By Adam Chubbuck, Team Leader, Team Alpha Charlie of Douglas Realty. Retired U.S. Navy Chief. Licensed in Maryland and Virginia.
Half of Anne Arundel County calls a split foyer a split level. They are not the same house. And if you are searching listings or trying to describe what you want to an agent, the words matter.
Here is the cheat sheet. What each style is, when it was built, how to spot it from the driveway, and the thing each one is known for.
Rancher
What it is. Single story, everything on one level, usually over a basement in this area.
When. Heavily built in the 1950s through the 1970s, and still built today in a more modern form.
How to spot it. Long and low, front door at grade or up a couple of steps, roofline running horizontal.
The upside. No stairs. That sounds minor until you are 65, or carrying a toddler, or moving a sofa. Ranchers on decent lots are one of the most consistently in demand styles in this county, and demand has grown as buyers plan for aging in place.
The catch. You are paying for footprint. A 1,800 square foot rancher takes more land and more roof than a 1,800 square foot two story, which is part of why they hold value.
Around here. All over Pasadena, Glen Burnie, and the older waterfront communities. A lot of them started as small cottages and got added onto over decades, which is worth knowing when you look at the permit history.
Split Foyer
What it is. You walk in the front door onto a landing, and you immediately go up half a flight or down half a flight. Two levels, and the lower one is partially below grade.
When. Big in the 1970s and 1980s.
How to spot it. The dead giveaway is the front door. It sits at a half level, usually with a small stoop, and you can see a tall window arrangement where the entry landing is.
The upside. Efficient. You get real square footage on a modest footprint, and the lower level is genuinely usable space with windows, not a dungeon. Frequently the best dollar per square foot in this county.
The catch. That entry landing is a small, awkward space and there is no real foyer. And you are always going up or down stairs the moment you walk in.
Around here. Everywhere in Pasadena, Severn, Glen Burnie, and Millersville. If you are shopping the $400,000 to $500,000 range in Anne Arundel County, you are going to see a lot of these.
Split Level
What it is. Three or more staggered levels. You walk in at the middle level, go up half a flight to bedrooms, down half a flight to a family room, and often there is a fourth level below that.
When. 1960s and 1970s, mostly.
How to spot it. From the street it looks like two houses joined together at different heights. One section is clearly one story and the other is clearly two.
The upside. Genuine separation of space. Bedrooms are away from living areas, and the lower family room is a real room, not a converted basement. Good for families who want kids in a different zone than the TV.
The catch. Stairs constantly. Every trip to anywhere involves half a flight. And the layouts can be chopped up in ways that are hard to open up, because the level changes are structural.
The confusion. People call split foyers “split levels” all the time. The difference is simple: a split foyer has two levels and you make a choice at the door. A split level has three or more and you enter in the middle.
Cape Cod
What it is. A story and a half. Full first floor, and bedrooms upstairs tucked under a sloped roof, usually with dormers.
When. 1940s and 1950s heavily, with a revival in newer construction.
How to spot it. Steep roof coming down low, dormer windows poking out of the front, symmetrical face, often a center door.
The upside. Charm, and a lot of them have the primary bedroom on the main level, which is a real selling point. Great character in the older ones.
The catch. The upstairs. Sloped ceilings eat usable space, the rooms can be small, and the older ones frequently have limited closets and marginal upstairs HVAC. Check how the second floor is heated and cooled before you buy, because retrofitting is not always simple.
Around here. Older Pasadena, Riviera Beach, Glen Burnie, and throughout the established waterfront communities.
The Ones You Will Also See
Colonial. Two full stories, bedrooms up, living down, usually a center hall. The default for newer construction in this county and the most conventional layout.
Bungalow. One or one and a half stories, front porch, older housing stock. Common in the older waterfront pockets.
Contemporary. Whatever the architect was thinking in 1985. You will know it when you see it.
Why It Matters
Three practical reasons.
Searching. If you tell me you want a split level and you mean a split foyer, we spend a Saturday touring the wrong houses.
Value. Style affects price in this market. Ranchers command a premium relative to their square footage because of the no-stairs demand. Split foyers deliver the most space per dollar. Buyers pay for what they will actually live in.
Inspection. Each style has known weak points. Ranchers have more roof per square foot. Split foyers often have moisture questions at the lower level, since it is partially below grade. Split levels can have odd HVAC balance across levels. Capes have the second floor heating and cooling issue. Knowing the style tells you where to look.
The Take
There is no best style. There is the style that fits how you live.
If stairs are a concern now or will be later, rancher or a Cape with a main level primary. If you want maximum space for the money, split foyer. If you want separated living zones, split level. If you want the traditional layout everyone expects, colonial.
If you are trying to figure out which one fits you, or you just want to settle an argument with your spouse about what your house actually is, reach out to Team Alpha Charlie of Douglas Realty. This is genuinely one of my favorite conversations.
Quick Answers
What is the difference between a split foyer and a split level?
A split foyer has two levels and you enter onto a landing where you go either up or down half a flight. A split level has three or more staggered levels and you enter at the middle one. People use the terms interchangeably, but they are different houses.
What is a rancher in Maryland?
A single story home with all living space on one level, typically over a basement in this region. Heavily built in the 1950s through 1970s and in strong demand today because of the no-stairs layout.
What is a Cape Cod style house?
A story and a half with a full main floor and bedrooms upstairs under a sloped roof, usually with dormers. Common in 1940s and 1950s Maryland housing stock. Many have a main level bedroom, which buyers value.
Which house style holds its value best in Anne Arundel County?
Ranchers on good lots consistently perform well because single level living is in demand and supply is limited. Colonials are the most conventional and broadly marketable. Split foyers typically offer the most square footage per dollar.
I am Adam Chubbuck, Team Leader of Team Alpha Charlie of Douglas Realty. Retired U.S. Navy Chief, licensed in Maryland and Virginia, and I have closed more than 350 homes over the past five years across the Baltimore to Annapolis corridor. I also run Enclave Property Management out of Pasadena, Maryland.
443-347-6692 | [email protected] | TACMD.com
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Adam Chubbuck
