Here is a handy guide to help you sort out which house style is which so that you can decide what best suits your personal taste.

Split Level

A split-level style home has three staggered floors. They were very popular in the 50’s and 60’s and still sell well today.

Ranch

Ranch-style homes usually have a low-pitched roof and are single-story. Ranches often have a very open floor plan and an L-shaped or rectangular structure. There are also raised ranches, which fit the same basic model but with two floors instead of  one.

Victorian

Largely popular in the late 1800s, a Victorian-style homes often have bay windows, towers, sprawling porches, and an elaborate and colorful exterior paint job. Floor plans for Victorian-style homes are typically traditional with the kitchen at the back of the home and the bedrooms on the second floor.

Bungalow

Bungalows are usually smaller with bedrooms and maybe a bathroom on the second floor.The living space is typically found on the first floor with a large porch. Bungalows are usually spaced close to one another in tight-knit neighborhoods.

Colonial

Colonial-style homes originated in the 1600’s. They usually have two stories and are very symmetrical and rectangular. There are also Dutch colonial homes which look very similar except for a barn-like roof.