Understanding the Different Types of Homes

As buyers begin their search for a new home, the various syle terms can be overwhelming. Buyers may know what it is they are looking for, but they don't know what it's called. There are many reasons besides asthetics to search by style. The style of home you choose can grately impact geographical and natural landscaping features, so this is something to keep in mind if you are looking for a home with a large lot for outdoor gatherings, games, and activities or pools and gardens. Available on my website is an advanced search method where a buyer can view the home listings by home style. While this advanced search option is valuable, it helps if buyers are schooled on what each home style looks like prior to its use.

• A-frame: named for its appearance, this home has a steep roofline
• American Colonial: a traditional style of house that originated between 1600s-1800. This style includes a wide range of styles and traditions brought over by immigrants upon settling in the north eastern US, such as Georgian Colonial, German Colonial, New England Colonial, and Spanish Colonial.
• Bungalow: usually a simple, compact, economical houses that were built, or have been modeled after early 1900 homes.
• Cape Cod: a popular design that originated in the coastal area of New England, especially in eastern Massachusetts in the 17th centery. It is usually a 1.5 story, broad-framed home with a steep roof.
• Cape Dutch: originated in the Western Cape of South Africa, and became a popular style of home to Dutch immigrants in the 17th century in the north-eastern US.
• Gablefront house: a generic house style that developed after 1825 that has a gable roof that faces the street.
• Gambrel: usually has a symmetrical two-sided roof with two slopes on each side. Spanish, portuguese, Dutch, and English mariners and traders who visited and settled in Indonesia prior to settling in America brought this home style to the American Colonies and adapted it to local styles.
• Ranch: a rambling single-story house, often containing a garage and sometimes constructed over a basement.
• Split-level house: a design of house that was commonly built during the 1950s and 1960s. It has two nearly-equal sections that are located on two different levels, with a short stairway in the corridor connecting them. This kind of house is quite suitable for building on slanted or hilly land.
  • Splits
    • Backsplit: multi-level house that appears as a bungalow from the front elevation.
    • Frontsplit: multilevel house that appears as a two-story house in front and a bungalow in the back. It is the opposite of a backsplit and is a rare configuration.
    • Sidesplit: multi-level house where the different levels are visible from the front elevation view.
• Storybook houses: 1920s houses inspired by Hollywood set design.
• Tudor Revival architecture:: modern variants of Tudor architecture.
• Tuscan : Usually consists of old world house plans that include the popular European features. Often features masonry or stucco exterior with low roof.
• Victorian house: Victorian house generally means any house built during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837—1901). During the Industrial Revolution successive housing booms resulted in the building of many millions of Victorian houses which are now a defining feature of towns and cities where the British settled and built Victorian homes during the Industrial Revolution.
• Villa: originally an upper-class country house, though since its origins in Roman times the idea and function of a villa has evolved considerably.  Nowadays, a villa is often similar to a duplex.
• Apartment: a housing unit in a building which is often rented out to one person or a family, or two or more people sharing a lease in a partnership, for their exclusive use.
• Penthouse: the top floor of multi-story building
• Rowhouse/Townhouse: 3 or more houses, typically multiple stories, in a row sharing a "party" wall with its adjacent neighbour. In New York and Boston, "Brownstones" are rowhouses.
• Studio: a suite with a single room that doubles as living/sitting room and bedroom, with a kitchenette and bath squeezed in off to one side. The unit is designed for a single occupant or possibly a couple.

Adam Shamus is a Realtor and certified Seniors Real Estate Specialist with William Raveis Real Estate in Newton. He works with buyers and sellers as well as seniors and their families who are right sizing or moving into Independent or Assisted living communities. For more information on this topic please feel free to visit Adam’s website at www.adamshamus.com and click on the SRES page. You can also reach Adam directly at adamshamus@gmail.com