Bungalow Homes: All About This Type of Home

Waterfront bungalow
A "true" bungalow has all of its rooms and amenities on a single floor, making it a good choice for downsizers and retirees. (Photo by Frans van Heerden | Pexels)

Bungalows are some of the best options in the property market because they meet the needs of different buyers. For instance, a bungalow is a good starter home for a young family due to its affordable price.

Most bungalows don’t have stairs—perfect for buyers who are downsizing or looking for retirement houses. Singles and couples also benefit from living in a bungalow, as they don’t have to pay more for a single-family home experience, which has more space than they might need.

What is a bungalow?

A bungalow is a small house that can span up to 2,000 square feet. As all living spaces are on a single floor in this architectural style of homebuilding, a bungalow’s structure provides homeowners with convenient access to its amenities.

Most bungalows have at least two bedrooms and one bathroom. There are bungalow homes with attic, basement and loft areas, which are more common in the U.K.

Take note that bungalows with an attic or loft aren’t considered to be “true” bungalows. These properties are seen as 1.5-story homes.

In the U.S., bungalow properties became popular as vacation homes from 1900 to 1918. The Arts & Crafts Movement in the mid-19th century further influenced the popularity of bungalow houses.

What is the historical origin of bungalows?

Bungalows derive their name from the Hindi word baṅglā, which means “belonging to Bengal.” By the late 17th century, the term evolved to its current name.

Historical bungalows featured cottage-style homes for European inhabitants in Bengal, India, during the British occupation.

Other historical records define a bungalow as a “house in the Bengal style.” More than 300 years later, bungalow styles have evolved in different countries.

Some properties such as Good Class Bungalows in Singapore are even known as the pinnacle of a single-family home lifestyle.

Are bungalows more expensive to build?

A bungalow is more expensive to build per square foot, particularly due to the ground floor’s bigger square footage. Other factors such as land prices and supply affect the cost of building bungalows.

What are the advantages of bungalows?

A bungalow-only neighborhood provides homeowners with privacy, especially with a front porch or garden. Homeowners may see savings on utility bills, as they only use electricity and heating on a single floor.

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Author

Randolf Santos has covered different segments of the real estate industry since 2014. He worked at S&P Global Market Intelligence before joining Forbes Global Properties as a contributor.

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