They are an affordable housing option in a country where so few affordable housing options exist.

Shaped by the car culture, dingbats are going obsolete due to earthquake risk. But their names and style flourishes bring nostalgic smiles.

Judith Chabot devotes much of her free time to searching for houses built from kits sold by Sears. “It’s kind of like bird-watching,” she said.

The homes represent the city’s ideals, a local architectural historian says: cherishing the past and “always looking to the future.”

Despite their association with New Orleans, researchers say the shotgun style originated farther afield.

One of the most popular building styles in the U.S. emerged as a lower-cost pathway to homeownership.

“I invite people to stay there with me when I’m there,” said Aileen Smith about her second home in Tramore, Ireland. “I never get tired of having guests. It’s fun every single time.”

“I’m just attached to it because it’s taken care of me and I’m taking care of it,” said Violet O’Brien on why she’s choosing to age in place in her Houston home.

“The Sims had really kind of seeded that desire for homeownership in me at a young age,” said Elle Hunt, a journalist based in the U.K. “And I’d spent the interim 20 years walking away from that dream a bit.”

“I’m not getting any younger. If I’m going to have a dome, I need to get on with it,” said Paula Stone of Fredericksburg, Texas.