Turning a house into a home is a process that takes time. But living in the right type of house is a great step in the right direction. There are a lot of options to choose from, whether you’re buying your first house or your fifth.
Having an idea of what you’re looking for prior to starting the process will make it much easier (and less stressful). And once you find the perfect house to turn into your home, follow some of our tips for moving in and keeping it safe, too.
1. Single-Family
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Detached single-family houses are the most common types of homes in the U.S., as well as the most desirable for many Americans. This style of house occupies its own property and is not connected to other houses. They are very common in the suburbs, where large communities of single-family houses grew after World War II.
This house type can be of any size (and many of the following types of houses are also single-family houses); the defining characteristic is its physical separateness (even if neighbors are nearby) from other residences. For residents who are envisioning the classic American dream of white picket fence and two-car garage, a single-family home is usually what comes to mind.
2. In-Law Suite
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A house that’s classified as a single-family home can still be meant for multiple generations. A growing trend is the in-law suite, which is a unit built in or added onto a single-family home, typically meant for the parents (or in-laws) of the owners of the house. This can be located in the basement or elsewhere, but is physically part of the main house. They often have their own entrances.
3. Carriage / Coach House
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Initially built to store the horse-drawn carriage or coach of the residents of the main house, a carriage or coach house is a separate building on the property. Its modern function is often the same as an in-law suite; it can be used to house a multi-generational family or it can be rented out by the residents of the main house to non-related tenants.
4. Townhome
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A townhome is a row of houses that share one or two walls. The interior can be similar or the same as a single-family house but without the physical separation that defines the latter type of house. Unlike condos, which can seem similar to townhomes, owners of a townhome own both the interior and exterior, so they are responsible for the upkeep and appearance of the outside of the residence.
5. Bungalow
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A bungalow is a type of single-family house that is small and square with a single story and usually a front porch. They were popular in the U.S. in the early 1900s because of the simple design keeping costs low. Many have low-sloping unfinished attics that, with modern construction and design innovations, can be repurposed into more functional space.
6. Ranch
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A ranch is another single-story style of house. They are larger than a bungalow and are rectangular instead of square in layout. Traditional ranch-style homes were built on large tracts of land and were often desirable because of their outdoor space.
7. Cottage
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When referring to the historical interpretation of a cottage—which came from England and inspired the English cottage style of landscaping—it’s a small single-room house with thick walls and a thatched roof. However, in a more modern language, it is often used to refer to a vacation home, the size of which greatly varies but can actually be a quite large and luxurious property.
8. Cabin
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Cottages (in the old school sense of the word) and cabins are very similar according to some, but cabins typically evoke a more rustic, simplistic and one-with-nature feeling. Traditionally they were built of logs but this doesn’t always have to be the case.
Like original cottages, cabins tend to be small and unassuming dwellings, but some have co-opted this aesthetic to make large, luxury vacation homes, just as they have with cottages. A chalet falls into this vague category as well, with the specification that it’s located in the mountains (whereas a cottage and cabin can be found in many locales).
9. Mobile Home
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Not to be confused with an RV that can be driven around, a mobile home is a type of factory-manufactured house that can be towed to a lot, but is not meant to be transported frequently.
They are an inexpensive type of home due to their simple design and mass production. Mobile home parks allow owners of mobile homes to rent a plot of land for their house, but residents can also own a free-standing property on which they put a mobile home.
10. Mansion
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While the definition of “mansion” is less than exact—some say 5,000 square feet, some say 8,000 square feet or even more—the word usually evokes some objective features: large size, beautiful landscaping (including a pool and even a pool or guest house in some instances), a lot of rooms, top-of-the-line appliances and entertainment equipment and overall luxury features and amenities.
A mansion can be many things, and it can also be called by many other names depending on location, architecture and certain unique features. Other types of houses that correspond in terms of size and luxury to mansions include castles, palaces, chateaus, villas and manors.
11. Floating Residence
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There are multiple types of floating residences and they each require specialty knowledge, so if you’re considering a floating home, it’s best to consult with an expert. Houseboats are typically boats that have been repurposed as full-time residences and though they may retain transportation capabilities, they are almost always moored semipermanently.
A floating house on the other hand was never a functional water vessel and is instead a house built to be permanently moored.
12. Yurt
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Yurts are round structures made with walls and roofs made of weatherproof fabric. Traditionally, they are rustic dwellings intended for nomadic purposes, because they can be packed up and moved, but some people have copied their aesthetic for permanent dwellings or vacation properties with luxury amenities. Yurts are also popular options for glamping trips.
13. Tree House
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They’re not just backyard play structures; some people do choose to live in modern-day tree houses. Rather than a collection of boards nailed to a tree, a permanent tree house is generally built around the tree with stilts and other infrastructure supporting it from the ground. It is not common, but it has become a niche choice on travel sites like Airbnb and, like yurts, glamping trips.
14. Tiny House
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Tiny houses have gained a lot of attraction in recent years, particularly due to their minimal financial requirements and low environmental impact. They can be built inexpensively and also to be eco-friendly and even have self-sustaining water or electric sources in some cases. To be considered a tiny house, the dwelling should be within 100 to 400 square feet and can be stationary or mobile.
15. Container Home
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Container homes can also be tiny homes, but this type of house is specifically made from existing containers (think cargo containers on a ship). They can be made from one large container or multiple smaller containers and can be configured in a variety of ways. There are specialty construction companies that focus on building container homes.
16. Underground House
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A bunker is meant to be a shelter from bombs or other disasters, but an underground house is intended as a permanent dwelling. These can be built into the sides of hills and often have financial perks (they can be 20 to 30% less expensive than a typical home) and sustainability perks.
