Considered to be the prettiest state in the Pacific Northwest, Washington State can offer so much from breathtaking nature, high quality of life, diverse opportunities, and a thriving economy. They have no state income tax, so that’s good news for your wallet. No wonder so many people are relocating to the Evergreen State as some call it. This state can offer you some great job opportunities. The best place to live in Washington is Mercer Island. Prices of real estate are reasonable, but if you are looking for a tiny house, this is not the place for you. They are illegal in Washington due to their regulations. There are some ways around it but let’s explore Washington State’s most popular home styles first.
Washington State’s most popular home styles
Depending on the location, you will mostly see Colonial and Mid Century Modern styles. Most popular are:
- Cape Cod
- Mid-Century Modern
- Victorian
- Tudor
- Dutch Colonial
These are the most popular styles, but you can see many more in Washington like Bungalows or Seattle Box. This state is not very small, so you can find pretty much anything you want and if you cannot – you can always build one that suits you the best.
Dutch Colonial is one of Washington State’s most popular home styles
Let’s start from the most popular home style and do some walk-through. From the outside, this is a very basic design. Fasade is brick or wood and that gives them that old-fashioned homey look. The biggest difference between Colonial and Dutch Colonial is the roof. Gambrel roofs have curved eaves along the length of the house in the Dutch version of Colonial home. Very symmetrical with the door placed right in the middle and the symmetrical windows placed exactly the same on each side makes Colonial homes pleasing to the eye. They tend to be big since they commonly have two or three stories. Colonial interiors are characterized by grand entrance halls. Also, polished wood floors are a must. Paint and wallpaper palettes are very simplified and basic so you will find no accent walls here. But you can do a lot with the garden.
Mid-Century Modern
This is the second most popular style. It looks nothing like the one above. They date from the mid 20th century. You will find no symmetry here, but these houses can be breathtaking. All those huge windows and glass panels can be a real wow factor. Roofs are most commonly flat. The interior is also very interesting. Sleek, simple, and iconic is the easiest way to explain the interior of Mid-Century Modern homes. Wide-open floor plans were also hallmarks of this style.
Victorian and Tudor styles – some of Washington State’s most popular home styles
First, let’s talk about those Victorian homes you can see in a row. These homes were built on very narrow plots of land, often in a row. So they had to be two to three stories high. Victorian houses are known for the carved woodwork that typically adorns windows, doorways, and eaves.
Tudor homes known for their steeply pitched gable roofs. Also elaborate masonry chimneys often with chimney pots making them look quirky, embellished doorways. Very nice is that they have groupings of windows which make the interior full of natural light. But nowadays most Tudor styles are modernized a bit. Inside you will find an enclosed fireplace that gives the home a very cozy feel.
Cape Cod
A Cape Cod house is a low and broad, usually single-story frame building, often seen with a moderately steep pitched gabled roof. If you look closely you will see a large central chimney, and very little or no ornamentation. Very often you can see the space above the 1st floor left unfinished, with or without windows on the gable ends witch is a very odd style. They usually have basements. Many people will say Cape Cod looks a bit like a Bungalow. If you like that simple look of Cape Cod but don’t really want it in its original state you can always modernize it a bit. This is actually a pretty common practice. People decide to relocate, find themselves a nice Cape Cod house, modernize it a bit and move in. If you think this might work for you, hansenbros.com will be able to assist you with relocation.
Buying a house
This is something that you need to discuss with the agents from your bank. Before you go to the bank, check your credit score. There are things to be done if your score is not so great. Down payments are most commonly something around 10 percent, but you can also buy a home without any downpayment. Please note that this can be more expensive in the long run. Talk about all the options in your bank, they will explain to you the whole process the best.
Moving to Washington
If you about to have long-distance relocation, you are in for some hassle. But if you find the best help there is, you just might do this whole relocation stress-free. It is important to find reliable movers as long-distance relocation is not an easy task. Also, see if you need any additional service they can provide you with like storage.
How to choose the right among Washington State’s most popular home styles?
This is a very common question but unfortunately, there is no simple answer. This one is up to you. You must see them all and decide what works the best for you. After all, you are the one buying a house. You need to love it. Do not worry you will know as soon as you see your dream house, you will recognize it.