The average cost of a home in the USA has gone up by 15% in the last year. But what types of houses now cost the most? American Home Shield wanted to find out. So its researcher sourced data from real-estate marketplace company Zillow. And it used that info to create several charts showing the average price for each housing style across the USA.
The most valuable house style in the USA
The beach house is the USA’s most valuable house style, according to American House Shield. On average, these waterfront properties are valued at $1,223,310.
Beach houses are a must-have for North America’s elite. Bill Gates splashed out $43 million for his oceanfront mansion in the coastal town of Del Mar, California. And Jeff Bezos’ waterside Hawaiian mansion on Maui is worth $78million!
The USA’s least valuable house style
With an average price of $118,689, the mobile home is the USA’s least valuable house style.
Despite the stigma attached to mobile homes, not everyone who lives in one is poor. Charles Becker is a professor of economics at Duke University. He says, “there are parts of the country where living in a mobile home community isn’t seen as a negative. You have retirement communities in Florida where people aren’t poor at all. They just like the freedom and community you often find in trailer parks.”
The most valuable house style in each US state
The log home is the most expensive house style in Indiana and Michigan. Evoking the USA’s early pioneering days, these modern homesteads are worth over $300,000 in each state.
The Tudor style is number one in New York State, Georgia, Tennessee, and Washington. US Tudor homes are characterized by steeply pitched gable roofs, elaborate masonry chimneys, and exposed wood frameworks. And they’re expensive. Tudor homes in all these states cost between $700,000 to $1.2million.
Manie is the only state where the shingle style is the most expensive. The distinctly American architectural style emerged in New England during the late 19th century. Shingle homes are defined by wood cladding and asymmetrical facades. Architects would often dip the wooden shingles in buttermilk to create a weathered look on new buildings.
North America’s best-selling home
The ranch house is the most popular type of home on the US real estate market. It’s the number one sold home in 20 states, including Wyoming and Ohio.
This is due to its universal appeal. The ranch-style “is not experimental enough to be considered ‘ugly,'” wrote critic Russell Lynes. “And it’s not tricked-up enough to be considered ‘ugly’ by the experimental. It’s merely nice and unobjectionable. It’s homey and practical.”
Unique house styles across the US
Homeowners in Kentucky and Missouri have some unique (and very responsible) architectural tastes. The most popular residential building style in these neighboring states is the earth home. These eco-conscious properties are built into the natural environment and use the Earth’s thermal mass to maintain a steady temperature.
Style and price matter. But they’re not the most important things when finding somewhere to live. “Modern or classic – who cares?” says architect Cameron Kimber. “If a house has a good feel to it, it will always be your home!”