Architecture shapes space. But home architecture also shapes lives.
‘Architectural determinism’ is the idea that the design of a building changes the behavior of the people who dwell in it. A different layout and features might make you feel more peaceful, more productive. It could even help you learn to ‘live life as art.’
But can the architectural style of a home affect the price that buyers are willing to pay for it?
Certainly, some house styles have a far larger average selling price than others. And one MIT study found that ‘good design’ has several positive outcomes for a new house:
- Good design boosts the sale price of a home.
- A well-designed home attracts more attention on the market, reducing re-sale/rental times.
- Architecture can also have a "positive effect on surrounding property values and bystanders."
From Beach House to Mobile Home, the 20 Most and Least Expensive U.S. House Styles
The most and least valuable house types in the U.S. illustrate how home style and location often go hand-in-hand. Beach Houses and Mediterranean-style homes are the most expensive in the U.S. and are often found on prime land close to the ocean. Large windows and balconies accentuate the use of natural light, which adds a feeling of luxury and simplicity to a home.
The average beach house costs more than ten times the average mobile home. The stigma of the mobile home park keeps prices low, but reduced taxes and land rental fees make buying a mobile home an all-around saving - if you can escape the economic structures that prevent many buyers from scaling up.
These House Styles Cost the Most in Each State
The Traditional architectural style is one of the most common currently sold in the U.S. However, Iowa is the only state where it is most expensive. Traditional style combines elements of different classical styles, such as Farmhouse and Neoclassical. As such, America’s Traditional-style homes are an eclectic bunch – but you can expect sturdy materials and emphasis on the non-showy, practical arrangement of windows and floor plans.
Michigan and Indiana have their most expensive house style in common: the log home. This style can be a low-cost build for Thoreau types, but more often works out expensive due to the premium on rural land and the expense of wiring/plumbing a remote construction (while forests cover 53% of Michigan, Indiana is relatively unwooded). Holiday home feature creep can also push up log house prices for those who love luxury.
