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Buying a new home takes research, research, and more research. One of the pieces to the puzzle is figuring out what will your dream home look like. Homes come in all types of styles and sizes. Whether you are open to several styles or have your heart set on only one, narrowing your search will save time and prepare you to act when the perfect home hits the market. Become a smarter home shopper by knowing the following 10 home styles.

Cape Cod

A Cape Cod house is a low, broad, one to one and a half story frame building with a moderately steep pitched gabled roof, a large central chimney, and very little ornamentation.

Colonial

Colonial-style homes usually have two or three stories, fireplaces, and brick or wood facades. The classic Colonial-Style house floor plan has the kitchen and family room on the first floor and the bedrooms on the second floor.

Contemporary

“Contemporary” has come to describe a wide range of houses built in recent decades that concentrate on simple forms and geometric lines. Many Contemporary homes feature lots of glass, open floor plans, and inventive designs.

Cottage

Common features of Cottage Style house plans include a warm, storybook character, steep roof pitches, and cross gables, arched doors, casement windows with small panes, and brick, stone, or stucco siding.

Craftsman

These homes feature a large amount of interior woodwork, such as built-in shelving and seating. On the exterior, Craftsman-Style homes often have low-pitched roofs with wide eave overhangs, exposed roof rafters, decorative beams or braces under gables, and porches framed by tapered square columns.

Country French

Country French homes are often one story with many narrow windows and paired shutters, steeply pitched roofs, stucco walls, and a half-timbered frame. Round towers and entryways hidden beneath rustic arches are common decorative features. There may be an extensive mixing of cladding materials, colors, and textures.

Mediterranean

Mediterranean Style homes usually have stucco or plaster exteriors with shallow red tile roofs that create shady overhangs. Along with large windows and exposed beams, Mediterranean Style homes include patios or loggias to catch breezes.

Ranch

Ranch Style homes are one-story houses with an open and casual layout. The shape of the house is either rectangular or an "L" or "U" shape. The houses have low-pitched roofs and extended eaves. They also usually have an attached garage and a large picture window facing the street.

Tudor

Tudor homes are characterized by their steeply pitched gable roofs, playfully elaborate masonry chimneys, embellished doorways, groupings of windows, and decorative half-timbering.

Victorian

Victorian homes often feature a steeply pitched roof, a dominant front-facing gable, patterned shingles, cutaway bay windows, and an asymmetrical facade with a partial or full-width front porch.

Now that you are more aware of the different home styles available to you - it’s time to get conditionally pre-qualified. Start your journey toward homeownership today here. One step at a time, we will help you to build your budget, navigate the process, and apply for a loan.

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