20 Popular Types Of Houses And Home Styles

Whether you’re looking for a home to call your own or a new investment property, you’ve probably noticed a lot of terminology surrounding house styles and their structures. Understanding this terminology can help you learn the benefits associated with certain home types and find the best type of home to meet your needs.

It’s important to note the two main parameters that classify a home: the structure type and the style of the home. The structure refers to the type of building, like a single-family home or a condo. The style refers to the architectural features and design, like Craftsman or contemporary.

We collected the most popular structures and styles of homes so you can narrow down your preferences and better search for your ideal home.

Types Of Houses: Structures

Regardless of if you’re house hunting for your first home, forever home or buying a rental property, the first thing you should do to narrow your search is figure out what type of home structure you’re looking for. Below are the most typical types you’ll see when searching for your new place.

1. Apartment

An apartment is part of a collection of similar units in one building structure. An important feature is that you have to rent the place from a landlord. Oftentimes, apartments and apartment buildings have convenience factors like an on-site repair worker, laundry room, gym facilities or a pool.

Though you don’t get as much privacy – and you won’t be building equity in your residence – you’ll have many additional pros and cons to weigh when deciding whether to buy or rent.

Pros

• Apartments cost less money upfront to move into.
• Repairs and maintenance are the responsibility of the landlord.
• It’s easier to relocate at the end of your lease.

Cons

• There’s no option to purchase, leading to less flexibility and freedom.
• You’re not building equity.
• There may be limitations on how you can decorate.

2. Condo

If you like the conveniences that come with an apartment but are looking to own rather than rent, a condo might be a great fit for you. Instead of having a building manager or landlord oversee your unit, you’re in charge of all the repairs and the upkeep inside the home.

Condominiums are a great option for city living and for older adults who want to own and have a mortgage but don’t want to deal with the upkeep of a single-family home.

Pros

• There’s less upkeep than a single-family home.
• You can build equity.
• Exterior maintenance might be taken care of by a homeowners association (HOA).
• You could enjoy access to community amenities.

Cons

• There’s less privacy and free agency.
• You’ll likely have to obey the rules of an HOA.
• It’s more difficult to move if you want to relocate.

3. Co-Op

A co-op is also known as a housing cooperative. This type of housing is quite different from the others on this list. When you buy into a co-op, you’re buying a share of the company that owns the building rather than purchasing the actual property.

The number of shares you own typically correlates to how much space you’re afforded in the co-op. Once accepted into a co-op and after purchasing shares, you’ll have a vote on common spaces, and you’ll split maintenance costs and other fees.

Pros

• Co-ops provide a great sense of community.
• They are less expensive than a traditional home or condo.
• There’s a financial and character screening process for applicants.

Cons

• There is less freedom and decisions must get group approval.
• There are higher monthly fees to cover expenses like utilities and parking.

At this time, Rocket Mortgage® only offers co-op loans in the state of New York and only in areas where co-ops are common.

4. Single-Family (Detached)

The key feature of a single-family home is that it’s completely detached from other housing units, unlike condos, apartments or townhomes. The majority of homes in the U.S. are single-family homes.

They’re less common in highly populated areas and are typically found in suburbs. Single-family homes are usually more private and offer more options for personalization (barring any homeowners association requirements).

Pros

• Single-family homes have greater privacy.
• You’ll enjoy more space than with other types of homes.
• There’s more freedom than most other homes.

Cons

• You have the sole responsibility to maintain the property.
• They come at a higher purchase price.
• You’ll need money for a down payment and closing costs.

5. Tiny Home

Tiny home popularity has boomed in recent years, spurring what’s known as the “tiny home movement.” These small abodes usually fall in the range of 60 – 600 square feet. Some tiny homes are prefabricated, and some are complete custom builds.

They’ve become popular among single adults and couples who want more financial and physical freedom, as some tiny houses are mobile and can be moved to new locations.

Pros

• Tiny homes are more affordable.
• They provide greater physical freedom since they can be relocated.

Cons

• They have significantly smaller space, with less room for family growth.
• They usually have a lower resale value.
• You’ll need to own or rent land to place your tiny home on.

Since tiny home prices typically fall below mortgage minimums, it can be tricky to get started. Rocket Mortgage doesn’t offer loans for tiny homes directly, but we can help you understand your tiny home financing options.

6. Townhome

A townhouse or townhome is an individually owned dwelling that shares at least one wall with another unit and has its own entrance from the street. They’re most popular in big cities where space is limited.

Townhomes typically make use of vertical space with multiple stories but save horizontal space by sitting side by side with other homes. Sometimes there are shared amenities among a collection of townhouses.

Pros

• They’re typically more affordable than single-family homes.
• Exterior maintenance may be covered by the HOA.
• You’ll have access to the amenities in the community.

Cons

• There’s less privacy.
• You have less freedom to change the exterior.
• You could have less living space than with a single-family home.

Think a townhouse is the right structure type to best fit your homeownership needs? See how much you qualify for so you and your REALTOR^® can build an effective offer on your ideal home.

Types Of Houses: Architectural House Styles

Your home’s architectural style will heavily influence the type of interior design that will fit. These styles of houses span across decades – not only do people put a lot of effort into restoring them, but they are also re-created in some new builds.

Aside from the aesthetics, knowing a home’s time period can help you prepare for common issues that affect certain styles. Ask the seller about these common issues and pay close attention during your final walk-through.

Browse the house styles below to see which option is the best fit for your preferences an