The Characteristics Of A Single-Family Home You Should Know About Before Shopping
Posted on: 5 May 2021
Are you looking to invest in a single-family home for you and your loved ones? You should know about the characteristics of this type of dwelling before starting your real estate search to ensure that you can distinguish them from other types of housing options that are available on the market. Here are the characteristics of single-family homes that you should know about before you start your real estate search:
One Unit Per Property
A house is only considered a single-family structure if it sits alone on a piece of property. If two or more houses sit on one piece of land, even if each of them is meant for single families to live in, they are not truly single-family homes. A home with a garage, a barn, and other outbuildings are still considered single-family residences.
Houses with studio apartments or other dwellings for living may or may not legally qualify as single-family homes depending on the state and county that you live in. When looking for a single-family home to invest in, make sure that the home sits on its own piece of property and does not share the property with other dwellings meant to house other people.
Private Entrances/Exits
Every single-family home you look at should feature a private entrance/exit that connects directly to the public roadway. Your family home should never have to share a driveway with another household. You should never have to worry about access to an easement road just to get to the grocery store. You should have direct access from your front door to the public roadway that your household alone has access to.
Utility Bills Are Your Own
Utility bills are never fun to deal with, but it is a lot easier to do when you are not having to negotiate with other families about who will pay how much. A single-family home should feature a stand-alone power meter that monitors your household's power consumption alone and bills you alone for said consumption. You have full control over how much power you use when it is used, how it is used, and how to pay for it.
No Common Walls Are Shared
All single-family homes are stand-alone, even if their neighbors are just a foot or two away on their own property. Houses that share common walls with other houses are not considered single-family homes and are typically put in the townhome or duplex category.
Contact a local real estate agent to learn more about single-family homes.
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