Your Guide to Buying a Home in Providence, RI

Buying a Home in Providence, Rhode Island

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Providence is located in Providence County

Living in Providence can include expansive lawns, swimming pools, white picket fences, and a newly built home. Providence can also provide the shops, activity, community spirit, and cultural richness of downcity living. What sets Providence apart from the suburbs and other cities is the variety of choice within its wide housing spectrum.

The diversity and quality of architecture in Providence astounds many new to the city. Beginning with 18th-century, center chimney colonials and continuing through Federal, Greek and Gothic Revival, Italian Renaissance, Second Empire, Romanesque Stick, Bracketed and Queen Anne, architects came full circle back to Colonial and Georgian Revival. Styles went off on many tangents, inspired by Beaux-Arts or Tudor Revival.

Two and three family homes, designed for economical living or profitable rent rolls, often incorporated prevailing styles. Cottages, bungalows, and other 20th-century answers to the housing needs of an expanding middle class filled in older neighborhoods. Land remained for the split levels, rambling ranches, and contemporaries of the last thirty years. The city's residential character influenced the design of apartment buildings, modest in scale and compatible with single-family homes. Private gardens and patios grace new townhouse condominiums. In and around Downtown, urban adventurers are converting factory lofts to unique living spaces.

For those interested in historic homes financial benefits and technical advice from the Providence Preservation Society and the R.I. Historical Preservation Commission make restoration planning and execution that much more enjoyable.