Tips for Building a Home in the City

Trendy locations and cutting edge style — city living has so much to offer. With these tips for building a home in the city, you can unlock a whole new world of possibilities. Let us show you all that you could find here!

Most people think of owning a home in a city as something only for the super wealthy. They might feel limited to an apartment or, at best, a town home. But you don’t have to settle! Once you realize that you can build in a budget-conscious way, you can start the journey. Don’t limit yourself with preconceived notions — you can achieve a city lifestyle with some creativity and thinking outside of the box!

House Plan 2571
2,262 Square Foot, 3 Bed, 2.1 Bath Drive-Under Plan for a Front Slope

Whether you want to build close to an urban center or a little ways away in a suburb, these homes are up to the task. And with unique style to match their spaces, each one will inspire you to begin your home search. You might even find your perfect plan here… happy hunting!

Superior Styles to Match Your Location

Different parts of the country lead toward different home styles. This fact is true for cities as well. While one person may want to build a sleek modern home in an up-and-coming arts district, another could want a traditional Craftsman to match the character of an established street.

No matter where you build, it is important to survey the surrounding area. What kind of architecture do you see? Are there any building restrictions (height, width, style, etc.)? How are the lots shaped? By asking yourself some simple questions, you can narrow your search. And our Advanced Search feature can even sort designs down to specific room features and other necessities!

House Plan 7458
3,668 Square Foot, 4 Bed, 4.0 Bath 3- Level Contemporary Design

THD-7458 is one of our most striking contemporary homes, and it is ready for an urban build. Unique design features, coupled with smart use of space, make it a great find for many locations. In fact, one of our main tips for building a home in the city is to focus on the interior spaces and their features. Nothing beats finding that perfect home with all of the right spaces for you and the family! Explore more modern plans to find the right one for your needs and location.

House Plan 2522
1,466 Square Foot, 3 Bed, 2.1 Bath Craftsman Home

THD-2522 is another great find for building a home in the city. Its traditional styling and classic architecture give it so much character that you’d think it had been around for a hundred years! Check out some more of our favorite traditional homes and think how each would look on your lot.

Working with a City Lot

City builds present some interesting challenges. Limited space and narrow lots can create headaches if you aren’t prepared to handle them. But you don’t need to worry… we’ve got these tips for building a home in the city!

House Plan 7767
2,602 Square Foot, 3 Bed, 2.1 Bath Traditional Craftsman

Most homes built in urban areas end up being narrow plans. These designs, like THD-7767 (above), are just what they sound like. They build up and back instead of out. While you might get lucky and find a lot that allows a wider plan, most homes built in or around a city need to have narrow facades.

Don’t let the word ‘narrow’ confuse you. Many of these designs have just as much space as typical wider homes. And some of them come with unique features. Just check out the roof deck on THD-9690 (below)! So if you think that you’ll need to work with a narrow lot, we have plenty of homes to choose from in just about every style.

House Plan 9690
924 Square Foot, 2 Bed, 2.0 Bath Tiny Home with a Rectangular Footprint

Focusing on Smart Use of Space

Especially where space is tight, choosing a home plan with a focus on practical design is key. Whether it’s a tiny home with multi-functional rooms and features, or a larger plan with added storage throughout, you want to make sure that you get the most bang for your buck.

House Plan 5237
1,105 Square Foot, 1 Bed, 2.0 Bath Compact Cottage

Some other tips for building a home in the city include considering narrow homes with drive-under garages as well as sorting your search by the exact number of bedrooms you need. In a city environment, having ample bedrooms is crucial, and finding street parking can be next to impossible. If you look for the perfect plan that has both, your home will not only be ready for you, but it will be exponentially more valuable. A true win-win!

If you have any questions about building your perfect dream home in the city or about anything else, feel free to reach out. We are always happy to help customers find and customize plans, no matter their size or budget.

Christine Cooney
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Christine has over a decade of experience as a house plan and floor plan expert. Outside of providing her expertise to customers to help them find and build their dream homes, her passion and knowledge of the home building industry allows Christine to guide families and builders through all of the important steps from finding plans to building custom homes that meet the expectations of today’s new home owner. Christine’s years of knowledge of the diverse trends and needs of the modern homeowner has made her into an authoritative and trusted voice in the online house plan community.

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