Understanding the differences in styles and houses available will help you make an informed choice for your next house, or to better understand your existing residence. Below, you can find out more information about the different types of houses with pictures and names.

Single-Family House

A single-family house is a detached, standalone home that serves as a single dwelling unit. It can be used for one person, family or household. The home has its own entrance and direct street access. It is usually built on its own land with additional yard space. A typical home is a three-bedroom, 2.2-bathroom, 2,000-square-foot home. 26% of the renters surveyed rented a single family detached home.

Multi-Family House

Multi-family homes are those that have more than one living space, each with its own entrances and privacy. Multi-family homes can refer to any structure that has more than one dwelling space. This could be anything from a simple duplex to an enormous apartment building.

Apartment

An apartment is a type housing unit that shares walls and where three or more residents are housed within one larger structure. Apartment buildings usually have one or more floors and include shared spaces such as a gym or pool.

You can find apartments all around the globe and they are often located in more urban areas. They are usually rented to tenants by landlords or property managers. The owner can choose to furnish the apartments or let the tenant furnish their own. An apartment's size can vary from a studio with one living space to a unit with three or more bedrooms.

Condo

A condominium or condo is a unit that is occupied by an owner. The homeowners association (HOA) manages the public areas. They are usually jointly owned and managed. The association charges a fee for residents to maintain public spaces. However, the condo units are owned by the resident.

Many countries have condo equivalents. In the 1960s, Salt Lake City, Utah was the first to be constructed in the United States. Condos have been a popular choice for homeowners who don’t want to maintain a single-family house.

Housing

A co-op is a form of housing that is owned by a corporation. Co-ops look similar to condominiums, but unit owners don't own the units. Each resident is entitled to live in one unit under a lease agreement if they own a share of a corporation.

Co-ops tend to be less expensive than apartments, which makes them attractive in areas such as New York City. The Homeowners Association (HOA), which is a fee paid to the co-op for maintenance, landscaping, and rules, may be slightly higher than that of a condo.

Duplex

A duplex is a single building that has two living areas. They share a wall. A duplex can be sold to more than one owner. The property can only be sold to two separate owners if they cooperate in making decisions.

Twin Home

A twin home can be sold as two separate properties on two lots. A twin home might allow you to share a wall with someone else; however, the owners can treat their own lot and their part of the structure as they please.

Townhouse

A townhome (or townhouse) "shares at most one wall with another house. They are most commonly found in urban areas. Their limited space and financial benefits to the builder or architect meant that they could be built quickly with a smaller land area. The "row-house" design is two stories high and has side hallways, minimal lawn space and a traditional layout. Townhomes, unlike row houses can be placed in lines or clusters that aren’t parallel to the roads.

Row House

Row houses are attached homes that are arranged along a street in a row and share at least one wall with another house.

Prefab

Prefabricated homes, also known as prefabricated, are manufactured in a factory and shipped to you in individual pieces that you then assemble on-site.

Modular Home

Modular homes are houses that are constructed off-site and then placed on a permanent foundation. Prefabs can also be included. Most modular homes measure between 12 and 15 feet in width and can be transported via truck.

Manufactured House

A manufactured home is a prefabricated home that is constructed in a factor and then moved to a permanent place. Manufactured houses are not mobile because they can only be moved once. Although a manufactured home is able to be moved once it has been constructed, it cannot be considered modular. They are usually placed on land owned by or leased by a manufactured home community. You can choose from single-wide, double or triple-wide floor plans with customizable features if you buy a manufactured home.

Motorhome

A motorhome, also known as an RV, is a vehicle that can be moved easily from one place to another. Class C-25 is the most popular size for motorhomes. It can accommodate a family of five and measures 23 to 25 feet in length.

Mobile Home

Mobile homes are less mobile than RVs or motorhomes. For permanent living, mobile homes (also known as trailers) can be placed in one place. There are two sizes available: one wide (usually 18 feet wide or smaller and 90 feet or less), and two wide (typically 20 foot wide and 90 ft long or less).

Houseboat

A houseboat can be described as a motorhome on the water. It is self-propelled and can be operated like a boat.

Floating House

A floating home is one that floats on water and has a foundation of logs or Styrofoam, concrete, or concrete. Floating Homes are permanently attached to a dock, where they can be hooked up to electricity and sewage.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

An Accessory Living Unit (ADU) a small structure that can be added to a property. It usually serves as its own living area. These units are also known as guesthouses or in-law apartments, or backyard cottages. ADUs on residential properties must be at least 800 square feet in most cities. These restrictions were bypassed by tiny home builders who built their homes on wheels so that they could be parked on their land like an RV.

Tiny Home

A tiny home, or tiny house, is a separate structure that measures between 100 and 400 square foot. Although most tiny houses are designed to be mobile, they can still be built on wheels. Many people believe tiny houses and tiny homes are one thing. Some argue that a tiny home can be any living space smaller than an RV, van, shed, boat, or other small structures. When in doubt, call the 400-square-foot-or-less structures on wheels tiny homes.

Mansion

A mansion is a large home that measures between 5,000 to 8,000 square feet. However, the exact details of what qualifies will vary depending on where you live and how much they are worth. For example, a Manhattan mansion might have 3,000 square feet. A house in Atlanta, however, would need to be larger to qualify. Luxury is what defines a mansion: large open foyers with tennis courts, grand staircases and crystal chandeliers.

McMansion

McMansion is a term that describes a large, newly built multi-story house, often cookie-cutter, with no architectural style apart from its sheer size. It is not clear what the definition means. A McMansion is a large, cheaply-made house. Others may call it a home that replaces an older house. McMansion was a term that was first used in the 1980s. This type of home seems to have fallen out of fashion around the 2010s.