7 Types of Homes

The right kind of home will match your lifestyle and goals.

When it comes to choosing a new home, the options are as diverse as there are people. Which home structure or style fits your lifestyle best? If you know this before you start your home search, you can narrow down your options and tell your Realtor exactly what you are looking for.

Structure refers to the type of building, like a single-family home or a condo. Style refers to the architectural features and design, like Victorian or Craftsman.

This article will summarize seven of the most common types of home structures in Ontario, most of which are currently available in Grey and Bruce counties.

Apartment Owen Sound Real Estate

Apartment

An apartment is a suite of rooms housed among other similar units in a large building. The key feature is that you rent this home from a landlord. In some apartment complexes, a laundry room, gym facilities or a pool is available. 

Pros

  • Repairs and maintenance are the landlord’s responsibility

Cons

  • No option to purchase/no equity building
  • Less flexibility, freedom, and privacy

Condominium

A condo is similar to an apartment but allows you to build home equity and take charge of all repairs and upkeep. Condos are a great option for city living and older adults who don’t want the stress of taking care of a single-family home.

Condominiums Owen Sound Real Estate

Pros

  • Less upkeep than a single-family home
  • Build home equity

Cons

  • Less privacy and freedom
Townhouses Grey Bruce Real Estate

Townhouse

A townhouse is an individually owned residence but shares one or two walls with the next home in a row of houses. Each townhouse unit normally contains a full basement, main level living area, and sometimes an upper level for bedrooms. Occasionally, there may be shared amenities among a row of townhouses.

Pros

  • Typically more affordable than single-family homes

Cons

  • Less privacy
  • Less freedom to change the exterior

Semi-detached (duplexes)

A semi­-detached home is a property on a single lot with two living spaces that share one wall in common. Special noise-proofing materials and structures are used in semi-detached homes to stop sound from traveling between the two residences.

Semi-detached Home Walkerton Real Estate

Pros

  • Typically more affordable than single-family homes

Cons

  • Less privacy
  • Less freedom to change the exterior
Cooperative Housing Owen Sound Real Estate

Housing Co-Op

A housing cooperative is quite different from other arrangements because you buy a share of a co-op company that owns a building and common spaces, rather than an actual property. The number of shares you own normally correlates to your personal living space. You’ll have a vote for community decisions, and you’ll split maintenance costs and other fees with the other residents.

Pros

  • Great sense of community
  • Less expensive than a traditional home

Cons

  • Less freedom
  • Must get group approval to make some changes

Tiny Home

Tiny house popularity has boomed in recent years, spurring what’s known as the “tiny home movement.” These small structures usually fall in the range of 60-400 square feet, some of which are prefabricated, while others are custom builds. 

Tiny Home Sauble Beach Real Estate

Pros 

  • More affordable
  • Easier to customize and maintain

Cons

  • Smaller space
  • Less room for family growth and hosting visitors
Single Family Home Detached Kincardine Real Estate

Single-Family Detached

Almost two-thirds of homes in Ontario are single-family detached houses. The key feature of a single-family home is that it’s completely detached from other housing units, unlike condos, apartments, townhouses, and housing cooperatives. They’re typically found in suburbs and less populated areas. 

Pros 

  • Greater privacy
  • More freedom to make changes

Cons 

  • Typically cost more to maintain and own

The House

Explore the different components of the house.

The Foundation

Basements, Crawl Spaces, Slab on Grade and More...

READ MORE

The Septic System

Household waste water management...

READ MORE

Wells & Water

Drilled Well, Dug Well, Sandpoint Well...

READ MORE

Roofs

Asphalt, Cedar Shank, Steel.  Pro's & Cons...

READ MORE

Windows

Let the light in, and keep the cold air out...

READ MORE

Flooring

Hardwood, Stone, Vinyl, Tile, Carpet, Bamboo, Cork...

READ MORE

Solar Panels

 Free, clean, safe, and renewable energy...

READ MORE

Heating

Furnaces, heat pumps, in-floor radiant, geothermal, ...

READ MORE

Cooling

Central Air, Ductless, Heat Pumps, Portable, ...

READ MORE

Exteriors

Vinyl, Fibre Cement, Aluminum, Brick, Stone, ...

READ MORE

Insulation

Spray Foam, Rigid Foam, Fibreglass Batts, Blown, ...

READ MORE

Types of Homes

Condo, townhouse, semi-detached, detached, tiny...

READ MORE

Styles of Homes

Victorian, Edwardian, Victory, Bungalow, 1.5 Storey, 2 Storey...

READ MORE

Energy Efficiency

Insulation, caulking, windows, doors, weatherstripping, ...

READ MORE

Smart Homes

Control your appliances and devices from anywhere, ...

READ MORE

Ceilings

Flat, drop, tray, coffered, coved, sloped, vaulted, ...

READ MORE