3/4 of a bathroom

Submitted by justin on Fri, 03/25/2011 - 21:30

In exploring real estate outside of Baltimore, I've recently started seeing "1 3/4 baths" mentioned in listings. What is a 3/4 bathroom? Well, apparently:

  • 1/4 bath: toilet
  • 1/2 bath: toilet & sink (aka "powder room")
  • 3/4 bath: toilet & sink & shower
  • full bath: toilet & sink & tub

This, like many things, is variable across different geographies. Personally, I've never considered a toilet, sink, and shower to be anything but a full bath. But apparently, some folks do.

The good news is that in this case, Fannie Mae comes to the rescue. Fannie Mae says, "1/4 bath == 0 bath" and "3/4 bath == full bath".

Of course, any individual buyer will have individual preferences. Houses that deviate significantly from "the local norm" will likely be harder to market and sell than those that are more standard. Then again, those that look like all the others will have troubles standing out from the crowd. Such is the balancing act sellers face.