Which home sweet home is yours?
You’re finally doing it: looking for your new house! And while there are plenty of different financing options available, there are even more styles of homes. Which is right for you? Multi-level? Ranch? Log home? Today, we’ll take you through some of the more popular styles of houses in the country and give you an overview of their distinct features. Then, the easy part: find the perfect one for you!
The Cape Cod
No, you don’t have to live in New England to find one of these. These homes date back to the early days of America, but really became popular in the 1930s. Steep rooflines, hardwood floors and usually one-story, these homes are cozy and easy to customize to your tastes.
The Colonial
Perhaps the most popular home style in the country, the Colonial feature a two- or three-story design, brick façades and quite often, a fireplace. Usually, the bedrooms are on the second or third floors, with the heart of the home—the kitchen—and the living room/family room on the first.
The Tudor
Loosely based on Medieval homes in Europe (very loosely—no need to worry about a moat!), these homes have steep roofs, tall, narrow windows and prominent cross gables.
The Cottage Style
Almost straight from a fairy tale or old European countryside, these quaint homes became popular in this country shortly before the Great Depression. With steep roofs, arched doors and a brick or stone siding, they evoke the English countryside.
The Log Home
Not just for the likes of Abe Lincoln and folks living in the mountains, these houses are seen across the country. From small, one-room cabins to 10,000-sq-ft log mansions, these homes usually feature locally sourced wood on the outside and inside.
The Craftsman
Don’t let the name fool you: this is not a house you have to put together yourself. The style of this home came out of the Arts and Crafts Movement, with an emphasis on natural materials like stone, brick and wood. Key features are wide front porches, low-pitched roofs and an open floor plan with exposed beams and built-in furniture.
The Traditional Ranch
As popular in this country as the salad dressing of the same name, these houses became popular the same time the suburbs did, in the 1950s and 1960s. With simple floor plans, attached garages and an easy-to-navigate living space, they’re perfect for adding on to if you wish to expand the square footage.
The Victorian
Deeply pitched roofs, bay windows, and dominant gables are the main features of these romantic, distinctive homes modeled after the Victorian Era of 1860 to 1900. A full-width front porch makes these houses especially attractive to buyers.
Of course, this is just a small sample of the types of single-family homes you can get. Add in all the options a custom home provides and this article could keep going and going. Instead, we’ll end it here with a simple thought: happy home hunting!