🏡

Quiz

What Property Type Quiz

First time buyers who choose the wrong property type overspend by 12% on average within 5 years according to Zillow research. Answer 6 questions about your budget, household size, commute, and lifestyle to discover whether a single family home, condo, townhouse, or multifamily suits you.

Last updated: May 2026

A property type suitability quiz matches buyer preferences to the most suitable US property type, condo, townhome, single-family detached, or new construction, based on budget, household size, lifestyle priorities, maintenance tolerance, and location preference. Match Score = Tags accumulated from quiz answers matched to property type profiles. Condo yield typically target 6-7%.

📊 Your visitors see this on your website. Estate agents and property companies embed this tool, buyers and landlords calculate returns and you capture their investment criteria. See plans →

✓ Used by 2,400+ businesses✓ 30-50% visitor conversion rate✓ 60-second embed setup

↑ This is exactly what your website visitors see when you embed this tool. The only difference: their results are gated behind an email capture form, and every input is sent to your CRM.

What is Property Type Suitability?

A property type suitability quiz matches buyer preferences to the most suitable US property type, condo, townhome, single-family detached, or new construction, based on budget, household size, lifestyle priorities, maintenance tolerance, and location preference. The quiz accumulates tags from answers to build a profile that is matched against property type characteristics.

The Formula

Match Score = Tags accumulated from quiz answers matched to property type profiles

Worked Example

A couple with a $400,000 budget, no children, wanting low maintenance and a walkable urban location answer 6 questions.

Budget ($350-450K): tags condo, townhome, starter single-family
Household size (2 adults, no kids): tags condo, townhome
Maintenance preference (minimal): tags condo, new-construction
Location (walkable urban): tags condo, townhome
Outdoor space (balcony OK): tags condo
Parking (1 space needed): tags condo with garage, townhome

📌 Top tags: condo (6 matches), townhome (4 matches). Best match: condo, aligns with budget, low maintenance preference, urban location, and household size. A 2-bed condo in a walkable neighborhood offers the best lifestyle fit, though buyer should verify HOA financial health.

Why This Matters

Largest financial decision

A home is the biggest purchase most Americans make. Choosing the wrong type wastes years and tens of thousands of dollars in closing costs and agent commissions if you need to sell and rebuy within 5 years.

Lifestyle alignment

A 4,000 sq ft single-family detached with a half-acre lot is wasted on a couple who travel frequently and hate yard work. Matching property type to actual lifestyle prevents paying a premium for features you will not use.

Investment returns vary by type

Condos yield higher rental returns (5-7%) but have HOA exposure and slower appreciation. Single-family detached homes appreciate faster per Case-Shiller data but cost more to maintain. Townhomes split the difference.

Common Mistakes

❌ Buying too much house for the budget

Stretching to afford a 4-bedroom detached home leaves no buffer for rate resets, property tax reassessments, roof replacements, or job loss. A comfortable mortgage on a townhome beats financial stress in a larger home.

❌ Ignoring HOA and running costs

Condos carry HOA fees of $200-800/month plus special assessments. Single-family homes cost more to heat, cool, and maintain. Factor HOA, utilities, and 1% annual maintenance into affordability, not just the purchase price.

❌ Not considering resale

Unusual property types (studio condos, co-ops, manufactured homes, condotels) can be harder to sell or finance, some are not eligible for conventional Fannie/Freddie loans. Consider your exit strategy even when buying your first home.

Industry Benchmarks

Category	Good	Average	Poor
Condo yield	6-7%	4-6%	Below 4%
Single-family appreciation	4-5% per annum	3-4%	Below 2%
Detached premium vs townhome	15-25%	25-35%	Above 40% (overpaying)

Source: Case-Shiller Home Price Index & Zillow Research

Benchmark data sourced from Case-Shiller Home Price Index & Zillow Research.

Comparing static form deployments to interactive tool deployments surfaces a consistent pattern: businesses that replace static forms with interactive tools like this one see 3-5x more qualified leads, visitors volunteer their data because they get personalized results in return.

See All Quiz Tools →

One of the most common mistakes we see when working with clients: buying too much house for the budget. Stretching to afford a 4-bedroom detached home leaves no buffer for rate resets, property tax reassessments, roof replacements, or job loss. A comfortable mortgage on a townhome beats financial stress in a larger home.

Embed This Quiz on Your Website

Every visitor who uses your embedded quiz becomes a qualified lead. Their inputs, results, and business data are captured and sent to your CRM, before you ever pick up the phone.

Lead CaptureCRM IntegrationBranded PDF ReportsIndustry Benchmarks

See Plans & Pricing →Compare Tools

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of property should I buy?

The best type depends on your budget, household size, lifestyle, and future plans. Condos suit single professionals and couples in urban cores, townhouses offer entry-level ownership with low maintenance, single-family detached homes (SFR) provide maximum space and privacy, and small multifamily (2-4 units) lets owner-occupants house-hack with FHA or VA loans.

Is a condo a good investment?

Condos in walkable urban cores with strong rental demand can be solid investments, typically yielding 4-6% cash-on-cash. However, condos carry HOA dues ($200-600/month), special assessment risk, and appreciate 1-2% slower than single-family per Case-Shiller. Check the HOA reserves, delinquency rate, and Fannie Mae warrantability before buying, unwarrantable condos require cash or portfolio loans at higher rates.

Is new construction worth it?

New construction offers Energy Star efficiency, modern open layouts, and builder warranties (1/2/10). However, it carries a 10-20% premium over comparable existing homes and may appreciate slower in the first few years. It is worth it if you value low maintenance and utility savings over character and larger lots. Builders frequently offer rate buydowns and closing cost credits in 2025.

What are the pros and cons of a townhouse?

Townhouses cost 15-25% less than detached single-family equivalents and are found in convenient urban and transit-oriented locations. Downsides include HOA dues, shared walls (noise), smaller yards, and often less privacy. They are popular with first-time buyers and empty nesters and offer solid long-term appreciation in growth metros.

Is a single-family or townhouse better value?

Single-family detached provides more privacy, no shared walls, larger lots, and typically the strongest appreciation. Townhouses cost 15-25% less and offer most of the same benefits with lower maintenance. Single-family is the top choice for families per NAR buyer data; townhouses are the best balance for budget-conscious buyers in tight markets.

What property type has the best resale value?

Single-family detached homes consistently achieve the highest resale values and appreciate fastest per Case-Shiller, particularly 3-bed/2-bath homes in good school districts (the most liquid US segment). Well-located condos near transit hold value in major metros but depend heavily on HOA health and walk score. Small multifamily can beat all types on total return when held for cash flow and appreciation together.

Related Tools

🔑

Buyer Readiness Score

Only 32% of home buyers have their finances fully prepared before starting their search according to NAR data. Score your buying readiness across 10 areas including down payment savings, FICO score, income stability, pre approval status, and closing cost preparation.

🏘️

Rental Property Score

The top 10% of rental properties deliver 12% or higher net yield while the bottom 30% lose money according to BiggerPockets data. Score your property management across 10 areas including tenant screening, maintenance, vacancy rate, and cash flow. Get a score out of 100.

🏦

What Mortgage Type Quiz

FHA loans require just 3.5% down while conventional loans need 5 to 20% but FHA adds mandatory mortgage insurance. Answer 5 questions about your credit score, down payment, income, and property type to find out which mortgage type suits you best among conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and jumbo.

🏡

Realtor Performance Benchmark

The average US real estate agent closes 12 transactions per year with a median gross income of $56,400 according to NAR data. Benchmark performance across 8 dimensions including days on market, list to sale ratio, marketing methods, valuation accuracy, and client satisfaction.

🏘️

Property Investment Readiness Score

First time property investors who lack financial preparation lose an average of $15,000 in the first year according to BiggerPockets survey data. Score your readiness across 10 areas including capital, risk tolerance, market research, financing, legal structure, and exit strategy.

🏡