Our house in TX was somewhat as you describe except that we had wood trim on windows, doors etc. Part of that was upgrade though.

Here we're more simple. Brick and stone aren't used often due to the earth quake dangers (we have had the largest and have the most frequent earthquakes in the US). Most homes are made of wood, and while you might see a bit of brick trim, it's not as common. Stone would be a more common trim (river rock etc).

I think the trim on windows thing is a bit of an age thing. I have two homes here that are both fully trimmed out, but some of the newer homes aren't built that way. Frankly I don't like the drywall right to the windows look, but that's just me.

Our decks are rarely made of cement or slab. You would typically see wood here, and offset from the ground a bit due to frost heave. Sme homes are even built on posts because of the heave issues (a house can raise as much as 3' in a winter on one side or another). For that reason you don't see as much drywall in the bush (remote regions) because it cracks so easily.

Our vacation homes are simpler...
{{!gwi}}

new construction in this part of TX tends to be stucco outside and textured drywall on the inside. also, lots and lots of tile, inside and out. (deep south tip of texas--where the temp was 104 on saturday!)

Here in New Mexico, adobe or adobe-look/stucco homes are the most common. We used to see more adobe, but they've become quite expensive to build. They come in the hacienda with the flat roof (like ours); Spanish with the red tile roof; 2-story Pueblo-style; Contemporary takes on the Pueblo-style; and bungalow style, among others. Floors are usually Mexican tile or brick with rugs. Walls are drywall or exposed adobe. I don't see much wallpaper out here, but I am seeing a real interest in Asian-influenced interiors (minimalistic Japanese, rather than the busier Chinese). That look actually goes very well with our home styles. Covered patios, front & back, to keep us out of our sun here at 6000 ft. They're usually concrete with latilla roofing. Garages are front or side-loader; I see both equally, but the trend is now for side-loading these days if you have enough room. Larger windows and minimal wc's, as we tend to have drop-dead views. Most homes don't have basements, as our ground is full of huge boulders, making basements a very pricey added expense. In the 25 years I've lived in NM, I've only seen one home with a basement. Fencing is often coyote fencing (to keep coyotes out) or adobe or succoed walls (also to keep coyotes out). You see a lot of wood ceilings, beams and corbels here, too. Here's a pic of my house (actually one wing of it, as it's a wide-V shape and hard to photograph except from far out on our property), but you can see the covered front portal (porch),the corbels, coyote fence around the dog run and, if you look very closely, a kiva fireplace to the right of the front door in the corner there:
{{!gwi}}

Igloochic . . . since when did you build a "vacation home" in CANADA????? Too funny ;~P

Savannah-- traditional style homes, long skinny windows with mullions, front porches, wood and brick (now hardi and brick), patios out of brick or flagstone, courtyards, columns and pergolas, carriage homes over garage, often alley loading.

LOL lynne you remembered your homework lesson from last week :oP

I just adore your house Lynne. I'd have house envy except I know that there are 400 types of evil snakes just waiting to get in any crack or crevice, and 300 spiders and scorpians waiting in your shoes...which is just a few too many for me :oP

Here in SW florida, our homes are concrete block with stucco over, and inside our walls are knock-down, which is plaster shot on with a gun over drywall, then knocked down and painted, ours is all white ceiling and walls, painted with semi gloss paint the walls look like satin brocade, most of us either stay white, or choose pastels /cool colors, as it is always hot here...my window treatments are pvc verticals in a brocade pattern with a shimmer in white, however I do have some curtains and valences over top pulled to one side as verticals are inside mounts for privacy. Also have featured wall papered walls or borders, many pastels colors in furnishings, we have very high ceilings all different designs, arches, columns and plant shelves... here's our home outside:

Here is a link that might be useful:

Wow, love that blue driveway!! It defintely looks a lot cooler than just plain cement.

Unfortunately, for a lot of folks, this is still "typical" in many areas of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This was our home in Long Beach, MS, after Katrina. We are still fortunate in that we are now in a new home, where so many are not. Our Long Beach lot here is still for sale, as are most of my neighbors'. (Any takers????) Great Gulf view.......{{!gwi}}

Thank you, that topping is stronger than concrete and the stones actually appear raised as grout lines are lower.Here's a closer look:

Here is a link that might be useful:

I would add to lynn's response by saying that in many parts of more rural or isolated New Mexico there just isn't any new construction to speak of (like the town I live in), so the 'typical' home can range from a simple historic adobe with or without 'Eastern' or Victorianized gingerbread elements, to small Victorian vernacular cottages and very showy Vic or early 20th century mansions, to compact bungalows.

In my part of town cedar siding is prevalent on existing homes. New construction is using hardi-plank and faux stone facades. You just won't see stucco here...but I smile every time I drive past the reno that is going on up the street...they've added a bay window and replaced the cedar shingle siding with stucco!

Decks are always wood, very little concrete patios here. No porches on new construction, only gabled entries. Vinyl windows are de riguer, even on older homes.

Asphalt shingles only. Or a few metal roofs. Shutters are not a common feature on homes here.

In the center of the country we have wood and/or brick on the outside. Inside is plain drywall with white trimwork on the new homes, oak on some. Never heard of windows trimmed with drywall. We have basements in practically all homes...need the tornado protection. Homes are one and two story with patios that are either wood or concrete. Houses are larger than in the past. Darker colors are being used on the walls. Asphalt shingled roofs have lots of angles and interesting rooflines and peaks. Garages are two and three stall front or side loaded. Most homes have a fireplace. Many homes have gardens especially in smaller towns and rural areas where you will see large vegatable gardens. Some areas have cracker box post war homes that are square and tiny. Later versions are plain ranch homes. Newer homes have more varied floorplans, different shapes, and open kitchens overlooking family rooms. There is some attempt in new homes to mimick homes from early 1900 era with front covered porches and wide woodwork. Window treatments use less fabric and more blinds with a top cornice. Floors are wood, laminate, or carpet...tile being too cold for our winters. Heated floors are becoming more prevalent however when tile is used. No fancy ceilings. Lots of fenced in back yards to keep dogs in and rabbits out of large lawns. Front and side yards have berms with trees and flowers.

I live in the Seattle area, so this is pretty typical, only we circle them when the war parties come...

{{!gwi}}

oceanna, that's a cutie, very funny......................

I moved from the South, home of the solid, all brick (thank you Richtex brick industry) home to the land of siding and the split level. Neither are my style, but they seem to define the area (outside Chicago).

Newer construction tends to not be split level anymore but still heavily sided. The more expensive homes ($500K+) are brick on at least the front and the $800k+ tend to be brick on all sides.

a split level:

Typical $500K base priced new home:
{{!gwi}}

I don't live in the city, so this is more northwest suburbs.

Our previous home was pretty much typical for (newish) homes in our area. There is tons of new construction in suburban, cookie cutter ares.

House sizes are pretty modest - under 2500 sq ft for a two storey (our house above was 1175 sq ft but had a fully finished basement). Basements are typical and often finished for valuable living space. Exteriors are primarily vinyl siding and asphalt shingles. Very few newer neighbourhoods have back alley access, so front load garages abound. Interiors are usually pretty standard builder grade, especially in the kitchen - most homes still feature laminate countertops.

The housing market was absolutely nuts for the past two years, but has slowed down considerably. We sold our above home in 2005 for $223000 and were pleased with the profit we made. Last summer, in late 2007, comparable homes were selling in the high 300's.

Carrie

Hey oceana...want to swap homes (my vacation one pictured) for a week or two? heh heh

Hahaha Igloo! I don't think I wanna be that cold, though. And I think you would love Port Townsend.

The amazing thing I've found here in the interior of Alaska is that it is not unusual for homes to have outhouses or have to keep water in holding tanks for use in the houses. Dh works at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the 2nd largest city in Alaska and he has co-workers that have homes without running water. A lot of the trucks you see around town have water tanks in the bed to allow their owners to haul water to their home's holding tanks. Very few of the homes around here are on city water/sewer. Most have private wells/holding tanks and septic systems. Carpet floors seem to be pretty popular, can't imagine having a lot of tile or stone floors when it's -50 outside, LOL. My basement has a concrete floor and I make sure to slip on my shoes before I go down there, brrrr.

Had to look up hardi, I take it that's plank siding? You see that being put on a lot of older homes now, replacing the aluminum that we still have.

The new construction here all looks like the brick homes that dgmarie posted. Waste of space if you ask me, all high ceilings and Palladian windows, ugh.

Love the old farmhouses, and the bungalows! My brother has a typical bungalow. They have such a great, family friendly floor plan.

Here is a link that might be useful: Chicago Bungalow

The very thought of an outhouse in -50 degree weather gives me goosebumps! No thanks.

New construction in the Pittsburgh suburbs is boring except for some builders who are going for the more "traditional neighborhood" look. Front porches, sidewalks and garages in the back of the house.

The city of Pittsburgh has some lovely old homes and very diverse architecture. The older established neighborhoods of the suburbs also have a much more diverse style and better quality construction than the newer stuff going up.

I live in a 24 year old tudor style townhome (brick & stucco). We have white wood trimed windows and wood paneled doors, deck and stone patio, front load garage and some hardwood on the main level.

dgmarie, that split level looks like Woodridge, and the half mil new one looks like somewhere in McHenry County--am I close?

Mitchdesj, thanks! We need long computer cords out here. Seriously, I'm told by those who travel from here on business that this is the way the rest of the country views this area, so might as well go with the flow. :)

Colonials are pretty typical here in Northern VA, about 20 miles south of DC. The fronts only are brick on most of newer houses--older homes are usually bricked on 3-4 sides.

Here's a pic of a typical house going through remodeling:

60% of homes in Alaska do not have running water or indoor plumbing, but in the bush (remote regions) they don't build outhouses. They install a toilet in the bathroom that is open through the floor. Waste drops into (what we affectionately call) the "honeypot" which is then removed once in a while to a sewage pond. Beats a toilet in the front yard like they apparently do in Northern VA ;OP heh heh

My town in Oklahoma was settled during the Cherokee strip land run, so the main part of town has large formal homes - Colonial, all shingle, stucco, Italianate - quite a mix - right next to shotgun houses and bungalows (because people got their claims all the same day, totally randomly) My block has five millionaire homes on one side of the street, and occasional poverty on the other (2 families in one house, they use the carport as a dining room with a cammo tarp for a wall). And all the rest of us somewhere in-between.

The house I'm remodeling is in a 50's addition, and has sheetrock around the windows, and I continued that with the remodel, because that fits the age of the house. Actually, I hadn't thought about it at ALL and when they suddenly needed to know, I just told them to match the rest of the house. It is brick exterior. Front and pack porches are concrete, but we are putting a wood deck in the back, up off the ground a little. Many old homes here have sandstone foundations, as that is the common stone here.

Kim2007: don't know where those are from exactly. Stole them off Google.

Igloochic: my front lawn is our toilet. It's where our septic leach field is!

I live in a brownstone neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY and a typical residential street looks like this:

{{!gwi}}

There are some variations on the theme: some houses are four or five stories; some are brick or limestone instead of brownstone; the details on the stonework varies depending on whether the prevailing style at the time the houses were built (1800s through around 1910) was Greek Revival, Italian Renaissance, Federal, etc.

The standard city lot ranges from 15 to 25 feet wide and 100 feet deep. Houses are built the full width and around 40-45 feet deep, though many have rear extensions on one or two levels that allow for more living space but less outdoor space.

My particular block has smaller 3-story brownstones (17x40) on one side of the street and larger 3-story brick rowhouses (19 or 20 x 45) on the other. All my street is one- or two-family owner-occupied houses, though many of the houses on other streets have been divided into rentals, either 1 or 2 apartments per floor.

Interiors run the gamut - the old timers who pioneered the neighborhood tend to have outdated remodels, while the yuppie newcomers have the money to either restore the interiors to their old-house splendor or gut them and make modern open spaces out of what can be a warren of tiny dark rooms.

Central air-conditioning is NOT the norm and many of the houses still have steam or hot-water radiators, not forced-air heating.

This is a typical cottage-style home in my immediate neighborhood, just outside of downtown Fort Worth, TX:
{{!gwi}}

In a new neighborhood in this area, something like this would be fairly common:
{{!gwi}}