You should consider the various surfaces of your home that will need painting and choose the paints with this in mind. The paint retailer can be helpful and reading the paint can labels can also be beneficial. They are durable, and resist abrasion well. Latex paints are water-thinned. They are often more popular because brushes, rollers and splatters can usually be cleaned up with soap and water.
Latex paints are durable, easy to apply, and retain their color well.
Either latex or alkyd types can be used successfully provided the surface is properly prepared. For high gloss trim paints, alkyds are usually preferred. Flat paints are attractive and are often preferred on siding, masonry and stucco. Exterior wood stains, available in solid or semi-transparent types, are popular for textured wood surfaces. Solid stains hide the color of the wood, but at the same time allow the texture of the wood to show through.