Are you scrolling through listings feeling like Goldilocks, but every property is either too big, too small, or just… architecturally confusing? You are not alone.
The real estate world has its own dictionary. Not knowing the terms can turn your exciting home search into a frustrating game of charades. This disconnect costs you time, wastes energy, and could cause you to overlook the perfect property simply because you didn’t know what it was called. I remember a client who was adamant about a “single-family home” but dreaded the thought of yard work. They felt stuck. After we talked through their actual day-to-day desires, we realized a high-end townhouse in a managed community was their perfect fit. That “aha” moment changed everything. This guide is your decoder ring. We will walk through 27 distinct types of homes so you can articulate precisely what you want, sharpen your search for properties, and move with confidence in the 2026 marketplace.
Stop searching for a “house.” Start strategizing for your lifestyle. Knowing the types of homes is your first step to a smarter property search. #SanDiegoRealEstate #HomeTypes
Understand the core home categories
Before we dive in, know this: dwellings are classified by their type (the structure) or their style (the architectural design). A “Craftsman” is a style; a “duplex” is a type. Today, we’re focusing on the 27 essential types of homes you need to know.
Explore 27 distinct types of homes
Here is your definitive list to navigate the housing landscape and find a home that matches your specific lifestyle and financial goals.
1. Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
An ADU is a secondary, self-contained home on the same lot as a primary residence. You might know them as granny flats, casitas, or guesthouses. The Normal was a single home on a single lot. The Explosion of housing costs and desire for multi-generational living led to a surge in ADU construction. Now, the New Normal sees ADUs as a key feature for generating rental income or housing family, a trend we analyze closely in the San Diego housing market.
2. Apartment
An apartment is a rented unit within a larger residential building. They are one of the most common housing options, managed by a landlord or property management company responsible for maintenance. This offers a low-touch lifestyle perfect for urban living.
3. Brownstone
Iconic for their brown sandstone facades, these are a type of terraced townhouse found predominantly in New York City. Typically 3-5 stories, they were originally built as lavish single-family homes in the 19th century. Many have since been converted into multiple apartments or condos.
4. Cob House
Constructed from a mixture of clay, sand, and straw, cob houses are sculpted by hand into organic, durable structures. This is an ancient, sustainable building method gaining traction among eco-conscious buyers for its natural insulation and low environmental impact.
5. Condo
A condominium, or condo, is essentially an apartment you own. You hold the title to your individual unit, while all common areas—like pools, gyms, and grounds—are collectively owned and managed by a Homeowners’ Association (HOA). It’s a popular choice for those wanting ownership without the maintenance of a detached house.
6. Co-op
A cooperative, or co-op, is a different ownership model. Instead of buying real property, you buy shares in a corporation that owns the building. This grants you a proprietary lease to live in a specific unit. Co-ops often have stricter purchasing rules and are more common in dense urban markets outside of San Diego.
7. Duplex
A duplex is a single building that contains two separate living units, sharing a common wall. It’s the classic “house-hacking” opportunity: live in one side and rent out the other to help cover the mortgage. At The Cassity Team, we often help new investors analyze the numbers on duplexes as a first step toward building a real estate portfolio.
8. Earthship
These off-grid homes are marvels of sustainable design. Built with natural and recycled materials (like earth-packed tires), they are designed to be self-sufficient—generating their own electricity, harvesting rainwater, and treating their own waste. I’ll be honest, if the grid went down, I’d want to be friends with an Earthship owner, because my own survival skills are questionable at best.
9. Floating Home
Permanently moored and connected to city utilities, a floating home is a house built on a float. Unlike a houseboat, it’s not meant to move. It’s real estate that just happens to be on the water, offering a unique lifestyle in dedicated communities.
10. Houseboat
This is a boat designed or modified for residential living. It has an engine and can be moved. Think of it as an RV for the water. Financing usually requires a boat loan, not a traditional mortgage.
11. Mansion
A mansion is defined by its grand scale, typically over 5,000 square feet, though this is relative to the market. It boasts high-end materials and luxury amenities like home theaters, sprawling grounds, and multi-car garages.
12. Manufactured Home
Built entirely in a factory and transported to a permanent or semi-permanent location, manufactured homes are a cost-effective alternative to site-built homes. They must adhere to federal HUD code standards established after June 15, 1976.
13. McMansion
This is a pejorative term for a large, mass-produced house that often mixes multiple architectural styles into one oversized, disjointed design. They prioritize square footage over architectural integrity and are often seen as being out of scale with their lot.
14. Mobile Home
The predecessor to the manufactured home, this term officially refers to factory-built homes constructed before the HUD Code was implemented on June 15, 1976. Though not truly “mobile,” they are not permanently affixed to the land.
15. Modular Home
Like manufactured homes, modular homes are built in a factory. However, they are constructed in separate sections (modules), transported to the site, and assembled on a permanent foundation. They must meet local and state building codes, just like a traditional stick-built home.
16. Motor Home (RV)
A motor home, or recreational vehicle (RV), is a home on wheels. With its own engine and living quarters, it’s designed for a nomadic lifestyle, whether for weekend trips or full-time living.
17. Multi-family Home
This is a broad category for any residential building with more than one unit, such as a duplex, triplex, or apartment building. These properties are a cornerstone of real estate investing.
18. Passive House
A passive house is built to rigorous, voluntary standards for energy efficiency, resulting in a tiny ecological footprint. They feature extreme levels of insulation, airtight construction, and high-performance windows to reduce energy for heating and cooling by up to 90%.
19. Prefab House
“Prefab,” short for prefabricated, is an umbrella term for any home with components built in a factory before being assembled on-site. This includes modular, manufactured, and kit homes.
20. Row House
These are single-family homes that share side walls with their neighbors, arranged in a continuous row along a street. Common in older, dense urban areas, they offer an efficient use of space and a distinct, often historic, neighborhood character.
21. Single-Family Home
A detached, standalone house on its own lot. It’s the most common type of home in the U.S. and represents the classic vision of homeownership for many. Evolving buyer preferences, however, show a growing interest in a wider variety of housing solutions to fit modern lifestyles [5].
22. Tenancy In Common (TIC)
A TIC is a type of ownership, not a building type. Two or more people co-own a property, each holding a separate, fractional interest. It’s a strategy used to make homeownership more accessible in high-cost markets.
23. Tiny Home
Part of a social movement advocating for simpler living, a tiny home is typically a dwelling under 400 square feet. They can be built on foundations or on wheels to serve as a mobile residence.
24. Townhouse
A townhouse is an attached, single-family home, often with multiple stories. Unlike a condo owner, a townhouse owner typically owns the land the structure sits on. They are a staple in many urban and suburban areas, including many San Diego neighborhoods.
25. Twin Home
A twin home is one-half of a structure containing two residences, but each unit is on its own separate, deeded lot. Unlike a duplex, where a single owner may own the whole building, twin homes are owned and can be sold individually.
26. Yurt
A modern yurt is a portable, circular dwelling inspired by the traditional shelters of nomads in Central Asia. Built on a wood-lattice frame with a durable fabric cover, they offer a flexible and often affordable housing alternative.
27. 3D Printed House
This is the cutting edge of construction. A massive 3D printer extrudes a concrete mixture layer by layer to create the walls of a house. This technology promises faster build times, lower costs, and less waste. With housing sales and prices expected to continue rising into 2026, innovative solutions like this are becoming critical [1].
Find your perfect match in a complex market
The 2026 housing market is defined by nuance. Success isn’t found in broad searches or gut feelings; it’s achieved with a superior strategy built on expert knowledge. Knowing these home types gives you the language to build that strategy.
Whether you’re acquiring your first property or divesting an asset, The Cassity Team provides the strategic partnership required to convert market complexity into your financial triumph. We deliver the quantitative analysis and market insight that empower your decisions.
Stop guessing what your perfect home is called. Let’s build a targeted playbook for your search.
Schedule your complimentary, no-obligation strategy session with The Cassity Team today.