A residential building includes sleeping accommodation, with or without cooking and dining facilities.

Contrary to a non-residential building, a residential building uses more than half of the floor area for dwelling purposes—such a building serves as a temporary or permanent place for living in unlike a commercial building used as a place for work.

Types of residential buildings include apartments, condominiums, co-ops, farmhouses, hostels, lodging houses, single- or multi-family homes, townhouses, and more.

Residential density measures residential development on a specific site or within a residential land area. The density is believed to range from one unit per two or more acres for a single-family detached home and 80-200 units per acre for a high-rise apartment building.

Whether you are looking for a one-person housing unit or a residential property for a big family, it is necessary to gain information on residential construction to choose a living space that works for you.

Keep reading this post to learn more about various types of buildings for residential purposes.

The Most Common Types of Residential Buildings

Here are some of the most well-known residential building types:

Single-family Home

A single-family home (SFH) is an individual home built on a single lot. It does not have any shared walls; however, it may have an attached or a detached garage.

Advantages of a single-family home

• A single-family home offers more privacy and space than other residential types and often comes with private front and back yards.
• You have the flexibility to choose your home design.
• A single-family home provides more reliable resell value than a condo or a townhome.

Disadvantages of a single-family home

• A single-family home generally relies on more maintenance than other residential properties.
• A homeowner has to bear all the maintenance costs unlike condos and townhomes wherein costs can be shared for building amenities, plumbing, roofing, and yard maintenance.

Multi-family home

A multi-family home is a home converted into two or more units, with a separate entrance for each unit or a shared main entrance. It is more like a hybrid between a single-family home and a condo.

Multi-family homes can range in size from a duplex to a four-plex and have row-house style or multiple floors. Unlike a condo, a multi-family unit cannot be purchased individually because there is one owner for the entire building.

Advantages of a multi-family home

• Ideal choice as an investment property—a single unit or all units can be rented out for income.
• Great option for multi-generational households—family members can live in the same building and have their own unit, too.

Disadvantages of a multi-family home

• Smaller than a single-family home and less privacy for occupants.
• Owning a multi-family home involves bearing all maintenance costs and the time commitment of finding renters.

Townhouse

A townhouse or townhome is a hybrid between a condo and a single-family home. It often has multiple floors, with one or two shared walls, and a rooftop deck or a small yard space.  

Advantages of a townhouse

• A townhouse is more affordable than a single-family home and offers more privacy than a condo.
• Sharing upkeep costs is possible for townhouses, which have HOAs (Homeowners Associations) or joint maintenance agreements.

Disadvantages of a townhouse

• A townhome does not usually have shared amenities like a gym or a pool.
• A townhome is not as private as a single-family home.

Condominium (Condo)

A condominium or condo is a single unit within a larger building or community and popular in urban high-density areas with many restaurants and shops. It shares a wall or two with other units and generally has a HOA requiring residents to pay monthly or annual dues.

Advantages of a condominium

• Sharing maintenance and upkeep costs with other residents saves money for the homeowner.
• Some condos provide various amenities, such as gyms, lounge areas, and pools, which may not be possible to have in a single-family home due to cost or space constraints.

Disadvantages of a condominium

• There is less privacy in a condo. Moreover, the proximity to neighbors’ condos demands extra caution.
• Remodeling limits are often set by the condo homeowners’ associations for uniformity and safety.
• Some condos may enforce bans and/or restrictions on pets.

Co-op

A cooperative or co-op is a shared building, which involves an interview process to become part of the community due to the shared responsibility.

Advantages of a co-op

• Co-ops are typically less expensive than condos.
• Lower HOA dues as co-op owners (as a community) take care of maintenance.

Disadvantages of a co-op

• As most co-ops require a larger down payment, it is more difficult to get a loan for a co-op than a condo.
• Shared financial responsibility carries the risk of foreclosing on the entire building in the event of a mortgage default.

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Let us look at other common types of residential buildings, such as:

Apartment building

While an apartment or flat is an individual dwelling unit, an apartment building contains three or more living units with independent bathroom and cooking facilities.

An apartment building may also have an on-site property manager depending on the occupancy and size of the building. Apartment buildings may be referred to as apartment houses, condominiums, or garden apartments.

Types of apartment buildings

The general classification of an apartment building is based on the number of floors and units in the building. The following are the main types of apartment buildings:

Low-rise apartment buildings (three or fewer stories high with or without elevators)

• Apartment complexes with four or fewer floors per building
• Duplexes or single-story multiplexes
• Garden-style complexes
• Row houses
• Senior or subsidized housing
• Townhouses

Mid-rise or medium-rise apartment buildings (between five and nine stories with at least one elevator)

• College dormitories
• Condo buildings
• Hotels
• Senior housing complexes
• Urban/suburban apartments and condos

High-rise apartment buildings (buildings with ten or more stories and located in busy metropolitan areas)

• College dormitories (large campuses)
• Long-term hotels and rentals
• Luxury apartments (city centers)
• Senior or subsidized housing (densely populated cities)

Duplex

A duplex is a house with two living units attached to each other in a single building. When the household units are built on top of one another (a double-story duplex house), they are separated by a floor, with separate entry points for both floors.

However, household units arranged side by side may be separated by a common area (like a common entrance), double garage, hall, or wall. In addition, the building may have an open green space at the front and/or backside.

Emergency housing

The primary purpose of emergency housing or shelter is to provide short-term accommodation for people who are in a crisis or homeless. An emergency housing facility offers minimal supportive services, such as a place to shower, sleep, or do laundry.

Farmhouse

A farmhouse is a dwelling built on a farm or rural land for the inhabitants, away from their usual residence. Farmhouses also have barns near them and are surrounded by greenery. Farmhouse architecture provides relaxation and warmth in a farm or a landscaped setting for the occupants.

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Mixed-use building

A mixed-use building blends commercial, residential, entertainment, and even industrial uses into one space. Examples include a single-family home with a dentist’s office on the ground floor and a big apartment building with office or retail space on the lower floors of the building.

Penthouse

A penthouse is a small dwelling built on the upper floor (rooftop) of a building. It is a comfortable accommodation unit with a surrounding outdoor area and usually designed differently from other residential units in the same building.

While the most common house types by region include apartments, co-ops, and townhomes for urban areas, other housing arrangements are available for suburban, countryside, and areas with specific climate (cold, tropical, or warm).

Apart from the residential buildings mentioned above, the following are also popular housing options:

• Barndominium (barndo)
• Bungalow
• Cabin
• Castle
• Chalet
• Chateau
• Container home
• Cottage
• Dormitory (dorm)
• Floating home (floating-on-water residence)
• Lodging or a rooming house
• Mobile home (a type of manufactured housing)
• Palace
• Ranch-style home (rancher)
• RV home/Camper
• Stilt house
• Tree house
• Yurt

Types of Building Construction

Building materials affect the cost and durability of a building. Furthermore, a building type based on fire resistance describes its ability when exposed to fire.

Although no building material is truly fireproof, well-constructed buildings use relatively fire-resistant materials like concrete, gypsum board, and stucco. Additionally, treated cellulose insulation offers a fire-resistant barrier that slows the spread of flames.

In this context, building codes are used to classify all structures from Type 1 (the most fire-resistant buildings) to Type 5 (the least fire-resistant structures).

Here are the five types of building construction:

Wrapping Up

Residential construction is an integral part of civil engineering, which involves designing, planning, and overseeing of various construction projects by civil engineers whose specifications are implemented by general contractors.  

Whether you want to own or rent out a residential property, consider the residential construction type appropriate for your budget, lifestyle, family needs, and other relevant criteria.

You have many home style options to choose from, such as:

• Apartment
• Condominium
• Co-op
• Cottage
• Duplex
• Farmhouse
• Multi-family home
• Penthouse
• Single-family home
• Townhouse

Furthermore, owning a home is a dream come true—be it a tiny home with a lot of open space or a large terraced house.

From custom homes and pre-manufactured homes to beachfront cottages and multi-level homes in the mountains, there is a wide range of housing options for different expectations and preferences.  

As the cost of building a new house has a lot of variables, it is helpful to get a proper estimate, including the cost per square foot for the residential property.

Different types of residential buildings create a variety of living spaces for us and provide opportunities to live life to the fullest!

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