House types from A – Z: Features, definitions and advantages & disadvantages

You want to take the next step and are looking for a new property – preferably a house? Then you’ve come to the right place! There are so many different types of houses, it’s hard to choose, and it’s not easy to keep track of them all. We have listed all the house types below with brief definitions and a link to a comprehensive article for you. Get to know the different house types with their respective characteristics and find exactly the right house for you!

Tip. Are you looking for the perfect property for your future? Here you will find tips and necessary information for buyers: Buying a house

Bungalow: no stairs, one floor, flat roof & space

Many people know the word bungalow from the context of holidays. But bungalows are not only popular holiday homes, but also a possible choice for your own home. A bungalow is one thing above all: practical – and modern. This type of house is especially popular with young families, as it combines all living spaces on one floor and, especially due to the absence of stairs, does not pose a danger to children or senior citizens. Choosing the right house is certainly not easy, because it is an important decision that may affect your whole life. Here you can find out everything you need to know about bungalows.

• Bungalow

Semi-detached house: Living with direct neighbours & garden

The semi-detached housing solution can be a slightly cheaper alternative to whole houses. Often you don’t even have to compromise on living space. Rather, the space is saved around the house. As a result, semi-detached houses can save you money. Additionally, it could be that you share garden space with neighbor.

A semi-detached house promises the optimum living comfort with the area of a house at a lower price. Sounds very appealing in itself, but any other option, this concept also comes with its own positive and negative factors, which we will discuss in more detail later. However, for now, we’d like to tell you a little more about what the living spaces of a semi-detached house might look like.

• Semi-detached house

Single-family home: building, buying or renting

The traditional single-family home hasn’t been so traditional for a long time. Quite the opposite. The single-family house is rightly the most popular house form in Germany and is becoming increasingly modern. From the floor plan, to energy regulations, to the little extras. Your house is up to date. Especially for young families, this type of house is something very special, as this will usually be the first home of their own. Are you interested in building, buying or renting?

Of course, when you ask this question, you’ll think directly of a townhouse or duplex. However, this is not everything. A detached house can be much more than just standard. Especially if you are interested in a self-build, you should look into the latest and most modern standards. Here you can find out all about the advantages and disadvantages of a detached house, useful tips and everything you need to know, from the perfect plot of land to the correct energy regulations.

• Single-family house

Half-timbered house: renovation and historical charm in facade & co.

The rustic houses, which are especially widespread in Europe, have their own personal charm. Especially in the countryside and in villages, you can still find some of these historic buildings. But what looks so appealing to many from the outside can quickly be associated with high costs: renovation or even refurbishment are often necessary for a half-timbered house. But if a half-timbered house has been modernised or at least overhauled, it is an absolutely unique and magical piece.

In classic half-timbered houses, materials such as straw, clay and even calf’s hair were used not only to build a wall, but also to insulate it additionally. The most striking feature of half-timbered houses is the façade, in which the literal half-timbering – the beam construction of the house – is openly visible. Often the “work”, i.e. the wooden beams, is not plastered in the interior either, and accordingly a unique living atmosphere is offered. How you can protect yourself from too high costs and still fulfill your dream of a half-timbered house, we tell you here.

• Half-timbered house

Holiday home / weekend house: Living at the holiday resort with sea view

Who does not know it? You’ve simply fallen in love with a place and would love to spend every free minute there. But the workplace and the focus of life are simply too much anchored in the actual home. In such a situation the option of a holiday home opens up. Whether on the beach or by the lake – a holiday home or weekend house can be located basically anywhere.

Whether a holiday home or a holiday apartment is really suitable for you, if the property is not purchased for pure investment purposes, is determined above all by whether the chosen place pleases you and makes your heart beat faster with every visit. Criteria, characteristics, and the question of whether and how we try to answer you in the following article.

• Holiday home / weekend house

Prefabricated house: The quick dream of a house, construction phase, selection and more

What is actually a prefabricated house? This question is very difficult to answer, because this type of house is very diverse. Most providers have a large repertoire of prefabricated house types and you are spoilt for choice. Do you want to live in a detached house? In a housing estate or rather a bungalow? With a cellar, garage and garden? These are all important aspects that you should and can consider when planning your house. Because a prefabricated house is one thing above all: versatile. The main advantage is that there are no long and costly construction phases, because the house is literally already finished. Features and advantages & disadvantages you will find in the following article.

• Prefabricated house

Country house: land, garden and life with the closeness to nature

A country house is a residential building on an estate. The large property in a rural environment usually has a spacious garden. A country house does not only convince by its size and the free space but also by its rustic, romantic charm. But nowadays you can find the country house style more and more often in the city.

This country house style is determined by massive buildings with generous proportions. The house entrances are usually strikingly designed, but the long balconies, terraces, dormers and pavilions are also eye-catchers. Folding shutters, doors, windows and railings made of real wood ensure the perfect harmony of the house. Sometimes the property also includes a conservatory or a carport. Wood, rattan, stone and ceramics, natural materials are mainly used in country houses. The floors are tiled in warm colours. A tiled stove makes this country house cosy and warm – the warmth radiates throughout the entire living space of the house.

• Country house

Solid house: construction, durability & features

A solid house is the construction method of a house, in which a house is built according to the plan of an architect with solid building materials. Each house here becomes unique due to the individual wishes of the respective builder.

The opposite of a solid house is a prefabricated house: In a prefabricated house, the house is built according to the modular principle and consists of a wooden construction. The house is built brick by brick. The building materials are delivered to the construction site, where they are assembled into a finished house by specialist companies. The building materials used for walls and floors are aerated concrete, sand-lime bricks or goat bricks. The staircase and roof construction, on the other hand, is usually made of wood. Learn more about solid houses in the following article.

• Massive house

Terraced house: door to door with the neighbours, purchase price & Co.

Looking for an affordable home near the city? Then how about a terraced house? A terraced house is the perfect alternative between a city apartment and a house in the country. Low purchase price, small garden and/or a terrace in a friendly neighbourhood. We show you what makes a terraced house so attractive and why families and couples in particular like to settle in this type of house.

A terraced house is a row of individual houses which are built directly next to each other without any space in between. However, there is no access between the houses, so there is still the privacy of a normal house. Most of these houses have a minimum size of 160m².

• Terraced house

Beach house: House by the sea – the dream of a house on holiday

You love to listen to the sound of the sea, gaze at the starry sky while the sand tickles between your toes and you breathe in the salty sea breeze? Who says these classic holiday memories should only be part of vacations? Why live in a cramped rented apartment, expose yourself to daily exhaust fumes, and work out in a gym with concrete walls? In this day and age where mobile working has become the norm, Pilates and surfing on the beach are among our favorite activities, and the thirst for adventure is constantly on the rise, the beach house seems to have established itself as the new dream property par excellence. The beach house as an investment, vacation home or home of your own! Convince yourself!

• Beach house

Villa: Living in luxury with lots of space & garden

In the past, a villa, especially the city villa, was often used as a second or country house to be close to the city. This applied exclusively to the wealthier urban population. Nowadays, that has changed. City mansions are no longer used as second homes and are primarily occupied by many families. Meanwhile you have the possibility to renovate an old building or to build a new one. A special advantage is the large garden and the pool, which is often included. In this article you will learn everything important about villas. Buying, building, in a modern style or more traditional? You decide!

• Villa

Energy efficient building

1. Low-energy house
2. Zero-energy house
3. Passive House

Low-energy house: characteristic values, construction & requirements

Sustainable living is a trend that is becoming more and more prevalent and also enjoys state support. Therefore, the interest in environmentally conscious housing solutions is growing more and more. For this reason, we have decided to put together the most important facts about efficient living, so that you can decide whether a low-energy house could also be interesting for you.

Caution is advised when buying and renting a low-energy house, because: The term is not associated with specific requirements for the house! Only if one would like to make the housing unit energetically valid with KFW, certain requirements are made. These should meet a low-energy house in any case. What exactly these are, we will explain to you in more detail below.

• Low-energy house

Zero energy house: definition & advantages and disadvantages at a glance

Since November 2009 the long constructed idea of the zero energy house has become reality and more and more people are now dreaming of turning their own house into a zero energy house. Especially when buying a new home, this type of house has gained popularity. However, many do not know much about the term and simply associate it with sustainable living.

Zero-energy houses are small, building planning and energetic masterpieces. A zero-energy house is oriented in its standard value to the passive house. This means that it does not exceed the energy requirement of 15 kWh/sqm per year (regulation of the Passive House Institute Darmstadt) and also produces the consumed energy itself through photovoltaics and solar thermal energy. This means that a zero-energy house forms a completely self-sufficient entity and is not dependent on electricity purchases. What is actually behind this type of house, you will learn in the following article.

• Zero-energy house

Passive house: new construction, features and costs

Sustainable housing options are divided into different house options. Part of them are zero energy houses, low energy houses and also passive houses. You can also find detailed articles on other options in our magazine, but here we will only talk about the passive house for the time being.

A house is called a passive house as soon as it requires less than 15 kWh/sqm per year. This value is achieved through various measures in the construction of the house. Multiple glazed windows and high-quality insulation reduce the transmission heat loss and thus minimise heating costs.

• Passive House

Zero energy house simply explained: characteristic values & requirements

Zero-energy houses are small, building planning and energetic masterpieces. A zero-energy house is oriented in its standard value to the passive house. This means that it does not exceed the energy requirement of 15 kWh/sqm per year (regulation of the Passive House Institute Darmstadt) and also produces the consumed energy itself through photovoltaics and solar thermal energy.

This means that a zero-energy house is a completely self-sufficient entity and is not dependent on electricity purchases. Here is a summary of what a zero-energy house is all about:

• Energy demand <15 kWh/sqm per annum
• The remaining energy required is produced by the company itself
• Neutral CO2 balance

Features and technical details

The simple explanation seems very appealing at first and the question arises why not every house is built according to these standards. The reason for this is that, on the one hand, the completely self-sufficient house is unfortunately still an unachieved idea and, on the other hand, the technical and construction requirements are not so easy to integrate in old buildings.

Furthermore, depending on the season and location, even a zero-energy house is still dependent on electricity purchases. This unfortunately makes the title zero-energy house somewhat misleading. Nevertheless, the residents of a zero-energy house can look forward to a very low electricity bill.

Why are not all new buildings automatically zero-energy houses? Because zero energy houses also have certain disadvantages, which we will explain in more detail in the course of this article. In addition, the construction of a zero-energy house can be associated with higher costs than a standard house construction due to the additional installations that must be made in relation to the sustainability of the houses.

Tip. Are you looking for the perfect house, but don’t know if building or buying is right for you? Then take a look at our XXL Real Estate Guide! Here you will find interesting facts about buying, selling & Co. on the subject of apartments and houses.

Are you looking for the right house? Then check out our guide! Here you will find definitions, meanings and lots of information: House types from A-Z

Room layout and construction

What exactly can you expect from the room layout of a sustainable house and what restrictions arise in terms of rooms and room layout. However, we do not want to go too much into disadvantages and advantages here, as these will be discussed in the following section.

A big factor in the construction of zero-energy houses is to optimize the external surface in relation to the total volume of the house, which means reducing it to prevent heat loss. In addition, the insulation of zero energy houses is the be-all and end-all of the building. If the insulation is not optimized, the house will not serve its purpose.

Advantages & Disadvantages: Savings and risk of mold

What speaks for and what speaks against the zero-energy house? Are there any arguments against sustainable buildings? We will try to answer these questions in the following, so that you can decide whether such a sustainable home could meet your needs.

Advantages: Service charges, living space and windows

Many of the benefits of zero energy homes are obvious and have also been briefly touched on in previous sections. But there are a few more factors that help to make sustainable living palatable.

• Low power consumption
• Reduced ancillary costs
• CO2-neutral
• Large windows
• Optimized living space

Disadvantages: Cost, limitations and risk of mold

If you want to live in an environmentally conscious way, you have to say goodbye to the German ventilation culture, because the energy-efficient living options unfortunately come without opening windows. Instead, a ventilation system is installed that allows a regulated living air exchange, but keeps the temperature of the house constant.

• High acquisition costs
• Limited freedom in construction
• Danger of mould due to ventilation deficiencies

For whom is the zero-energy house suitable?

The question of who should move into such a house is not so easy to answer, because an energy-efficient house always tends to offer the option of accessibility, especially if it is a new build, so the groups that can feel comfortable in this type of house are wide-ranging.

Families, singles, pensioners and co.: Building a zero-energy house?

Do you want to move into a zero-energy home, but aren’t sure if it’s right for you yet? Making the choice is really difficult, but in the long run, investing in energy-conscious living will definitely pay off in terms of cost. In addition, you’ll be an absolute pioneer when it comes to the house and housing market.

Sustainable housing options will become more and more in demand. Of course, this brings advantages and disadvantages for zero-energy houses. On the one hand, the loss in value due to aging is not quite as high, as certain standard values are already taken into account during construction. On the other hand, they require maintenance in places that other houses do not have.

In addition, progress in sustainable housing can be expected to be driven by political and popular interest, with new technologies overtaking old ones.

Source: Zero Energy House (Lukinski.com)

Energetic sustainable building: KfW Efficiency Houses & more

Zero energy homes have only existed in the real world, and not just on paper, for a little over ten years. But zero-energy homes are not the only players in the field of sustainable housing options. Environmentally conscious building projects are being viewed more and more positively by lending institutions and banks, and getting support is often tied to the planning of the building projects.

KfW efficiency houses, old buildings and zero-energy houses in comparison

In order to be classified as a KfW Efficiency House, a building must meet certain criteria. The better the house performs, the more favourable the loan options are. These criteria can be particularly interesting when building a new house. The requirements for a KfW Efficiency House consist of primary energy demand and transmission heat loss. These are the values for new buildings:

• KfW 40 Plus: primary energy requirement 40 % // transmission heat loss 55 %.
• KfW 40: PEB 40 % // TWV: 55 %
• KfW 55: PEB 55 % // TWV 70 %

The values are to be considered in relation to the reference building. Primary energy demand describes the amount of energy required to meet the energy demand. Transmission heat loss, the heat that is lost through walls, windows, etc.

We have also compiled the energy requirements of popular housing types so that you have an approximate reference for the energy consumption of houses at hand. The values are of course to be considered average, as a simplification has taken place:

• Partially renovated old building: 155 kWh/qma
• New building: 45 kWh/qma
• Modernised old building: 120 kWh/qma
• KfW Efficiency House 40 Plus: <25 kWh/qma
• Passive/zero energy house: <15 kWh/qma

Build or buy: Pros and cons of building a house

Now, after all this information, the question arises: should I rather build or buy such a house. Of course, this question must always be answered on a personal basis. How much time, effort and money can you put into your new home and, most importantly, what is on offer in the housing market? Are there perhaps already offers that meet your requirements, or do you have expectations that have not yet been fulfilled?

One factor that specifically favors building sustainable homes is the availability of good loan options for this type of home. If this is a factor for you, building a home here may even be more of an option than other types of homes you’ll find in our magazine.

Refurbishment tips: From old building to zero-energy house?

Turning a beautiful old building into a zero-energy house? Hardly possible. But nevertheless there are renovation measures that help to make the old building a little more energy efficient. For example, through new insulation in the roof and the general overhaul of the windows.

Double or triple windows reduce a building’s transmission heat loss, as does upgrading insulation. If you are really interested in improving your energy balance, you can expect to spend a little money. On the other hand, you’ll save money in the long run. In addition, loans for renovation measures that have a positive energy effect on the house can be obtained at good conditions.

Zero energy home setup: Brands, tips and tricks

The zero-energy house is usually equipped with an efficiently used area, but this also means that unnecessary free space is reduced and high rooms are avoided. So that you don’t have to do without style in your interior, we have summarized a lot of interior brands and their assortment for you and maybe there is also one or the other object for you. You can find the different collections here: Interior Brands Guide.

Low-energy house & passive house: energy-efficient living – features & comparison

The low-energy and passive house are also house types that enable energy-efficient living. We have presented the individual house types in separate articles and compared them for you. Energy-efficient living does not know only one solution, inform yourself here about the individual possibilities and find the perfect house form for you, with which you can live sustainably and energy-efficiently.

• Low-energy house
• Passive House