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 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.