A Guide to Different Types of Houses

While looking for a new home or an investment property, you may come across many types of residences with varied structures and styles. Houses are categorized into 2 types: when looking for structures, it denotes the type of building like a condo or an apartment. Style denotes the architectural features and designs like mansions or cottages. 5-Minute Crafts will explain more about these types below.

A: According to structures...

1. Apartments

An apartment is a part of a collection of similar living spaces in a building structure. These spaces are meant to be rented from a landlord. There are a lot of convenience factors that come along with an apartment like gym facilities, a pool, an on-site repair professional, and much more, but they won’t provide you with much flexibility or freedom.

2. Condos

If you’d like to own an apartment, living in a condo might be ideal for you. Here the landlords and building managers are not involved, meaning, you’ll have to take care of the repairs and maintenance yourself. You only own the space within the walls of the condo, but the rest of the things are jointly owned by the other condo owners. These properties usually come with common spaces and shared amenities. You might also need to pay fees to the condo owner’s association.

3. Co-ops

The co-op stands for a housing cooperative. Here you don’t own a condo, but you own a share of the company that owns the building. The co-op buildings are well-maintained but since these units are run by a board, they set up strict rules which may not be agreeable to residents who want more freedom.

B. According to architectural styles...

1. Cape Cod

This style was created in the 1700s in Massachusetts. These houses are hardy, to the extent that they can even withstand New England winters. Cape cods are charming, simple, equipped with wood siding, roof shingles, and a central door with a window on either side.

2. Colonial

They are similar to Cape Cod homes. Colonial homes originated in the 1600s, bearing a simple, rectangular and symmetrical build. This style was influenced by the country that used to occupy the region during the time they were built, like English, Dutch, French, Spanish, Georgian, and American. Colonial houses are at least 2 stories tall, and have a central staircase and a grand entryway.

3. Ranch

This style originated during the 1930s but became famous in the 1950s. Ranch-style houses are single-story houses with an open horizontal floor plan. They also have low-pitched roofs, big windows, huge backyards, open living spaces, and attached garages. They can be built in various iterations like the storybook, split-level, California, and raised ranch. The doors in this style are purposed to divide the space and they also have another door that leads to the backyard.

4. Victorian

This house style emerged in the 1830s and has features from the Victorian era. These homes usually have 2-3 stories and have bay windows, small towers, steep gable roofs, wraparound porches, large overhanging eaves, and vividly colored façades.

5. Mediterranean

These types of homes look like villas and are commonly found in warmer weather states. These houses are based on Spanish and Italian architecture that features white stucco walls, tiled roofs, and warm stone, wood, and metalwork on the windows and balconies. Mediterranean-style homes have a knack for featuring gorgeous tile work as well.

6. Tudor

Tudor homes were introduced during the late 1800s and became famous in the 1920s. These homes feature timber framing, stone masonry, classic leaded windows, and steep gable roofs. Tudor homes seem like something out of a storybook and they are usually asymmetrical too.

7. Farmhouse

Farmhouse-style homes feature a rectangular layout, tall ceilings, a huge front porch, exposed beams, and a central fireplace. You may also find some homes with barn-shaped roofs. The details of this style are rustic, usually bearing exposed brick and stone. Apart from the rustic appearance, modern farmhouses feature more clean lines and more upgraded features.

8. French-country

These houses are inspired by the dwellings of the countryside of France. They are similar to farmhouse-style houses, but they have their own vibe and style. You might find pointed roofs, stone-made shutters, stone fireplaces, subdued palettes with pastel colors, and distressed wood.

9. Craftsman

This style emphasizes handmade and well-constructed architecture. And they are also against mass-produced development, they focus more on a sturdy design that highlights local materials and decorative elements. These houses showcase amazing hand worked elements, low-pitched gable roofs, exposed beams, and tapered columns on the porches. At times, you may also find custom features like a bookshelf or a hand-laid fireplace.

10. Cottage

Cottages are usually cozy and charming and though they may have less square footage, they feature a big personality. Cottage-style houses come from Europe, particularly England, where these abodes were widely famous among working-class farmers. In the US, people buy cottages as vacation homes and sometimes as residences too. These homes bear wood siding or wood shingle siding, a cozy fireplace, and small porches.

11. Contemporary

This style is usually confused with modern, but it is advisable to not use these terms interchangeably. Contemporary houses bear features from the modernist styles and many people choose to showcase ecofriendly materials and design. Plus, they also focus on natural texture, cleaner lines, and neutral colors in the interiors.