Everyone seems to understand the term single family detached home when it comes to real estate. In our area there are many different types of single-family homes you can buy including one-story, two-story, split-level, and even the McMansion. However, there are other categories that aren’t so well understood. If the photos with the listing you’re looking at don't provide much clarity, the explanations below may help. We want you to know what to expect before you get to the home with your Realtor® or before you visit during an open house.
Villa
Although villa may have a different meaning outside of Florida, for the most part, in the Tampa Bay area, the term villa is used for homes in communities that have a shared wall with at least one other home. They are often single level and frequently include a covered porch or patio. Most villa communities include a pool and lawn care services which benefits its residents.
Bungalow
The Historic Kenwood neighborhood of St. Petersburg has the biggest concentration of bungalows in our area. These small, single-family detached homes often have three bedrooms in about 1,500 square feet. There are bungalows in other areas, and some are new construction too. They’re often craftsman style and almost always have a lovely front porch. Many may have a partial second floor.
Condos
There are four primary categories that can be called condominiums. Here is what you can expect if you find a Realtor®’s listing for one of these types of condos:
· High-rise condo — A high-rise condo means the building has ten or more stories. Often these condos are in downtown areas and along the beaches. Most offer a wide variety of amenities which means higher monthly dues.
· Mid-rise condo — Condo buildings with between four and nine stores fall into this classification. Depending on the complex, you may enjoy a fitness center, community pool, clubhouse, or other amenities.
· Low-rise condo — Some of these are converted apartments and others are newly built. Most have comparable amenities and monthly dues as a mid-rise condo.
· Townhome — There are many townhome-style condos geared toward families and retirees. Some have garages. You may have fewer amenities with a townhome-style condo than with one of the other types of condominiums.
· Coach house — This is a combination of a low-rise and townhome style. One unit is upstairs and the other is downstairs. Often, because of the stairs, the upstairs unit has slightly more square feet; however, the benefit of the downstairs unit is that there are no stairs to climb.
Manufactured and Mobile Homes
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, these styles aren’t the same. Both are built and moved to the site. However, a mobile home is a home that was built before 1976 and likely was actually mobile. This is because there was a time when the owners often moved their home and family to follow jobs. These are similar to a modern-day camper which has been moved off the wheel bed and onto a concrete block foundation.
Manufactured homes are built to be permanently located once moved and assembled on a site. These are what many people know of as single-, double-, and triple-wide, which are the terms used to describe the number of trucks required to move the home. They are always placed on a permanent foundation as part of the final assembly. You may tour a manufactured home and not even realize it wasn’t a site built home.
If you’re looking for a Realtor® to help you find your family's new home, a retirement property, or a rental, call Jason Duraj at Future Home Realty. He’ll help you find your new villa, bungalow, condo, manufactured home, or whatever type of home is right for your family. Call (813) 992-7771 today for your free consultation.
