Human beings, once they discovered language, naturally tended to make up more words for things they dealt with the most frequently. Hence the Inuit have dozens of different words for "snow" and real estate agents have dozens of different words for "house." It's important to remember, though, that some of these words, like "bungalow" can have different meanings depending on whether you're looking for Penetanguishene real estate or a home here in Guelph, Ontario. This article should help familiarize you with some of the uses of the word "bungalow."
Originally, the word "bungalow" was used to refer to a simple, one storey thatched house with a veranda built in the Bengal region of India. Many of the key concepts of the original Bengali homes have carried over into the modern usage, such as the house having a low profile or the inclusion of the porch, but since the term passed through the very wealthy British Rajs before ending up in the mouths of Ajax real estate agents, it has also picked up some new traits on the way.
This is not to say two people from different parts of the world can point to the same home and call it a bungalow. The term developed along separate geographical lines after it was exported from India. In Guelph and most of the rest of Canada, "bungalow" usually refers to small, detached, single family homes. Homes in Richmond Hill that have one storey generally qualify regardless of whether there's a porch, but only if the home is small, say one or two bedrooms and one bathroom.
In the United States, the word "bungalow" is usually used to describe the architectural style of the house rather than its size. There are numerous American home styles (some of which you might see if you go looking for a Mississauga home for sale) derived from the original Indian definition, such as the California Bungalow and the Craftsman Bungalow, which feature 1.5 storeys and a front porch. Usage is the same in Australia, where the California Bungalow style became very popular.
Meanwhile if you were to venture into Ireland, South Africa, or to the island of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, the word "bungalow" is applied almost exclusively to vacation homes, usually in lakeside regions. These vacation bungalows have no set architectural style that binds them together. Some might be indistinguishable from homes on the Oakville MLS while others are little more than shanties or shacks without even the benefit of indoor plumbing.
The bottom line is that when your realtor uses the word "bungalow" you need to clarify with her what definition of the word she subscribes to. Even if you live in Guelph, your realtor may have been born in Australia or South Africa.
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