Laned Versus Front Attached Homes: Which Is Right for You?
Those who want the privacy of a single-family home typically have two style choices: rear lane homes and front attached homes. In a lot of ways, these two styles are quite similar. They will both have ample square footage, an ensuite in the master bedroom, and, the option to include a finished basement when you build with Broadview. The biggest difference between these two styles of homes is where the parking is typically located.
As the name implies, front attached homes have the garage attached to the front of the home. Rear lane homes commonly have parking situated towards the back, with a driveway or parking area that’s detached and flanking the backyard. Both styles are great, although they tend to appeal to different types of people. We’ll break down some of the reasons why you might choose one or the other.
The Convenience of an Attached Garage
Having the garage attached to the home is incredibly convenient. It’s easy to bring the groceries in, and many floor plans have a walk-through pantry or kitchen close to the garage entrance. When it’s snowing or raining, you can get in and out of your car without getting wet. This is especially nice when you have young children - you won’t have to worry about them being cold on their way to the car.
When it comes to laned homes the garage (if you choose to build one) is still close, but many might prefer the former option - especially during a Winnipeg winter!
The Picturesque Look of a Laned Home
Often when people think of a classical or more traditional home, they're picturing a laned home with a tidy front yard and a path leading up to the front door, and sometimes a porch to relax in. Some people prefer the look of this style.
In a front attached home, the garage tends to be the prominent feature. Some exterior designs try to minimize it, but there’s no doubt it’s visible. You have to either like this look or feel the convenience outweighs the style factor if you’re going to buy a front attached home.
The Size of the Yard
If you’ve been dreaming about a big backyard for your kids to live in, you should be leaning towards purchasing a front attached home. These styles typically have that classic suburban backyard people want for barbecues, games, and swingsets.
However, this may not be universally true. Once you’ve found a community you like, you have to look at the lot sizes for each type of home to see which one will better fit your needs.
Laned homes still offer backyard space, but just how much is influenced by the size and positioning of the garage or parking area/pad.
The Affordability of Your Home
In general, laned homes are a bit more affordable than front attached homes. At Broadview, you’ll see starting prices for our rear detached models are generally less than the starting prices for front attached styles with similar square footage. However, the total price of your home is based on the materials you choose for the interior, the price of the exact lot, and base price of the home so can be difficult to compare true apples to apples between builders or different homes at times. A good builder will work with you to keep your home within budget, but if you have specific needs, it could be more affordable to get them in a laned home.
The Design of the Community
It’s smart to start your new home search by choosing a community you want to live in. Sometimes community guidelines may influence the types of homes allowed in the area. The community you like may not allow the type of home you’d normally prefer, so you have to choose the other style.
Additionally, the laned homes and front attached homes are often in different parts of the community. One of these might be closer to features you want, such as the playground or the neighbourhood school. That could drive you to choose one type of home over the other. Lot choice can have a big effect on your happiness.
Both laned homes and front attached homes offer plenty of advantages. The key is to decide which option is better for your lifestyle.
