Styles of houses vary across the country.  From the New England Cape Cod to the Victorians of San Francisco, the choices are almost endless.  Knowing which style you prefer is one of the basic elements in your hunt for the perfect home.

Following is a quick guide to help you recognize and use the professional terms for many of the most prevalent house styles:

Ranch:  these long, low houses rank among the most popular types in the country.  The ranch, which developed from early homes in the West and Southwest, is one-story with a low pitched room.  The raised ranch, which is also common is the U.S.. has two levels, each accessible from the home’s entry foyer, which features staircases to both upper and lower levels.

Cape Cod:  this compact story-and-a-half house is small and symmetrical with a central entrance and a step, gable  roof.  Brick, wood or aluminum siding are the materials  most commonly seen.

Georgian:  Popular in New England, the Georgian has a very formal appearance with tow or three stories and classic lines. Usually built of red brick, the rectangular house has thin columns alongside the entry, and multi-paned windows above the door and throughout the house.  Two large chimneys rise high above the roof at each end.

Tudor:   modeled after the English country cottage.  Tudor styling features trademark dark-wood timbering set  against light-colored stucco that highlights the top half of the house and frames the numerous windows.  The bottom half of the house is often made of brick.

Queen Anne/Victorian:  Developed from styles originated in Great Britain, these homes are usually two-story frame with large rooms, high ceilings and porches along the front and sometimes sides of the house.  Peaked roofs and ornamental wood trim, many times referred to as “gingerbread,” decorate these elaborate homes.

Pueblo/Santa Fe Style:  Popular in the Southwest, these   homes are either frame or adobe brick with a stucco   exterior.  The flat rood has protruding, rounded beams  called vigas.  One or two story, the homes feature covered/enclosed patios and an  abundance of tile.

Dutch Colonial:  the Dutch Colonial has two or two-and- one-half stories covered by a gambrel roof (having two lopes on each side, with the lower slope steeper than the upper, flatter slope) and eaves that flare outward.  This style is traditionally make of brick or shingles.

New England Colonial:  This two-and-one-half story early  American style is box like with a gable roof.  The traditional material is narrow clapboard siding and a  shingle roof.  The small-pane, double-hung windows usually have working wood shutters.

Southern Colonial:  this large, two-to-three-story frame house is world famous for its large front columns and wide porches.

Split-Levels: split-level houses have at least one living level about a half floor above the other living level.