What Is A Villa? Common Characteristics And Benefits

We’ve all had the dream, one day you’ll ship yourself to Italy and buy a villa situated on the rolling hills of a vineyard. It’s a great dream, but one we often dismiss because we think of villas as expensive and unattainable. Oh well.

But this common stereotype might be what’s keeping you from exploring what could be an actual viable option when it comes to homeownership. Since its invention, the definition of what a villa is has evolved and changed in many ways, especially to fit into our modern world. So maybe with a shift in perspective, you’re thinking that owning a villa doesn’t seem so crazy. And now you’re wondering, what is a villa?

Let’s look into this type of home and its characteristics so that if you’re looking to buy a house, you can find out if a villa is the best choice for you.

What Is A Villa?

Villas originated as country homes for the wealthy in ancient Rome. Their modern counterparts are popular among people seeking a stylish home or a strategic investment.

Because of the villa’s origins and well-known history during the Roman Empire, we think of these kinds of homes as large estates with expansive gardens and priceless art. These country homes were known as a villa urbana, because of their many amenities and location closer to urban areas. These were more typically summer homes which has translated to the modern day, with villa’s being a popular choice to rent for vacations. There was another type of villa around that time known as a villa rustica. These were situated deeper in the country, smaller and usually a permanent working farm home.

But the modern real estate market would define a villa as a semi-detached or detached home. These are usually one story and can be found in a gated or planned community. The big difference between the two types of villas is the semi-detached villa shares a wall with another villa, while the detached does not. Larger in size structures are called luxury villa’s and have many features and styles that help define what a modern villa is.  

How Are Villa-Style Houses Different From Other Types of Homes?

You might have asked yourself by now, what’s the difference between a semi-detached house and a condo, or a house in the suburbs and a detached villa? Their definitions are pretty similar, but there is a certain distinction that can be made.

The key difference is the lifestyle. All types of villas, semi-detached, detached and luxury, can be found in these kinds of associations. The communities where these villas are usually found are called master-planned communities. These are areas that are exclusive, sometimes gated and have certain services that are provided by the HOA for the residents, like 24-hour security and landscaping maintenance to make sure the neighborhood looks nice and stays up to standards. These communities can have many amenities for residents, like gyms or common areas, sometimes even markets or movie theaters making the surrounding area feel like its own self-proclaimed city.

Another characteristic that isn’t singular to a villa style house but can be commonly found is houses sitting further away from a road and long driveways to accommodate this. In addition, an attached garage so you don’t have to worry about parking even in attached homes.

Is A Villa Right For You?

Now that you know what a villa is, let’s look at some other factors to determine if you should buy one.

Benefits Of Owning A Villa Home

There are many benefits of owning a villa, especially because of the many different kinds of locations they can be found in.

Luxury villas offer high-end amenities and ample space while semi-detached or detached villas offer a safe and convenient community to live in, without sacrificing size or quality of living. The community surrounding these homes have many amenities that simplify tasks like grocery shopping, placing an emphasis on convenient living.

Another benefit of a semi-detached or detached villa is the cost. These homes are relatively low in price, with an average cost of $156,000 to build a single-story villa as of 2022.

Risks Of Owning A Villa Home

While there are many benefits to owning a villa, it’s important to think about the risks or downfalls of having a villa home.

First thing to consider is common prices you’ll encounter, like HOA fees. Most of the communities with villas will have an HOA and most likely all will have a fee. Depending on location, certain communities have high common area maintenance costs and amenity fees, and it’s typically not optional to join if you do want to move into one.

Another thing to consider if you are looking to invest in a luxury villa is the cost. A villa like that could cost over $1 million to build, especially with any extra amenities or upgrades.  

Types Of Villa Architecture

We’ve established features that help us define what a villa is, but now let’s look at the types of villas to choose from. Villas can function as an option for a vacation getaway, or as a residential home, so it’s important to consider the different styles that will better suit your needs.

Contemporary And Minimalist Villas

You’ll find villas built after the 1960s to have a more minimalistic style to them, adapting to the trends of the time and opting for more contemporary aesthetics in comparison to the original villa’s intricate detailing.

This style can be found in more urban settings, and in luxury villas.

Rustic Villas

Rustic villas are exactly what you’re picturing and a good example of a more traditional example of a villa. These homes are typically found in the country, making them perfect for a relaxing vacation spot.

Spanish Style Villas

Typically found in the Mediterranean and in lower parts of the southeastern United States, these homes typically feature stucco and terra cotta roof tiles, elements of Spanish colonial style scattered throughout the home.

FAQs About Villa Homes

Some frequently asked questions about villas:

How many stories do villas have?

A typical semi-detached villa will only be one story. But detached style villas or luxury villas can offer second stories.

How big are most villas?

A semi-detached villa can range from 1,600 – 2,000 square feet, while a detached villa has a much larger range of 1,200 – 4,000. The size is going to be greatly affected by the amount of features the come with a build. For example, luxury villas are going to be larger than semi and detached villas to accommodate for extra amenities, but smaller than the typical size a house needs to be in order to be considered a mansion, which is around 8,000 square feet or more in size.

For context, the average square footage of a single-family home in the U.S. in 2021 was 2,273 square feet.

Is a villa a house?

The simple answer is yes. A villa is just another type of house that provides comfort and shelter to the people wanting to live there. While the definition may be convoluted at times, at its core a villa is a house and a home.

What’s considered a modern villa?

The definition of a modern villa can vary, but typically anything built with an open floorplan inside and ample living space. You can also see it in the design choices, with modern villa’s utilizing a more minimalistic style.

The Bottom Line

With so many different options, styles and features, villas are a versatile choice for anyone looking to buy a home. Like always, consider the advantages and disadvantages of the situation and take into account the location, price and your personal preferences so that you can make the best-informed decision when it comes to owning a Villa.

If you’re looking to buy a house, start a mortgage application today.