08/07/2025

House is a place of residence for a family or other social group. Houses can be a single-family dwelling, a multifamily dwelling such as a row house or townhouse or a group of family homes called a compound. Houses often have garages for vehicles, sheds for storage and yards or gardens for recreation and food production. Houses may be surrounded by a fence or gate for security.

A house is a building or other structure that functions as a living space for a person or family, and it can also be used as a shelter for domestic or wild animals. Animal houses built by humans are usually smaller versions of human domiciles, such as birdhouses, hen houses and dog houses. Domesticated and wild animals are also housed in structures such as barns and stables, which are typically larger than houses.

There are many reasons to choose a house as a primary residence, including the desire for stability, ownership of property and freedom to change the home’s interior and exterior as one pleases. There are also financial advantages to owning a house, including tax deductions. However, buying a house comes with responsibilities such as maintenance, upkeep and mortgage payments. Renting is a less expensive alternative to owning a house and offers more flexibility in terms of living arrangements and location.

The House of Representatives is the legislative branch of the United States federal government that represents the people of the nation and is closest to the people’s will. The House’s structure and functions empower citizens to participate in the legislative process and to influence policy, while promoting accountability of representatives to their constituents.

In the United States, house is the term for a dwelling, while in Europe it is referred to as flat or apartment. The term house is more common in the United States, where it is defined as a structure with one or more rooms for habitation and a yard or garden. In the United States, square footage refers to a house’s living spaces only, excluding garages and other non-living areas. In other countries, square meters are used.

The history of a house is a complex and fascinating subject. In the past, some houses were known only by their owners, but with increasing interest in local and family histories, more and more people are discovering that their homes have interesting stories to tell. Douglas McVarish, who has conducted house research for over 30 years in the Boston area, has prepared a step-by-step guide to investigating a house’s past. His tips include researching records from different local archives to find out who owned a house in the past and how it has changed over time.