Which Architecture Style Is Worth the Most?

Luxury builders have favored the Mediterranean and Tuscan style of homes in recent years, and it’s no wonder: The median list price of that style of home is $749,900.

However, the public’s love with this style of home may be waning. For the past four years, the list price of Mediterranean homes has stalled. On the other hand, more modern home styles are seeing quicker appreciation, surging 37 percent since 2012, according to an analysis by realtor.com®.

“Modern homes are built to be more energy-efficient, and modern-looking,” says Tim Cannan, president of PreservationDirectory.com. “It’s easier to heat and cool them, and they’re cheaper to repair as opposed to Mediterranean or Spanish style – those red clay roofs could wind up costing much more. So it’s really the size and scope that determines what people can afford.”

So you know the prices, but which home style is the most popular in the U.S.?

The ranch home is the most popular real estate style in 29 of the 50 states, according to realtor.com®’s analysis. Ranch homes tend to be able to be built quickly and inexpensively compared to some other styles. Its popularity soared in suburbia with the rise of the automobile culture in the 1960s, realtor.com® reports.

Realtor.com® describes the second most popular architecture style in the U.S. as more “traditional,” which encompasses several classic designs defined by simple rooflines and symmetrical windows.

A closer look reveals quite a few regional architecture differences. For example, in the Northeast, colonial homes – known for their rectangular or box-shaped styles – remain popular. Victorians, on the other hand, are popular in the East Coast and into the Midwest. These homes have intricate moldings and ornate shapes carved into beams, along with pitched roofs, textured shingles, and long front porches.

Differences arise by a state level too. For example, realtor.com® notes that in Illinois, Georgian home styles are popular while in California the Spanish style rules.You’ll find plenty of Cape Cod homes in New England, and rustic cabins nestled in the Appalachian, Rocky, and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges.

Source: “A Nation United – and Divided – by Our Homes’ Architectural Styles,” realtor.com® (Oct. 10, 2016)