We face enormous societal pressure for buying a house: it seems to be the major goal for just about every family. And those houses that we’re supposed to buy seem to all look pretty similar: a single family home with a nice back yard in the right neighborhood and with the right appliances. But if you’re planning to slap down a big stack of dollar bills, it may be worth thinking outside of that single family box. After all, that sort of home is guaranteed to be expensive — while it is an asset, beyond a little appreciation it won’t make you much money.

But there are some housing options that might be a better fit for you. Consider these four ideas.

1. Consider a multi-unit property. Most of us aren’t in the financial situation where we can afford to make payments on an entire apartment complex, but you may be able to find a duplex or other building with just a few apartments in it in your area. Then, while you live in one unit, you can rent out the others. In most areas, rent from another unit may be enough to cover your monthly mortgage payment. And depending on the size of homes in your area, you may even be able to convert a large single family home into multiple units. The house I grew up in was actually divided this way: the basement was a separate apartment from the main level.
2. Combine living space and office space. If you run your own business — depending on the type of business, of course — you may be able to use one property as both your home and office. Doing so even gets you an extra write off on your taxes. Having worked out of my home for several years, though, I do have one piece of advice: maintaining boundaries between ‘home space’ and ‘office space’ is crucial. Ideally, you shouldn’t even need to walk clients through your ‘home space’ to get to your office space.
3. Look at non-traditional living spaces. While most people seem to look for the largest house they can get for their money, it’s worth considering going for an unusually small home or even a space that wasn’t originally built as a house. A small house, for instance, is cheaper to maintain, heat and power. And if you were to choose a building with multiple purposes (a friend of mine lives in a converted garage, for example), you may have an easier time selling the property later on.
4. Join forces on a home. Rather than limiting your home to you, your spouse and your children, you have the option of sharing space with a few other people. In the past, it was perfectly normal for Grandpa or Grandma or Auntie to move in, and it’s still an option today. You may choose to make financial arrangements or agree on services, like childcare, that your new roomie might take on. But don’t limit your house to just you.