Know Your Home Choices: A Simple Guide to House Types and Styles

Are you buying a new home? Then you are in one of the most exciting and somewhat confusing experiences of your life. As there are so many different types of dwellings available to choose from, it is recommended to have some idea of what you are getting before finding your ideal home.

From small bungalows to ranch-style homes to contemporary condos and small houses, educating yourself on the different home designs and construction can guide you to an informed, tailored choice. Let us go through the common types of houses and features so that you may discover what suits you, your requirements, lifestyle, and finances.

House types by structure

• Single-Family Home

A traditional suburban norm, single-family homes are individual houses on separate lots. Row houses and semi-detached houses qualify, too, if they have a floor-to-ceiling wall between them and no common utility hookup, the U.S. Census Bureau states.

Strengths: Privacy, independence, yard area

Weaknesses: Increased cost, maintenance responsibility

• Condo or Co-op

Ideal for urban living, a condo provides you with ownership of a portion of a building or complex larger than your portion. A co-op is purchasing shares in the corporation that owns the building.

Pros: Generally less expensive, e.g., pools or gyms

Cons: HOA fees, more individuals around you, less freedom to make changes

• Townhouse

These multi-level homes share walls with the adjacent properties, but each has its entrance. Townhouses are typically found in the suburbs or cities.

Pros: Usually cheaper than a single-family home; can share facilities

Cons: Less homey living space, possible HOA fees, teeny yard area

• Multi-Family Home

This consists of duplexes, triplexes, or small apartment complexes for several families. The purchasers usually reside in one and rent out the others.

Pros: Rental income, housing for a multigenerational family

Cons: Property responsibility maintenance

 

• Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)

An ADU is a second residence on a one-family property. Consider garage apartments, basement apartments, or small cottages in the backyard.

Pros: Great for house guests, rental income, and ageing parents

Cons: Local zoning regulations, more costly

• Modular home

They are constructed in factories and installed on the land, as opposed to mobile homes, which can move. Modular homes are delivered with permanent foundations.

Advantages: Inexpensive, short construction time

Disadvantages: Not flexible, zoning constraints

• Mobile home

Factory-produced houses, or mobile homes, are constructed in factories and wheeled onto land (usually leased land).

Advantages: Inexpensive, inexpensive entry into homeownership

Disadvantages: Financing challenges, rental fee on land

• Tiny home or container home

Tiny houses (usually under 600 sq ft) and container houses (constructed from shipping containers) provide little, eco-friendly living.

Advantages: Affordable, reduced utility bills

Disadvantages: Small space, zoning regulations

• Standard Architectural Styles

Bungalow: Typically one-and-a-half stories with open rooms and expansive porches. Mission and Craftsman are standard styles.

Ideal for: Single-story residences, mature buyers, people who prefer single-story homes

• Cabin

Generally found in rural or resort areas, cabins can be simple or elaborate. Outdoorsmen love them.

Best for: Second homes, outdoorsmen

• Cape cod

These houses have been influenced by New England architecture with steep pitches and symmetrical appearances.

Best for: Those who desire a traditional appearance and medium sizes

• Colonial

Ordered floor plans and traditional architecture. Bedrooms are on either side of a central hallway.

Best for: Families who enjoy open, structured floor plans

• Contemporary

Streamlined houses that are likely to be asymmetrical and combine cutting-edge style with green building. They provide creative floor plans and materials.

Ideal for: Hip minimalists, green consumers

• Cottage

Tiny, charming cottages that are often placed in beach or rural settings. Cottages can draw inspiration from any architectural style.

Ideally suited for: Artists, retirees, second-homeowners

• Craftsman

Wood siding that is exposed on the outside, low-pitched eaves, and large front porches. Popular since the early 20th century.

Most appropriate for: lovers of traditional, handcrafted looks

• Houseboat

Houseboats, where house and boat freedom are combined. Generally found in lake towns and beach communities.

Ideal for: Free spirits, beach living

• Mediterranean

Spanish and Italian style with stucco walls, tile roofs, and arched doorways.

Best for: Luxury climate, luxury homes

• Mid-Century Modern

It was developed in the post-WWII period with less decor, more openness, and wider windows.

Best for: Vintage enthusiasts, light and openness enthusiasts

• Modern

Contemporary houses are varied but feature standard-level roofs, clean finishes, and large glass windows.

Best for: Contemporary living, city homes

• Modern Farmhouse

These houses are a combination of country style with modern comfort and will be spacious enough, cosy enough, and perfect for a family.

Best for: Suburban homes, families

• Prairie

Frank Lloyd Wright popularised Prairie houses that feature open floor plans and horizontal lines.

Best for: Nature and open space enthusiasts

• Ranch

Single-story residences with open floor design, sometimes L- or U-shaped. Examples are California ranch and split-level ranch.

Best for: First-time homebuyers, retirees, or families with children

• Split-Level

Staggered floor levels with short stair flights in between spaces. Provides a neat layout.

Best for: Budget families requiring space segregation

• Tudor

Wood framing, cathedral ceilings, and medieval trim characterise it. Stone and wood trim are used in interiors.

Most compatible with: Classic-type architecture fans and history personality admirers

• Victorian

Multistoried and richly detailed, Victorian homes have bay windows, towers, and grand porches 

Most compatible with: Trim lovers with a taste for classic architecture

How to pick the perfect home style?

Need assistance? Here’s how to make it fit:

• Think location first: Is your heart in the city, the suburbs, or the countryside? Not all types of homes are available in all ‘hoods. Condos, for example, are rare outside the suburbs, and bungalows are nonexistent in skyscraper cities.
• Set your budget: Use affordability calculators to make an estimate of your budget. Don’t fret about having to make sacrifices – your first home is not forever.
• Get pre-approved: This gives you a realistic estimate of how much a lender will lend, allowing you to focus your home search and build buying credibility.
• Hire a real estate agent: An experienced agent can show you homes within your parameters and negotiate the best terms possible.

 

Final words

From cosy cottages to fresh, trendy townhomes, there are different houses available to choose from. The housing market of today has something for every lifestyle. Knowing the positives and the negatives of each type of house, not just in appearance but in form, is where to begin to find the one that’s yours.

At Auction Dunia, we believe that whether you’re looking for flexibility, beauty, privacy, or affordability, there’s a perfect home waiting for you. Explore your options with us and take the guesswork out of house hunting.