15 Popular House Styles Across the U.S. - What's Happening in Real Estate

No matter where you live, you’ll likely encounter a wide variety of architectural house styles just by driving through your neighborhood. From extravagant to quaint, homes across the U.S. hold their own unique beauty and characteristics, just like the people who inhabit them.

So, what are the most popular home styles in the U.S.? Whether you’re looking at homes for sale in Portland, OR, searching for a rental house in Atlanta, or you just enjoy browsing homes on your favorite real estate app, read on. Redfin breaks down 15 popular house styles in the United States right now, including insights from Redfin Premier agents on the most popular ones.

What are some of the most popular house styles?

1. Modern-style houses

Emerging in the 1920s to embrace minimalism and reject the more ornate house styles, modern house styles typically include progressive elements such as asymmetrical exteriors, flat roofs, and integrated outdoor spaces. Many modern interiors also feature minimal molding and trim, neutral color palettes, and metal accents.

In a recent Redfin survey, Redfin Premier Agents were asked what top home styles are most coveted by homebuyers. 65% of agents surveyed named modern-style homes as one of the top three most desired styles.

2. Ranch-style houses

Dating back to 1932, the ranch-style home grew in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, and is still popular today. The iconic ranch architecture features a simple, single-story floor plan, low-to-the-ground look, often with an open layout and occasional basement. This style of house typically has a smaller yard, attached garage, and a low-pitched roof. The ranch-style home typically features large windows and sliding glass doors, encouraging an indoor-outdoor living style. A ranch can also be called a ‘rambler,’ depending on which region in the country you live in and local terminology.

Looking locally, ranch-style houses currently have the highest sale-to-list ratio in a handful of cities, meaning this style of house is more likely to sell above the list price. These cities include Portland, OR, Phoenix, AZ, Chicago, IL, San Francisco, CA, and San Diego, CA. Each of these cities favor the rambler, with a current sale-to-list ratio of over 100%.

3. Craftsman-style houses

The beloved craftsman style house became increasingly popular in the 1900s by architect and furniture designer Gustav Stickley, and has remained popular throughout the 21st century. This staple of American architecture adds charm to any neighborhood with its exterior features, including shingles, low-pitched roofs, and covered front porches. Craftsman houses also feature recognizable interior details such as thick trim, prominent ceiling beams, and built-in shelving and seating.

Craftsman homes are a desirable home style across the U.S., and 33% of Premier agents reported that they are a top choice for homebuyers. They are often sold above list price in Oakland, CA, Seattle, WA, Atlanta, GA, and Portland, OR.

4. Mid-century modern-style houses

Mid-century modern style is part of the modernism movement, which dates back to post-World War II, and remained popular throughout the 1970s. A mid-century modern design is characterized by minimalism, clean lines, and floor-to-ceiling windows. You’ll often see open layouts, and a mix of natural and manufactured materials for the interior elements like wood, stone, steel, and plastic.

“I listed a home in the Hollywood Hills that was a mid-century classic,” says Redfin Premier agent Gregory Eubanks. “Over 60+ people came to multiple open houses. It had a koi pond in the atrium area, and the home was beautiful with great views.”

The style is still popular to this day, as 55% of Redfin Premier agents surveyed named mid-century modern houses as a sought-after home style among buyers.

5. Cape Cod-style houses

With roots dating back to 1675, the quaint and charming Cape Cod-style houses are reminiscent of the classic American cottage style. This type of home design migrated from England to the United States, maintaining its symmetrical design and central chimney. Cape Cod house styles feature a steep roof to keep snow from accumulating, dormer windows for added light, wood siding and shutters to keep the heat in, and hardwood floors for comfort and practicality.

This style of house is prevalent in the northeastern part of the United States, commonly found in the New England cities like Boston, MA.

6. Cottage-style houses

Inspired by the medieval styles of the English countryside, American architects designed the cozy cottage-style houses during the 1920s and 30s. This style of house typically has a steep, thatched roof, arched doorways, shuttered windows, and a warm storybook character bringing to life old-world charm.

7. Tudor-style houses

Originating in the 15th century during the reign of the House of Tudor, this style of house is fairly easy to identify with its unique features. Tudor-style houses typically have a combination of brick, stone, or stucco exterior and decorative half-timbering on the second story to create the well-known striped exterior. They also feature a steeply pitched roof, cross gables, and tall, narrow windows. Today, tudor-style houses are prominent in the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States.

8. Victorian-style houses

Victorian-style houses were first seen during the Victorian Era, from around 1860 to 1900. This house style is best described as a colorful dollhouse with romantic and distinctive features. Victorian-style houses have elaborate detailing in just about every part of the home, from the intricate wood trim, ornate staircases, stained-glass, and decorative woodwork. They have steep gabled roofs, a front-facing gable, patterned shingles, bay windows, a round tower, and a front porch.

9. Mediterranean-style houses

Mediterranean-style homes are suitable for warmer climates, which is why this style of house became prevalent in Southern California during the 1920s and 1930s. Influenced by the architectural details of countries in the Mediterranean region, they often have low-pitched red tile roofs, vaulted ceilings, arched doors and windows, and a stucco or adobe exterior. The floor plan is typically a U-shape, creating a central courtyard for a garden or fountain.

This style, which remains popular in places like California and Florida, was ranked as a top-three house style by 8% of Redfin Premier survey respondents.

10. Contemporary-style houses

Contemporary architecture is often used interchangeably when describing modern style architecture. A wide range of recently built homes are built with Contemporary-style architecture. These homes have inventive designs and simple forms without elaborate ornamentation or detail. They usually have geometric lines, large windows and doors to bring in light, and open floor plans. They typically incorporate sustainable and eco-friendly building materials, textures, and components, exposed roof beams, and flat or low-pitched roofs.

Contemporary-style houses see high sale-to-list ratio in Oakland, CA, San Francisco, CA, New York City, NY, and St. Louis, MO. The Redfin survey backs this up, as 54% of respondents listed contemporary-style houses as a sought-after home type.

11. Colonial-style houses

Dating back to 1876, East Coast architecture has maintained its allure in many parts of the United States. These classic homes exude old-world charm with decorative doorways and symmetrical window placement. Many colonial-style houses will have two or three stories, fireplaces, and brick or wood exteriors. These features partially explain why 17% or surveyed agents said that homeowners desired this style of house.

Colonial-style homes are similar to the Cape Cod-style home because of their symmetry and side-gabled roofs, but Cape Cod-style houses are typically one story rather than two or three. Colonial-style houses are common in the northeastern part of the United States.

12. Farmhouse-style houses

The farmhouse was designed back in the early 1700s, built as housing for farmers and all about practicality. Modern farmhouses still exhibit many of the same features that the original design included, like large, wraparound front porches, clapboard siding, large fireplaces, wood floors, eat-in kitchens, and oversized kitchen sinks. Farmhouses were among the most popular house styles in the Redfin Premier agent survey, as nearly half of the agents listed them as one of the most desirable to homebuyers.

13. Townhouse

Originating in Europe and eventually migrating to the United States, townhomes are most commonly found across cities in the United States. With the convenience of spacious layouts, townhomes offer more amenities than the condo styles and are lower maintenance than most residential homes. They’re typically two or three-story homes, usually sharing one or two walls with adjacent properties, and a rooftop deck to enjoy sprawling views.

14. Row houses

Row houses are characterized by their narrow, tall, and connected design. These homes are typically two to four stories high, with brick or stone exteriors and charming architectural details like decorative cornices and stoops. Inside, you’ll find cozy, vertical living spaces, often featuring high ceilings and large windows. Row houses are common in coastal cities like Baltimore, MD, Boston, MA, and Philadelphia, PA.

15. French country house

French country houses embody the rustic charm and elegance reminiscent of France’s picturesque countryside. These homes often feature steeply pitched roofs, stucco exteriors, and arched doorways, creating a timeless, fairy-tale aesthetic. Tall, narrow windows with wooden shutters add to their quaint allure, while stone or brickwork adds a touch of sophistication. Interiors typically boast exposed wooden beams, warm color palettes, and cozy fireplaces. The seamless blend of rustic and refined elements makes French country houses a popular choice for those seeking both beauty and comfort.

Home styles with the highest sale-to-list ratio in the largest 12 US metros:

The sale-to-list ratio is the final sale price (what a buyer pays for the home) divided by the last list price expressed as a percentage. If it’s above 100%, the home sold for more than the list price. If it’s less than 100%, the home sold for less than the list price.

Metro
Home Style
Sale-to-list ratio
% active listings

Phoenix, AZ
Ranch
98.7%
20.7%

Contemporary
98.2
10.9%

Atlanta, GA
Mid Century Modern
99.4%
1.0%

Modern Architecture
99.3%
3.5%

Craftsman
98.9%
6.0%

Portland, OR
Craftsman
102.6%
6.3%

Mid Century Modern
101.5%
4.3%

Modern Architecture
100.1%
6.4%

Oakland, CA
Craftsman
107.6%
1.6%

Mid Century Modern
105.3%
1.0%

Victorian
103.5%
1.1%

Boston, MA
Ranch
102.9%
1.0%

High Rise Condo
101.6%
1.2%

Modern Architecture
100.1%
2.1%

Chicago, IL
Brick Exterior
101.4%
1.6%

Raised Ranch/Ranch
101.2%
1.0%

Contemporary
99.0%
3.1%

Denver, CO
Two Story Home
103.8%
1.1%

Victorian
101.7%
1.7%

Brick Home
100.9%
1.0%

San Francisco, CA
Mid Century Modern
113.4%
4.5%

Two Levels
112.6%
1.0%

Victorian
105.8%
4.5%

Seattle, WA
Craftsman
105.4%
1.0%

1 Story
104.7%
7.6%

Mid Century Modern
103.1%
1.9%

San Diego, CA
Single Level Home
102.5%
2.2%

Modern Architecture
101.1%
2.4%

Ranch
99.7.%
3.7%

*Per home trends listing data on Redfin.com, as of July 2024

Individual results may vary. This is not intended as a substitute for the services of a licensed real estate agent, or licensed and bonded home services professional or appraiser.

Agent survey methodology: This is according to a survey commissioned by Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Roughly 300 Redfin Premier agents responded to the survey, which Qualtrics conducted in April-May 2024. The relevant question was: “What are the top 3 home styles that are most sought after for buyers?”

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