 1600s and have remained a classic architectural style ever since. Cape Cod homes are usually one or one-and-a-half stories that feature:

• Simple, symmetrical design
• Steep, gabled roofs (two sides that meet at the top and slope downward toward the walls)
• Dormer windows (windows that project out from the roof)
• Central front door
• Wood siding painted in muted colors

Colonial

Colonial-style homes have a timeless, more formal look and simple design with steep roofs. They were houses built by the colonists in the 1600s, during Colonial times, which is where they got their name. Over time, they have blended into other styles while still remaining a traditional home style.

Colonial-style homes typically feature:

• Rectangular, symmetrical design
• Two or three stories stacked directly above one another
• Wood, brick or stone siding
• Double-hung windows that usually have many equally-sized square panes

​Contemporary

The words modern and contemporary are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. A contemporary house reflects current design trends and can draw elements from different styles. The term “modern” relates to a design style popular in the mid-20th century (see more under “Midcentury Modern” below).

Contemporary styles usually include the newest technologies and building materials, and allow architects more creative freedom. They tend to feature:

• Clean and simple lines, with a lot of glass to let in natural light
• Exteriors with a mix of contrasting materials and textures
• Flat or low-pitched roofs
• Open floor plans

Craftsman

The Craftsman style is a type of bungalow with some distinct features, like wide front porches with decorative brackets or braces and large columns supporting a low-pitched roof. Inside, they often have handmade woodwork like built-in shelving and seating. They first became popular in the early 1900s after a magazine called The Craftsman sold blueprints for this style of home.

Other features of this architectural style include:

• One to one-and-a-half stories
• Overhanging eaves (the horizontal edges of a roof that extend past the exterior walls of a house)
• Large bay and picture windows
• Wood, stone, and brick materials

Farmhouse

Farmhouse style typically has a simple design, large wraparound porch, and the use of wood for siding, flooring, beams, and interior accents. The farmhouse style literally came from the houses built on rural farms, where the focus was on simple, functional designs. The modern farmhouse style builds on the rural, rustic style with updated details and more clean lines.

Additional farmhouse features can include:

• Natural materials and rustic accents
• Neutral color palette with earthy tones like white, cream, and gray
• Large windows and a large porch for a connection to outdoor spaces
• Board-and-batten siding (thin strips of wood molding (battens) placed over the seams of panel boards)

Greek Revival

Inspired by ancient Greek temples, Greek revival-style homes are defined by tall, dramatic columns lining the width of the front porch and usually painted bright white to look like the marble used in ancient temples. Other features of this architectural style often include:

• Large layouts
• Elaborate front doors surrounded by small-paned windows
• Ornate moldings and embellishments

Mediterranean

A combination of classic Italian and Spanish villa designs, Mediterranean-style homes have tiled roofs and stucco exteriors. They also have an emphasis on indoor/outdoor living with courtyards and patios serving as outdoor spaces and an extension of the home’s interior, making them especially popular in California and the Southern United States.

Features can also include:

• Arched windows and doorways
• Tile work with splashes of color
• Metal work on balconies and windows

Midcentury Modern

The midcentury modern style emerged around World War II, as a move away from some of the more ornate styles that came before it. This style gives off a clean, cool look and feel with uncluttered, functional spaces that emphasize a connection with nature.

Key midcentury modern characteristics include:

• Simple, functional design with clean, straight lines
• Flat roofs with wide overhangs
• Natural materials like wood, stone, and glass
• Large windows and sliding glass doors for abundant light and connection to the outdoors
• Open floor plans

Ranch

Ranch houses were first built in the 1930s and really grew in popularity in the 1950s. They were initially modeled after rural Western ranches, which had one-level with very few adornments. Ranch-style houses are often one story and wider than they are deep.

Other ranch-style features include:

• Low-pitched roof
• Attached garage
• Open or semi-open floor plans
• Sliding door leading to a patio and large backyard

Some specific architectural styles fall under the ranch category, like the California ranch, storybook ranch, and split-level ranch.

Split Level

Split-level homes have multiple floors that are at staggered levels instead of being stacked on top of one another. Each level is linked by short flights of stairs instead of long staircases, like in two- or three-story homes. Also known as tri-levels, split-level houses typically have three floors with a set of short stairs off the main level leading up to bedrooms and one down to a lower level family room, rec room, or garage entry.

Other features include:

• Low-pitched roof and horizontal lines
• Overhanging eaves
• Attached garage on the lowest level

Tudor

Inspired by English cottages and medieval homes, the Tudor architectural style is defined by steeply pitched gable roofs, exposed wooden beams, brick and stucco exteriors, and narrow windows with small panes.

Features of Tudor-style homes also include:

• Half-timbered, stucco siding and brick
• Decorative stone and brick
• Rounded doorways
• Large stone chimneys

Victorian

Characterized by turrets, towers, and an ornate exterior, Victorian architecture emerged in the 19th century during the reign of England’s Queen Victoria. The ornate detail is often called “gingerbread” and colorful Victorian homes are called “painted ladies.”

Other Victorian features include:

• Steep gable roofs
• Ornamentation like brackets, spindles, and patterned shingles
• Arches over windows and entryways
• Large front porches
• Asymmetrical and often bright facades

Understanding the types of houses and the many popular home styles on the market can give you the information needed to narrow down your search and make the best decisions when buying a home.

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