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What’s Your Style?
A Guide to America’s Most Common Home Styles
by: W. Troy Swezey
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
tow-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 one living
level about half a floor above the other living
level. When this type of home is built on three
different levels, it is called a tri-level.
These are just a few of the many styles of homes
available across the country – some are more prominent
in different areas than others. Knowing home style terms
will help you zero in on the type of house that will
fill your needs and suit your taste.
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What’s Your Style?
A Guide to America’s Most Common Home Styles
About The Author
W. Troy Swezey is the author of
“WHAT’S YOUR STYLE? A guide to America’s Most
common Home Styles." As a Realtor at Century 21
Paul & Associates, he has helped many individuals
with their real estate needs. Visit his web site to
download his free e-book, “REAL ESTATE SECRETS
EXPOSED.” http://www.TroyIsMyRealtor.com
or mail to:
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