20 Popular Home Styles And Types Of Houses

Key features: Mix of organic and geometric, sleek, uncluttered, large windows

17. Ranch

Ranch-style houses appeared in the 1930s, but their popularity boomed in the 1950s. These homes are typically one story and feature low-pitched roofs, large windows, sliding glass doors, large backyards, open living spaces and attached garages. They come in a variety of iterations like split-level, storybook, California and raised ranch. For example, California ranch homes are shaped in an “L” or “U” with a backyard to encourage outdoor living.

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  Key features: One story, low-pitched roof, open living spaces, backyard
  

18. Split-Level

Split-level homes emerged from the ranch-style home design and became popular in the 1950s and ’60s. What sets a split-level home apart is how the living spaces of the home are separated. Split-level homes have multiple floors that are connected with short flights of stairs (unlike regular two- or three-story homes with long flights of stairs). Some love the unique separation of space while others find the numerous short flights of stairs to be cumbersome.

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  Key features: Living spaces segmented by short flights of stairs
  

19. Tudor

The Tudor home style was brought by European-trained architects in the late-1800s and gained popularity in the 1920s. Late Medieval and early Renaissance architectural elements inspired the Tudor style’s stone masonry, timber-framing, steep gable roofs, and classic leaded windows. These homes are usually asymmetrical and look like something out of a storybook.

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  Key features: Timber-framing, stonework, asymmetrical, steep gable roofs
  

20. Victorian

Named after Queen Victoria, Victorian homes emerged in the 1830s and were popular through the early 1900s. They are typically two to three stories and include ornate elements, bay windows, small towers, porches, steep gable roofs and brightly colored facades. There are a variety of different designs that play off of these core elements – including more ornate styles like Gothic Revival and Queen Anne or less ornate, like the Folk style.

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  Key features: 2 – 3-plus stories, ornate, steep gable roofs, small towers, bright facades
  

Which home style fits you best? It’s great to know before you start your search and can help you narrow down your options. Landing the home of your dreams can be difficult, but getting preapproved for a mortgage can help speed up the process once you find the one. Talk to a Home Loan Expert to gain insights and create a financial plan.