Ranch: This does not mean 100 acres with a barn. This means “one-level living” with the living areas and bedrooms all on the level that you walk-into from the front door. Now, since many homes in Colorado Springs offer basements, you could also find additional bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas if the basement is finished.

Another type of ranch floor plan is the Raised Ranch, where there are multiple stairs on the outside leading up to the front door. In many cases, the basement windows are at garden level - thus the reason to walk up stairs to reach the front door. Also known as: Ranchers, Ramblers, One-Levels, Ranch Plans

2-Story: This is a home that has a main level (accessible from the front door) and an upper level. The main level usually has the living areas and kitchen and the upper level has the bedrooms. More homes are being built with main-level master bedrooms. Basements in these homes also can offer more living areas, bathrooms and bedrooms. However, basements in 2-story homes are generally smaller than ranch-style floor plans, as a 2-story home has a smaller footprint/foundation than ranch floor plans do.

Another type of 2-Story is the 1.5 Story and is basically a 2-Story where the 2nd story is less than half the square footage of the main level.

Bi-Level: A bi-level home has 2 stories and is one of 2 “split-level” types of homes that were very popular in the 1960’s and 1970’s, here in Colorado Springs. I describe these homes to home-buyers as this, When you walk into the home, you need to immediately make a decision: Up or Down? These floorplans offer no living area on the entry level. Sometimes there is a small foyer with the stairs to the side, but many homes have just a small entryway (maybe with a coat closet) and stairs immediately in front of you as you enter. The upper levels often have a living and dining area and a kitchen to one side and bedrooms and bathrooms to the other. The lower level is usually 1/2 taken up with a garage and the other half is living space. A bi-level is a lot like a raised ranch with the front door in the middle of the house instead of at the upper level.

 

3-Story: There are very few TRUE 3-stories, as many confuse 3-stories with tri-levels (below). A TRUE 3-Level home has 3 stories of living area above the foundation or basement.

Tri-Level: A tri-level home has 3 levels (as the name so ironically implies…). This is another form of the traditional “split-level” home that was built like crazy in the 1960’s - ’70s, here in Colorado Springs. A tri-level home usually has a living area, dining area and kitchen on the level that you walk into. Off to one side (or to the rear in a front to back tri-level) are 2 small sets of stairs. In many cases, there is an additional living area in the lower level and the bedrooms on the upper level. Some tri-levels just have the 3 levels, where the lower level is part of the foundation. In the case where a tri-level has a basement, it is called a …

 

4-Level: A TRUE 4-Level home is a tri-level home with a basement. This basement is located directly under the main level and accessible off the lower level.

Home Pictures from the Pikes Peak MLS Service - All photos are of our current/past listings.

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Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Wagner iTeam - Colorado Springs Real Estate