This paper is a summary of previous research into the question of housing preferences, particularly the preference for home ownership and detached dwellings. It also covers studies that have investigated the meaning of home ownership to families and strategies that families adopt to meet their preferences in the face of rising housing costs. A number of studies that have looked specifically at medium-density housing preferences are also described. The paper does not present new analyses, but is designed more to assist researchers and others undertaking work in this area.