These 6 Home Architectural Styles Are Exploding in Value, Study Says (It’s Not Modern Farmhouse!)

The U.S. housing market is in a pickle at the moment as it faces economic uncertainty — with some experts like Berkshire Hathaway officially calling it a “buyer’s market,” even if interest rates and home prices remain stubbornly high. This is good news if you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to buy, but money-savvy potential homebuyers will also want to consider shopping popular home styles that are a smart investment down the line.

A new study has found that six common architectural home styles not only have good financial staying power, but they’ve also experienced a significant increase in value over the past few years — and there’s a chance your favorite home aesthetic is on the list.

To get this data, Realtor.com analyzed active residential listings for single-family homes that were listed for sale in May 2019, May 2024, and May 2025. From there, they found six distinct home styles that have seen the steepest price increase year over year for the past six years. 

With a national share of 49.8% of the housing market, the popular Colonial/American style took the top spot of the affordable home type with the steepest price growth year over year. Colonial/American homes have a median price of $449,000, and using descriptions from the National Association of Realtors, Realtor.com characterized this style as having “shuttered windows and clapboard siding reminiscent of 17th- and 18th-century designs.” They also looped Cape Cod and American Farmhouse architecture styles into this category.

While the clean, simple designs of the Colonial/American style might draw plenty of fans, Realtor.com noted that this particular style is popular in the South and Northeast. The study found that Houston, Atlanta, and Dallas had significant percent increases in housing stock built of this style. 

In general, the price of traditional Colonial style increased by 5.6% over the past year, and by a whopping 28.3% over the last six years. 

Craftsman styles, which are characterized by 20th century-inspired natural materials, bespoke details, exposed beams, and built-in cabinets, came in next with an average price of $467,000. Popular in the Pacific Northwest and parts of the Midwest, this rustic style (which also includes timber-framed homes), experienced a 3.8% increase over the past year but a 43.7% increase over the past six years.

Most common in the Northeast, per Realtor.com, English-Inspired homes came in third with a median price of $634,900. The English-inspired architecture style pays tribute to Tudor and Victorian-era details, with decorative elements and gable roofs.

Realtor.com noted that this home style tends to be the largest out of the bunch with a median square footage of nearly 2,700. Thanks to buyers looking for romantic and historic homes as well as size, this style increased in value by 4.1% over the past year. It also had a 27% increase in price over the last six years.

Mediterranean-style homes, which are popular in expensive markets like Miami and Los Angeles, are some of the largest and most expensive homes in the U.S., according to the study’s findings. These romantic homes are a combination of European and Southwest craftsmanship, featuring thoughtful details like red tile roofs, stucco walls, and arched windows.

Recent economic uncertainty and high prices have hurt the appreciation for these homes over the past 12 months, and Realtor.com found there was no increase in value for these types of houses over the past year. However, the longer-term investment has held out — the median price remains at a high $725,000 with a six-year appreciation of 36.8%.

Known for their sleek, streamlined aesthetic, modern homes placed fifth on the list with an average median price of $629,995. Featuring geometric designs and a clear departure from historic elements, this type of home is particularly popular in the West and Southwest. However, it looks like high prices have also impacted the modern home’s appreciation over the past year, which was just 1.9%. However, they had a 43.5% increase over the past six years.

Lastly, ranch-style homes (in addition to Prairie-style homes) clocked in as the most affordable option overall at a median price of $369,000. These homes are characterized by open single-story floor plans, and are also known for large windows and an American West-style relaxed aesthetic.

While they’re most dominant in the Midwest, Realtor.com noted that the style is pretty commonly found throughout most of the U.S. The study found that Atlanta, Cape Coral, and Phoenix had the highest share of Ranch-style homes. 

Although this affordable style is at the bottom of the list, it had a 3.9% increase in value over the past year, and a 44.7% increase in appreciation over the last six years.