What You Should Know About Single Family Homes
Posted on: 21 June 2021
It's an exciting time when you are beginning your home search. The house choices seem endless with the multitude of styles and sizes on the market. You might have narrowed down the type of home you would like to buy to a single-family home. This can be a great choice with plenty of space to grow your family.
There are some things you should know about a single-family home that can affect your decision about where to buy. Here is what you should know about single-family homes before you buy.
They Are Detached Homes
Some people might think that a single-family home can be a townhouse or condo as long as only one family lives in the residence. This isn't the case in most states. While the legal definition will vary depending on the state you are in, for the most part, a single-family home is a detached home.
This means, it doesn't share any walls with its neighbor and it also isn't attached by a common roof or garage. It sits on its own piece of land that is completely independent of any other structure nearby. This is true of any style the house is including a two-story or bungalow, from ranch to Tudor style.
It Has a Separate Street Access And Own Utilities
A single-family home has its own separate street access from its neighbors. This means, it doesn't share a walkway, sidewalk, or hallway/lobby to gain access to the outdoors or roadway like a condo building or apartment does. Townhouses also have shared walkways and sometimes interior exits or hallways toward the street.
A single-family home doesn't share its utilities or other city or town services with its neighbors either. It has its own dedicated power lines, water lines, and heat that comes off the main line from the street. Townhouses and condo buildings tend to share utility lines, which can affect the speed or quality of those services. A single-family home always has its own utilities so service is direct to the house.
It Is Zoned as a Single-Family Home
Many families like to have their in-laws or other family members such as their kids move into a separate apartment in the home. While more than one family can live in the home at one time, the home itself can't be altered in any way that provides a separate living space apart from the main house as this will change the type of home to be a multi-unit building. Depending on the state, this may violate zoning laws. If you wish to turn a single-family home into a multi-dwelling home, the home must be rezoned.
To learn more about single-family homes for sale in your area, contact a real estate agent.
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