About .house domain
.house is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) operated by Donuts (Sugar Park, LLC) under its portfolio of new gTLDs. It was delegated to the root zone in December 2013. The extension was introduced as part of ICANN's New gTLD Program, designed as an open and unrestricted domain product for general registration. Its registry agreement includes standard ICANN-mandated rights protection mechanisms and policies to manage domain abuse.
Who can register .house domain
Registration for a .house domain is open to anyone globally, with no eligibility restrictions based on geography, industry, or organizational status. There are no pre-verification requirements or documentation needed to prove affiliation with the real estate sector or any specific community. Individuals, businesses, and organizations can register a .house domain name on a first-come, first-served basis through accredited registrars.
How to register .house domain
- Search for your desired .house domain name using a registrar's availability checker to confirm it is not already registered. Consider checking variations, as many short or common names may already be taken.
- Compare pricing, registration term lengths, and bundled services like WHOIS privacy or email forwarding across different ICANN-accredited registrars that offer .house domains.
- Proceed to checkout, providing accurate registrant contact information and selecting your desired registration period, which typically ranges from one to ten years.
- Complete the purchase and then access your registrar's control panel to configure DNS settings, such as nameservers, to point your new .house domain to your website or hosting service.
Typical uses of .house domain
The .house extension is commonly used by businesses and individuals related to real estate, including realty agencies, property developers, architects, and interior designers, to create memorable web addresses. It also serves homeowners, housing advocacy groups, and home service providers like contractors or landscapers. Beyond the housing industry, it is adopted for creative projects, fan sites, or personal brands where "house" conveys community, family, or a dedicated space, offering a descriptive and niche alternative to broader extensions like .com.
Tips for registering .house domain
- Domains can typically be registered for a minimum of one year, with maximum terms often up to ten years, depending on the registrar.
- WHOIS privacy protection is generally available for .house domains through most registrars, allowing you to shield personal contact details from the public WHOIS database.
- The registry implements standard rights protection mechanisms, including a Sunrise Period for trademark holders and the Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) system for clear cases of trademark infringement.
- After registration, domains are usually subject to a 60-day transfer lock, preventing transfers to another registrar for security reasons.