In the world of architecture, there are many types of homes for multiple families. Dozens of different terms and specific varieties of multifamily housing have existed over centuries, but even in modern times, there are more options than many homeowners realize. For both renting and owning, multifamily house plans are an efficient and affordable choice for many.
But what are the main types of multifamily houses?
Duplexes, triplexes & fourplexes
Duplexes and their larger forms are an incredibly common type of multifamily home for renters and owners alike. A duplex is defined as a single building split into two separate apartments, each with its own individual door to the outside. In some cases, all units share a common area or amenity, such as a garage or laundry room.
Apartment & condominium buildings
Apartment and condo buildings are a prominent multifamily housing type most often found in cities and other densely populated areas. These buildings feature multiple units - anywhere from half a dozen to hundreds - in a single multistory building. Each floor can have multiple individual apartments, either featuring doors to the outside or interior hallways.
Apartment & condominium communities
Similar to an apartment building, an apartment community is made up of multiple buildings managed or owned by the same entity. The individual buildings and units vary in size, but usually share one or more community amenities such as laundry facilities, fitness centers or outdoor recreational spaces.
Townhouses
Townhouses are a specific type of multifamily house plan that either exist as their own structure or part of a larger building. They are defined as a home with two or more floors, frequently including a garage or small outdoor space.
Housing co-ops
Housing cooperatives, or co-ops, are a unique form of multifamily home in which each resident owns shares in the community rather than their individual property. Co-ops can be separate housing units in a community, or all in a single building.
Often, co-ops operate similarly to a boarding house, in which residents have individual bedrooms but share common areas like kitchens, living rooms and outdoor living spaces.
While the most common examples, these are only a few types of multifamily house plans you can find all over the world.
About the Author
Judy Szablak
With over 30 years in the industry, Realtor Judy Szablak has been on national television for her real estate expertise on the HGTV Network, featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio "Morning Living” , NPR radio as an expert real estate panelist, It’s Relevant News channel, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her in depth knowledge of Fairfield County Connecticut real estate.
She was also on the local NPR radio station (WSHU) as a Fairfield County CT real estate expert. Judy has provided multiple online respected news sources with her real estate expertise including The Daily Easton, The Daily Weston, The Daily Fairfield, The Daily Stamford and The Daily Greenwich, as well as in print in the New York Post. She is a weekly Real Estate Columnist for WestportNow.com, another real estate column "Real Estate With Judy” is syndicated through Hearst CT Media Online and seen in The Connecticut Post, The Danbury News-Times, The Stamford Advocate, The Greenwich Time, The Hour, Fairfield Citizen, Westport News, Darien News, New Canaan News and the Wilton Villager.
Judy is also the author of the book, The Art of Buying or Selling a Home, available at all major book retailers. Additionally, Judy has been nationally recognized in a number of national real estate trade magazines, some with distribution to over 1 million members. She was featured in Real Estate Today as early as 1994 for her commitment to, and implementation of technology in real estate. Judy appeared in the Certified Residential Specialist Magazine, as she provided advice on marketing strategies and ethics in the article titled "Marketing Makeovers.”
Judy was also featured in REALTOR® Magazine, regarding image enhancement for Realtors. She was again featured in REALTOR® Magazine, in an article on "Achieving Flow” and operating at optimal peak performance. In another article in the same publication, Judy offered guidance to fellow real estate professionals as she explored the topic of implementing and maintaining personal websites. She has appeared in The Council of Residential Specialists Magazine, which featured her ideas regarding technology. Additionally, Judy authored an article on marketing and technology for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Online Magazine. On two occasions, in 2015 and 2017, she appeared as a featured agent in Top Agent Magazine. I have a few other websites- www.TheCtrealtyBlog.com www.CtHomesAndRealEstate.com www.BestWestportHomes.com www.ThePetitePowerhouse.com www,SzablakConsulting.com
