Choose the best type of home for you and your family

Betti Hunter – homify Betti Hunter – homify
CASA PRAIA, Tweedie+Pasquali Tweedie+Pasquali Houses
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When you're on the hunt for a new home, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the range of models and styles that are available. Doubts are raised and worries get exaggerated – is this really the right home for me? What should be a fairly straightforward decision-making process spirals out of control and becomes close to impossible.

However, choosing a house is as simple as finding the property that best suits your lifestyle and needs. To make things easier, we'll talk you through seven of the most popular home styles on the market and how to identify the benefits of each one. Ready? Let's jump straight in!

1. A duplex

Duplexes, also known as terraced houses, are popular across the world but are especially prominent in the USA and Europe. There are many advantages in this kind of house – ample space, pretty exteriors, and the proximity of tenants to their landlord. Generally the construction value costs of these houses are low, which means they tend to attract investors who are looking for an extra income.

Duplexes are very easy to live in, but the trendy nature and proximity to others mean that they are best suited to child-free couples, or families with older children. Duplexes often turn out to be a hybrid between a house and an apartment, offering the best of both worlds. This kind of space meets the needs of those who are searching for a house that offers the security of a condominium.

2. Single storey house

A one storey house is ideal for families with small children, elderly relatives, or family members with disabilities. As a home that has no hindrances to mobility, it can be designed with maximum accessibility in mind. 

However, this kind of home should be chosen and planned with care. As there is only a limited amount of space across one floor, a single storey home is generally more suitable for smaller families, our couples expecting their first child. There is rarely opportunity for expansion, especially in urban areas where space is at a premium. Lighting can also be an issue – if a low home also has small windows, the interior can end up being very dark for much of the day.

Despite these potential problems, it is easy for couples and families to thrive in one storey homes. Just be sure to do your research and planning first to save any headaches further down the line.

3. A Mansarda house

Mansarda style homes are relatively rare, but they have so many benefits! The style itself dates back to 17th century Paris, where the French architect François Mansart took his inspiration from Italian design to create a truly unique style. Almost a century later, his great nephew made the Mansart style globally famous by including it into the design of the Palace of Versailles.

The main characteristic of these unusual houses is a proliferation of windows in the upper floors, meaning that they are full of light all day long. The windows could be large or small, depending on your preference and how you want to exterior of the home to look.

4. A house with two or more floors

Unlike the one storey home, a two storey house is a far more effective and economical use of land, and has the additional benefit of more privacy. Unless passers-by are carrying a tall ladder, they're unlikely to be able to peek into your first floor windows!

Architectural possibilities can be more adventurous within a two storey home, and more space can be dedicated to individual rooms. This kind of house is suitable for most people, but staircases can pose a danger to small children, the elderly, and domestic pets. These problems can be avoided by dedicating certain parts of the home to certain people, but this might not be overly practical for some families. However, many professionals offer innovative solutions to mobility issues – just contact the one that best suits your needs!

5. Condominiums

Living in a condo is often a great experience – many are spacious, located close to city centres, and low in price. Howeverm living in one means making a lot of sacrifices, especially when it comes to noise. When you're surrounded by other people, it's important not to annoy any of them by stomping around late at night or paying loud music. This often poses a problem to home-seekers who are looking for a place where they can be themselves without fear of retribution, but a condo is the perfect choice for young professionals who want to work hard, play hard, and come home to a quiet place of peace and relaxation. Just be sure to obey the rules of the building to avoid friction with the neighbours!

Condos aren't just convenient, they're a solution for those who are seeking a safe place to live. With their rigid security systems, condos have a consistently low rate of break-ins and robberies. Some modern condos even have laundry services, a gym, and children's playgrounds. What more could you want?

6. Prefabricated houses

Prefab houses have gathered a bad reputation over the years. In the past, they've been accused of being flimsy, bad quality, and unfashionable. However, a new wave of architects and home designers has changed all that. 21st century prefab houses are delightful and desirable, thanks to their distinctive designs and ease of assembly. In some cases, you can even take the house with you if you choose to move to another site!

However, it's not all sweetness and light. Though the initial building costs may look low, a prefabricated house still has to meet all the same requirements as a bricks and mortar home. The initial investment to start this kind of project can be scary, and it's made scarier by the fact that there is less choice in terms of the things you choose to add or take away from the design of the home. In short, building a prefab house can sometimes be less flexible than building a masonry house from scratch.

7. A sustainable house

The last kind of house on our list is quite possibly the most important one. As climate change becomes an ever more real threat to our continued existence and safety, it is now more important than ever to make life choices that are rooted in a commitment to preserving our planet.

A sustainable house can be built in many different ways – single storey, double storey, prefab and Mansarda homes can all be made sustainable with relative ease. Many condo blocks are now being designed with sustainability in mind, and older homes can be adapted to meet modern sustainability standards with a little forward planning and cash.

A sustainable home is suitable for everyone, but might be financially out of reach for some. Solar panels are expensive to install, modern technology can be complicated and costly. However, though the initial cost might be high, the savings you will make as time goes on means that these environmentally friendly additions will pay for themselves in the form of lower energy bills – not to mention a guilt-free conscience! What's not to like?

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