Many home owners are taking advantage of extremely low mortgage rates and buying homes at incredible prices. Whether they are purchasing second homes or looking to move from renting to owning, these low mortgage rates are making a home purchase the financially savvy way to go.
Sometimes it’s just the process of finding your dream home that can be the challenge. You know what you want in style, room size or amenities, but when a listing describes a home’s style as Cape Cod or Bungalow, many homeowners are left scratching their heads.
This short list of home styles can help you with the process of finding a home that is perfect for you and your family.
Cape Cod
Cod cape houses are usually one-story houses – sometimes 1 A – which have steep roof lines, multi-panel windows, wooden siding and often have a dormer window for additional space. It has a symmetrical exterior, with a door that is often found directly in the middle. This style originated in the 17th century by British invaders who settled on the east coast.
Colonial
One of the most popular home styles, the colonial is a larger offshoot of the Cape Cod. These homes typically have 2 or 3 stories, large fireplaces and brick or wood facades. Like the Cape Cod the windows are arranged around the center door, with narrow side windows on either side. These rectangular, symmetrical homes have floor plans with the kitchen and family room on the first floor and the bedrooms on the second.
Victorian
There are several home styles that are included in Victorian home styles. These romantic and very detailed houses signify an era that lasted around 1860-1900. The typical Victorian home design features steep roofs, dominant gable roofs, large windows, decorative accents such as shingles or patterned spindles, and asymmetrical exteriors with partial or full width front terraces.
Tudor
The Tudor style homes are loosely modeled after the homes of Medieval England. The common features of these homes include tall narrow windows with small window panes, patterned brick or stone walls, rounded doorways, multi-paned casement windows and large stone chimneys. Many tudor homes also have a steeply sloping roof.
Craftsman/Bungalow
The Craftsman (also called a bungalow or an Arts and Crafts style) was a popular home from the early 1900s to the 40s. This style was created in response to the elaborate d?cor and floor plan of the Victorian homes, as a simple more ‘hand-built’ style. The homes often have a low-pitched roof, exposed roof rafters, and have porches framed by tapered columns. The homes are narrow and rectangular, often 1 A stories. The thing that set these homes apart from their contemporaries is the large amount of interior woodwork, like built-in shelving and bookcases.
Contemporary
The term contemporary describes a wide range of homes that concentrate on simple forms and lines. These modern homes feature lots of glass, open floor plans and unique designs. Typically they steer clear of excessive ornamentation and unnecessary details, placing more emphasis on flat-face exteriors and incorporating the surrounding landscape into their overall look. These homes also are known for their unusual mix of wall materials like stone, brick and wood.
This list should help you make sense of the home styles that are available when you are searching for your new dream home. It’s important to remember that you should be educated on the entire home buying process, and once you do find the place you’re ready to buy.
