I would say they are almost the exact same. Colloquially, I would regard them as the same. If you said either I'd think the same thing. Only if I was analysing it would I think about it and notice a difference, which is that the first sentence makes me think "the house" is a bit further than in the second sentence. It might also be that if we were walking along the beach and you were taking me to the house and I was whining and wondering how far away it was you might say "The house is a little way yet", meaning it's not far but we still have some distance to go. If you said "The house is a little down the beach" I might get excited thinking that we were very close to being there/almost there. People often say "ways" instead of "way". Regardless of which is technically correct, any native speaker of any language never speaks or writes their language 100% correct. I don't speak like a textbook; I'm a human being. You might also say "The house is a little ways away (yet)" or "The house is a little bit down the beach (yet)". Everything depends on context. For example, formal or informal situation, speaking or writing, making a statement or answering a question (about the location or the distance [away]), etc. These are my opinions. Sorry it is hard for me to explain the very slight nuance or variations depending on the many situations possible. .