Ranch, Bungalow, or One Storey?

This has nothing to do with salad dressing.

Bungalow

Perhaps as you peruse the latest listings of homes for sale in Niagara or elsewhere, you come across a term you are not familiar with. I will attempt to clear up any misunderstandings you may have, but by all means, if you still have questions, send me a quick email, by clicking here.

Do you know the difference between a ranch style home and a bungalow? This may depend on which definition of “bungalow” you are using. In the world of Niagara real estate, a bungalow is typically a single storey detached house. In the USA, a bungalow may also include a second story that is about half the size of the main floor, and characterised by dormers along the sloped roof, or gables in some instances. In Niagara and most of Canada, these would be called one & a half storey homes. Lately, there have been many one storey townhouses built in the Niagara region, partly because we have a very significant sector of our population that are seniors. The combination of one level living and not having to worry about yard or driveway maintenance has made condominium townhouses quite popular. Though they are not detached homes, they have been named “bungalow townhouses”. If they have an additional space in the form of a loft, the term bungalow was amended to “bungaloft”. This is just one more example of why Merriam Webster comes out with new dictionaries each year. For the most part, then, when you read a description of a home in Ontario and it states that the building is a bungalow, you should safely assume you will find a one storey home.

A “ranch” style home is by definition a bungalow, but with a specific feature – the bedrooms are grouped on one end of the home, and the public areas are on the other side. The “public” areas would include the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Often there is a 2 piece bath or powder room on this side as well. The main bath would be amongst the bedrooms. Lately, the term “ranch” has been mistakenly used as a synonym for bungalow. That is like saying there is no difference between a trout and a fish. A trout is a specific type of fish, and a ranch is a specific type of bungalow.

There are many different styles of American bungalows; defined by the use of verandahs, dormers and the roof line or gables, as well as the time period or architectural era they were built. To break down each of these would take more time than either of us has right at the moment.

The one other bungalow style I will touch on though is the “raised bungalow” or “bi-level”. This is a style of home where the basement is partially above the grade or ground level. This affords the basement or lower level to have much larger windows, bringing in lots of natural light, and eliminating that “dungeon” feel that characterises many of the basements in older homes. Usually, the bi-level will feature a neutral zone, or landing area, halfway between the upper and lower levels. Many homes of this style will use that middle zone as a foyer, creating a nice open area to welcome people into the home, and then lead them either up or down from there.

My personal preference of house style is a combination of a number of these styles and features. The extra light is a great plus in a bi-level, the bedroom wing separate from the public wing in ranch style homes is nice, and I love verandahs. Combine these, and you will catch my eye!

I hope this helps explain some real estate terms for you, and remember, do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have. I am at your service!