Shopping for a new place to call home can be an exciting and stressful time all at once. It’s natural to want to find the perfect house, in the best neighborhood, with all your favorite features and at just the right price, however, this can take quite some time if you jump into your search without really being certain of what you’re looking for. The overwhelming amount of homes for sale on the market can leave you confused, but one easy way to narrow down some of the choices is to decide which style of home you prefer. There are many different architectural options out there, so read on to learn more about key features of some of the most sought-after.
Tudor
Tudor homes became very popular in the 1930s and can actually appear in an assortment of forms, from mansions to more humble abodes. They are well-known for their extravagant construction features such as steeply pitched roofs, cross or overlapping gables, large chimneys, tall, narrow windows with small panes and rounded interior doorways. Many Tudor homes have brick or stone walls coupled with ornamental wood framing, also known as half-timbering. Tudor-style homes are influenced by medieval structures and remain one of the pricier housing options.
Mediterranean/Spanish
Mediterranean and Spanish-style homes often have the same kind of characteristics, the most recognizable being a red-tiled roof. These home designs were first inspired by some of the most beautiful countries in the world and continue the tradition of artistry in construction. They commonly have stucco walls, arched windows and doorways, decorative interior woodwork, wrought-iron balconies and tiles adorning various entry points. Fancier Mediterranean and Spanish homes are often built on properties enhanced with courtyards.
Victorian
Though they can vary greatly in style, Victorians are still one of the most distinguishable American homes to have been built due to some key features that include steeply sloped roofs, patterned shingles, baroque porches and massive brick chimneys. Victorian homes are frequently compared to the look of a dollhouse with their intricate trim and bright paint jobs. Victorians actually refer more to the time period they originated in, during Queen Victoria’s reign from approximately 1840-1900, than a specific construction technique.
Split Level
Split level styles tend to be one of the most price affordable among the selection of homes for sale. They were designed to separate miscellaneous house activities into different levels. Generally, sleeping accommodations were built on the very top floor over the garage while the middle floor would be comprised of living and dining quarters. Lower levels were constructed for a garage, laundry room and a den-type area.
Bungalow
Bungalows, or Craftsman, houses are low rise with overhanging roofs and charming covered porches. These cozier homes are regularly favored by first-time buyers on a budget who aren’t looking for a lot of space. Bungalows have one or one and a half stories and are assembled with many different worldly influences in mind, especially from India.
Colonial
Colonial homes favor asymmetrical and simple design, built in a square or rectangular shape with bedrooms on the top floor and living space on the bottom. Colonials don’t vary much from there. They do, however, make a statement with their generous size. Double-hung windows can be found along all sides of these homes with the most elaborate design feature often focusing on the front door.
Knowing the characteristics that are unique to each style of home and then narrowing down your preferences from there can be very helpful as you begin your examination of all the different homes for sale in your area.
