Here Are 99+ Facts About Houses: A Must Read Blog For You

Joan Agie
Nov 02, 2023 By Joan Agie
Originally Published on Jan 18, 2022
Facts about houses will help you understand if it is better to mortgage or sell in the open market.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 12.8 Min

A house is a place where an individual lives alone or with family.

The word house is derived from the Old English word ‘hus’. The meaning of this old English word is dwelling.

A house may be an apartment, a mansion, or a hut. It is usually made up of bricks, wood, concrete, or other construction material.

A house has various other systems for heating, ventilation, electricity, and plumbing. Sometimes houses are built for animals and birds such as a dog house, hen house, barns, birdhouse, stable, and many others. These houses resemble the houses made for humans.

They are usually made up of wood. You can also find the facts and history of real estate through the national registry, real estate agents, census records, and library records.

There are various types of houses like brick houses, tent houses, apartments, castles, bungalows, and others. The cost and value of the property greatly depend on the type of house.

A real estate can include any of the following rooms- atrium, attic, cellar, nursery, storage room, conservatory, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, dining room, living room, family room, foyer, garage, hallway, home office, study, laundry room, library, loft, pantry, porch, television room, recreational room, shrine, swimming pool, workshop, sunroom, and larder.

A house usually has a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living room, and dining room. Big apartments and mansions can have rooms for pets and even for recreational activities. The house also has a door and windows. People living in a house can be a family, roommates, and others. Some houses have a garage or shed outside the main building.

A house is built by an architect. An architect makes sure he fulfills the requirements of the owners and designs the house accordingly.

A house must be strong and stable enough to protect the people living inside it. It must be able to withstand harsh climates, heavy rainfall, earthquakes, and others. The real estate includes the land, the building situated on it, the crops, minerals, water, and any other thing that cannot be removed from the property.

The total area of the land or property is measured in square footage in most of the countries. A house requires a lot of people to be constructed.

It needs engineers, architects, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and workers. The building materials required for the construction include clay, sand, rocks, wood, leaves, twigs, stones, cement, concrete, fabric, foam, glass, gypsum, metal, plastics, ceramics, mud, and others.

For buying and selling a house, people have to abide by special laws that are sometimes known as the Sales of Goods Act. The person gets various legal protections through these laws while buying real estate. The houses are identified by their address.

The address includes house number, house name, street name, street number, locality, society, and region. The structure of houses has changed and developed throughout the years. The ownership of real estate also determines the person’s standing in the economy and society.

There are so many interesting facts about houses to learn all about. For example, did you know that Japan knocks down half of all new buildings within 30 years? Read on for more interesting facts and stats all about houses.

The Concept Of Houses

Houses are such a common concept to us today that you might not think that there is much to learn about them, but you would be wrong! Start learning here.

  • The concept of houses has been there since the beginning of human existence.
  • Houses have provided shelter and protection to human beings.
  • They protected humans from harsh weather conditions and predators.
  • A house or a real estate has developed through the years and added various facilities as per the residents’ requirements.
  • The building material has also changed and developed.
  • In ancient times, humans used animal skin and bones to build their tents. They even lived in caves.
  • Slowly houses have evolved. Now, many types of houses can be seen every day.
  • Nowadays, many people prefer to live in apartments.
  • The apartment buildings can occupy a large number of people.
  • Some old houses like castle palaces, longhouses, and others are still standing, recreated, or preserved.
  • Houses also define the economy and position of a person in society.
  • Many people do not prefer old houses for various reasons. They can have wiring issues, plumbing issues, problems in their foundations, are not sustainable, and can be expensive in the resale market.

The History Of Houses

Old houses have great value for research into the history of human dwellings. The market value of these houses is also high as the supply is scarce. Here are some interesting facts on the history of houses, which fact is your favorite?

  • The origin of houses is unknown.
  • They have existed from the beginning of humankind in one form or another.
  • The structure and interior have changed and developed throughout the centuries.
  • The Knap of Howar is the oldest building in the world. Its location is in the country of Orkney. It dates back to 3600 BCE. It is still standing.
  • One of the oldest houses that are preserved is located in Tell Madhur in Iraq.
  • Marcus Vitruvius Pollio has given theories about the first house that was built. He said that it was made up of the branches of timber and mud. It was somewhat similar to the primary huts.
  • During the Ice Age, humans lived in caves or tents made from animal skin.
  • The frame of the tents was made from the bones of a mammoth.
  • After 8000 BC, people in Jericho, the Middle East started making sun-dried bricks. They used the bricks to build their houses.
  • During 7000 BC, people in Jericho discovered mortar and used it as a plaster for their walls and floor.
  • In 6500 BC Turkey (Catal Hayuk), houses were made using mud bricks.
  • The houses did not have doors. People entered their houses from the hatches located on the roof. They did not have any windows or chimneys. The roof had holes in them for ventilation and to let out the smoke.
  • In 4000 BC, people in Europe started living in huts. These huts were made from stones.
  • In the Bronze Age, humans started living in huts made from wood and had thatch on their roofs.
  • In the first civilization, Sumer, the rich and powerful people lived in big houses. They had many rooms and sometimes had two stories. The poor people lived in primitive huts.
  • In Indus Valley Civilization, houses were built from bricks. The houses were two to three stories high.
  • The first evidence of courtyard houses dates back to the Minoans of Crete Island.
  • Knossos had a significant palace that serves as a great example.
  • Other examples include palaces located in Mallia, Zakro, and Phaistos.
  • The ground floor was used as storage space. Oil and grains were stored there. The residents lived on the upper floors. The columns were made from wood.
  • The rich Egyptians lived in large houses. They were very comfortable and had pools and gardens. The middle-class people lived in houses made up of mud bricks. They usually had four rooms.
  • The homes in Ancient Greece were made from mud bricks and plaster. They built their roofs using pottery tiles. Windows were just a hole in the walls.
  • Celts in 650 BC lived in roadhouses.
  • Manor houses were used for various activities and events during the Middle Ages. They were used for residential purposes and conducting meetings.
  • During the Renaissance Period, palaces were built. They are a great example of the segregation and privacy of rooms and people respectively.
  • One such example can be found in the Beaufort House in Chelsea, London. It developed the concept of the corridor.
  • The Dutch houses during the 17th century were small. Only four to five people could live in these houses.
  • From the late 19th century, American doctors started having an office on their real estate. It was not attached to their house. They usually treated and operated on their patients in their office only.
The front door of a brick house lends a unique character to the front elevation.

Different Types Of Houses

There are various types of houses built in different regions. The style of any house greatly depends upon the property, the space, and the requirements of the owner. Below is a list of some different types of houses. Can you find your house on this list?

  • Apartment: It is also known as a flat. An apartment is a small part of the building. The building may have several stories and many apartments. They are extremely popular in today’s world.
  • Hut- A hut mostly consists of a single room, a roof, door, and window. They are single-story only.
  • Bungalow- They are large houses that are usually one story but may have rooms on the roof. These rooms have small windows in them.
  • Cottage- It is a small house usually built in a rural or semi-rural area. It has a cozy feeling to it.
  • Ranch- A ranch is a one-story building. They have low-pitched roofs. They are found in various styles like the California ranch, tract ranch, and suburban ranch.
  • I-house- These are popular in the United States. It was named after Fred Kniffen during the '30s. the houses have one and a half stories. They are one room deep and two rooms wide.
  • Row houses- The row houses are single-family houses built in a row having common walls. They are identical to each other.
  • Gable front house- It is also known as a gable front cottage. It has a gable roof.
  • Split level house- The split level house was built in 1950-60. This house has two similar sections that are built on different levels from the ground. The two sections are connected through a stairway.
  • Tower house- They originated in the Middle Age. They are made up of stones and can be a two or more story building. Its examples include Irish tower houses, Kulla, peel Tower, Vainakh tower, Welsh Tower, and others.
  • Longhouse- A longhouse is a house with a huge length made for big families who live together.
  • House barn- A house barn house is a combination of a house and a barn.
  • Farmhouse- A farmhouse is a house built around an agricultural property. It may have cattle too.
  • Courtyard house- A courtyard house has a roofless courtyard in the center of the house around which all the other rooms are built.
  • Snout house- A snout house has a protruding garage. The garage door is closest to the street.
  • Octagon house- The octagon house gained popularity during the 19th century. The floor plan of the houses is in the shape of an octagon.
  • Stilt house- The stilt houses are built in damp areas or over a water body.
  • Castle- The castles were mostly built in the Dark Ages, the 18th century, the 19th century, and the Middle Ages. They were built to protect the inhabitants. Usually, castles were owned by powerful people like royals.
  • Underground home- An underground home is built under the surface of the ground.
  • Igloo- An igloo is a shelter built from blocks of snow. They are dome-shaped and mostly used by Inuit. They can be seen in the Arctic region, Greenland, Alaska, Canada, and Siberia.
  • Kit house- The kit houses are mail delivered houses. They are delivered in parts and later stick on your real estate.
  • Laneway house- It is usually found in Canada. The laneway house is built behind a normal home. It opens in the back lane of the house.
  • Log cabin- It is more popular in America, Canada, and Russia. They are mostly used by frontiers. They are constructed using solid and unsquared logs of wood.
  • Treehouse- A treehouse is built on the branches and around the trunk of the tree. It is not constructed on the land. Treehouses are mostly built on huge, mature, and old trees.
  • Chattel house- It is found in Barbados. It is used by working-class people. It is constructed from wood and used as personal property.
  • Mobile homes- They are also known as park homes or trailer homes. This home is built in a place other than real estate. After the construction is completed, it is moved to the property.
  • Houseboat- The houseboat is a floating house used for residential purposes.
  • Tent- A tent is a temporary house made up of synthetic fabric. They can be moved from one place to another. Its framework is made of wood or any other material.

Fun Facts About Houses

Here are various fun facts about some of the houses located in major cities from all around the world. Pay attention to the most surprising one, you might learn something new!

  • You must have heard creaks in your house. Many times people believe that the creaks occur because of the age of the real estate. But that is not true. The creaks occur due to humidity and temperature.
  • The type of roof in your house depends on the region you live in. In areas with snow or heavy rainfall, roofs tend to be peaked. In warm and dry areas, roofs tend to be flat.
  • You must have wanted a treehouse as a kid. The world’s largest treehouse has more than 80 rooms and 10 floors. It took more than 14 years to build!
  • Ever thought about the oldest wooden building in the world? It is a five-story pagoda building situated in Horyuji in Japan. It was built from timber wood which dates back to 600 AD.
  • The traditional Chinese temples have curved roofs. They were believed to keep evil spirits away. They thought that these evil spirits can move in straight lines only.
  • The United States Capitol building has 365 steps. Each step represents a day of the year.
  • Many people opt for brass handles and doorknobs. They are considered much more hygienic as they can disinfect themselves.
  • Studies have found that houses with black and gray front doors sell at a better price as compared to others.
  • Many castles in France value much less than an apartment in Sydney.
  • In Japan, most of the new buildings and houses are demolished every 38 years.
  • There is an old belief that death will follow into a home if a bird flies into a home.
  • You may have noticed that most of the homeowners paint their doors red in Scotland.
  • People often take out mortgages for their homes, homeowners then paint the front door in red color when they have paid off their mortgage.
  • Houses are very expensive in Hong Kong as it is a crowded city. So many people also live in special boats. They are known as sampans.
  • In Spain and Eastern Island, some people have built their homes in caves. Just like the old times!
  • In New York State, it is mandatory for the seller to tell the potential buyers if they think that the real estate is haunted or not. It is famously known as Ghostbusters Ruling.
  • A mansion in Manhattan is owned by five different countries. They are Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
  • There is a town in Bavaria known as Nordlingen that is built on a meteor crater. This meteor hit the town over 15 million years ago.
  • The United States Supreme Court building has a huge basketball court on the fifth floor.
  • The Empire State Building was called the ‘Empty State Building’ because most of its space was not rented when it opened during the Great Depression.
  • Mark Zuckerberg bought four houses next to his house for a very specific reason. He did not want anybody to sell those houses, saying the house is next to Mark Zuckerberg.
  • There is a company that makes secret apartments and passages for people.
  • The Empire State Building earns more money through its ticket sales of observation decks rather than from office rents.
  • People still throw pizza on Walter’s White house from 'Breaking Bad'.

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Written by Joan Agie

Bachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

Joan Agie picture

Joan AgieBachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

With 3+ years of research and content writing experience across several niches, especially on education, technology, and business topics. Joan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Anatomy from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, and has worked as a researcher and writer for organizations across Nigeria, the US, the UK, and Germany. Joan enjoys meditation, watching movies, and learning new languages in her free time.

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