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Types of Homes
Styles of houses vary across the country. From the New England
Cape Cod to the Victorians of San Francisco, the choices are almost endless.
Knowing which style you prefer is one of the basic elements in your hunt
for the perfect home.
Following is a quick guide to help you recognize and use the professional
terms for many of the most prevalent house styles:
Ranch: these long, low houses rank among the most popular
types in the country. The ranch, which developed from early homes
in the West and Southwest, is one-story with a low pitched room.
The raised ranch, which is also common is the U.S.. has two levels, each
accessible from the home’s entry foyer, which features staircases to both
upper and lower levels.
Cape Cod: this compact story-and-a-half house is small
and symmetrical with a central entrance and a step, gable roof.
Brick, wood or aluminum siding are the materials most commonly seen.
Georgian: Popular in New England, the Georgian has a very
formal appearance with tow or three stories and classic lines. Usually
built of red brick, the rectangular house has thin columns alongside the
entry, and multi-paned windows above the door and throughout the house.
Two large chimneys rise high above the roof at each end.
Tudor: modeled after the English country cottage.
Tudor styling features trademark dark-wood timbering set against
light-colored stucco that highlights the top half of the house and frames
the numerous windows. The bottom half of the house is often made
of brick.
Queen Anne/Victorian: Developed from styles originated
in Great Britain, these homes are usually two-story frame with large rooms,
high ceilings and porches along the front and sometimes sides of the house.
Peaked roofs and ornamental wood trim, many times referred to as “gingerbread,”
decorate these elaborate homes.
Pueblo/Santa Fe Style: Popular in the Southwest, these
homes are either frame or adobe brick with a stucco exterior.
The flat rood has protruding, rounded beams called vigas. One
or two story, the homes feature covered/enclosed patios and an abundance
of tile.
Dutch Colonial: the Dutch Colonial has two or two-and-
one-half stories covered by a gambrel roof (having two lopes on each side,
with the lower slope steeper than the upper, flatter slope) and eaves that
flare outward. This style is traditionally make of brick or shingles.
New England Colonial: This two-and-one-half story early
American style is box like with a gable roof. The traditional material
is narrow clapboard siding and a shingle roof. The small-pane,
double-hung windows usually have working wood shutters.
Southern Colonial: this large, two-to-three-story frame
house is world famous for its large front columns and wide porches.
Split-Levels: split-level houses have at least one living level
about a half floor above the other living level.
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