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New buyers have many choices when choosing what kind of a home they want.
From new, single-story ranch houses to vintage Victorians, consumers have many styles and options to choose from.
And home.com by Homefinity can help buyers get into any home they choose.
Let’s look at eight popular house styles in the U.S and the needs that each one meets for buyers.
1. Cape Cod
Around since the 1700’s, the Cape Cod style is one of the most popular and recognizable styles of home in America.
These boxy, low-slung homes with shutters experienced a revival in the 1930s and then again in post-WWII America, when the demand for cheap, efficient homes skyrocketed.
There are three main variations of the modern Cape Cod: Half, three-quarters, and full Capes.
A half-Cape has two front-facing windows and a door off to the side, a three-quarter Cape has two windows, a door, and a single window on the smaller end of the home, and a full-Cape is symmetrical, with two windows on each side of the door.
And don’t forget the fireplace and chimney, two features most Cape Cods have. They are mostly found in the Northeast, like Rhode Island and Massachusetts, but can be found all around the country.
The Cape Cod style home is typically a modest size for the average American family, making it a considerable option for family buyers.
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Like its name, Colonial homes are stately, simple, symmetrical, and at least two stories tall.
Often featuring upscale crown molding, beautiful fireplaces, and formal entryways, the homes are usually large with the bedrooms upstairs and common areas attached to the dining room and kitchen.
The style dates to before the Revolutionary War, but large modern equivalents are popular within new housing developments around the country. They’re perfectly designed for buyers to raise a big family in.
Modern Colonial homes are boxes of beauty with brick or wood facades, and, because of their construction, easy to add on to for those with expanding families. There are several different types of Colonials, such as Dutch, French, and Spanish that have different aesthetic values, but all look majestic.
If you’re looking for something large and traditional, with a sophisticated aesthetic, the colonial might be for you.
3. Craftsman
With their front porches, low-pitched gables, and overhanging eaves, Craftsman homes are one of the iconic styles in American residential architecture.
These bungalows originated in California in the early part of last century, but were bought by people through catalogs all through the country, particularly in the midwest. They’re perfect for singles or couples without children.
Usually no more than one-and-a-half stories, most of the living space is on the ground floor and usually has a dominant fireplace as a centerpiece. The homes usually have built in furniture, shelves, and beamed ceilings. Stained glass or leaded windows can be found in the classic examples of Craftsmans.
4. Mediterranean
Drawing inspiration from Italian, Spanish, and Moorish architecture, Mediterranean homes are large, with stucco or plaster exteriors and their signature shallow red tile roofs that create shady overhangs.
Found in warm-weather, arid communities like the southwest, these eye-popping estates often speak to those with a little olive oil running in their veins. Tile floors, wrought-iron fixtures, and an outdoor area that is seamlessly integrated are all features of Mediterranean-style homes.
The Mediterranean-style home can be great for families and buyers who are looking for a less-traditional look, more reminiscent of a vacation home.
5. Victorian
Ask a child to draw a picture of a house that a Fairy Godmother might live in, and they’ll probably hand you a drawing that looks a lot like a Victorian home.
Named after the era when they gained popularity, the Victorian Era (1837-1901), these homes are historical charmers.
There are several different styles of Victorian homes, but the Queen Anne style is the one that usually pops into mind when someone mentions a Victorian home. These royal features are especially heavy ornamentation, gabled roofs, rounded towers, and large windows that are equally functional and decorative.
No matter the style, a Victorian will always display its character through built-in ornamental hardware, stained glass windows, and bright colors. They can be found all around America, usually in cities with a successful past.
This is another style of home for buyers looking for a specific, sophisticated aesthetic. Their often-large porches are perfect for those looking for beautiful outdoor spaces to relax.
6. Ranch
A unique American contribution to residential architecture, a Ranch home is known for its one-story, simple and open layout, long, low-pitched roofs, vaulted ceilings and deep, overhanging eaves.
Originating in the 1920’s, the style exploded across housing tracts throughout the southwest during the 1960’s and 70’s. Some of the newer homes feature sunken living rooms, cathedral ceilings, and extensive landscaping.
The single-floor design is perfect for those who can’t handle stairs, and the modern look of the homes attract preservationists who love the undoubtedly American look.
7. Contemporary
While modern homes feature wood or other earthier elements, contemporary homes are constructed with “state-of-the-art” materials like metal and glass.
While both modern and contemporary homes feature clean lines, minimalistic design, and open spaces, contemporary homes designers push the envelope by incorporating features from the past in order to fit the now.
Contemporary style is uncluttered and flowing, with lots of light and little window treatments. Forever changing with the times, contemporary style homes are designed to be energy efficient, with monochromatic color schemes, and minimal ornamentation.
Found all around the country, these homes are perfect for young adults who like to keep clutter out of their lives and open pathways for entertaining.
8. Tudor
Another example of a historical home style, the Tudor is quintessential southern architecture. Smaller Tudor homes look like cottages that came out of a storybook, while the larger Tudor homes look like English manor houses.
Tudor homes share several common features including a steeply pitched roof with multiple overlapping, front-facing gables; a facade that’s predominantly covered in brick but accented with half-timber framing; multiple prominently placed brick or stone chimneys; and tall windows with rectangular or diamond-shaped panes that really play up the Medieval-style.
Their stern and stately look became popular in America in the 1920’s, with their non-symmetrical style offering more variety in layouts. Their fairly open interior provides lots of space for a growing family and is perfect for buyers looking for historical charm.
When you’re ready, home.com by Homefinity is here for you
Regardless of which of the popular styles of house you choose, home.com by Homefinity will be glad to help you secure a home loan.
Once approved for a loan, Homefinity’s experienced loan officers ensure that your buying process goes smoothly.
The perfect style of home deserves the perfect loan process by trusted and reliable lenders. Contact home.com by Homefinity today to start your buying experience.
Feature image by Jimmy Conover on Unsplash
