A single family home is defined as a detached dwelling. It is free standing residence, and one of the many types of prefabricated homes. To provide some perspective, it is the opposite of a multi-family home, which consists of multiple, attached dwellings.

In order to be defined as a single family home, a home generally has to be occupied by a single family and be detached. While a single family home is designed for a single family, this doesn’t necessarily mean that only one family lives there. There may be more than one family in the home. However, this type of home was built to only support a single family. There is only one living or dwelling suite. Whether or not families opt to share it, is up to them. Depending on where the house is located, some areas will allow for a mother-in-law suite and still consider a dwelling, a single family home.

The second attribute characteristic of single family homes is detachment. It cannot be connected to another house or building. There is also no shared inside-wall. Dwellings such as duplexes and condos do not qualify as single family homes.

The vast majority of single family homes will include a yard, though this is not required. They may or may not have an attached garage. More modern homes do. Older ones may or may not. Some have car ports instead.

Many people prefer single detached homes over multi-family homes or apartments because they offer more privacy, don’t share an inside wall and give individuals more space. Having one’s own space is often prized and is one reason why many people desire single detached homes instead of multi-family ones.

Single detached homes are more of a modern phenomenon. Prior to the industrial era, the majority of families resided in multi-dwelling homes. Many homes housed more than one generation of family members. Children were expected to live at home until they were married.  Adult, married children often took in their parents, who in turn, helped out with the children when able. Those parents that needed helped with their day-to-day activities, received it from their children in whose home they lived in. There were many benefits associated with the aforementioned. However, living arrangements in this regard have changed significantly.

Today’s living arrangements, where only the nuclear family lives together, is a departure from times past. These developments have been attributed to, at least in part, to the financial prosperity of the country in the more modern era. Today, privacy is prized, which is why many people have a preference for single family dwellings.