Why the lack of basements? (Charlotte, Cornelius: houses, rent, job)

[DiamondGirl]

Thanks I always wandered why their weren't many listings of homes with basements. I have only seen one [@ my in-laws in Chicago] and I was rather fascinated. Being from South Florida, I never get to see the things I've saw up north.... Subways, El-trains, etc.

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by DiamondGirl

Thanks I always wandered why their weren't many listings of homes with basements. I have only seen one [@ my in-laws in Chicago] and I was rather fascinated. Being from South Florida, I never get to see the things I've saw up north.... Subways, El-trains, etc.

I just did a search and checked the box for basment homes and over 6,000 showed up in the Charlotte area.

[coldvi23]

I've seen a couple neighborhoods in huntersville with basements.. but they're rare. I used to have a basement growing up as well, kinda miss it.. renovated it to a nice family room.

[bmd69]

Cost and outcrop (bedrock) has alot do with that. Groundwater levels ranged depending on the season anywhere between 10-20 feet below ground surface.

[bmd69]

Originally Posted by groove1

Most of Charlotte is about 800 feet above sea level. The problem with basements around here though is creek flooding, storms, and most importantly mold.

Basements=Mold that not right, Must be in detroit.

[triumph190]

Cost is the major factor as it cheaper to go up than down. The frost line here is so shallow that we do not have deep foundation footings. putting added space on additional floors is cheaper since you already have the foudation and roof for the additional space. In the north where the frost line is so deep, they have to dig deep footings so that you might as well go ahead and dig out the earth for the basement while you are down there. Hope this helps answer

[groove1]

Originally Posted by bmd69

Basements=Mold that not right, Must be in detroit.

Her ein the south the humidity causes more mold than up north. Crawl spaces and basements are notorious for mold in this area.

[rmorton]

Basements are now becoming more prevelent since so many of us New Yorkers have moved here. There are many communities that have basement lots, especially in Cabarrus County. There is a community that has over 20 basement lots for new homes. The extra cost depends on the size of the 1st floor footprint

[grebner1]

What you will see up north are the non-walkout basements; This has been touched on but the reason is because with the frost lines, footings have to be excavated deep into the earth. Builders find that once a heavy machine is on the job site cutting earth for footings, it is just as easy to dig out the entire building pad, use the generated material for backfilling (avoiding the costs associated with purchasing dirt,) pour a concrete slab on the now dug out building pad, and build the non-walkout basement. Here the footings need only to be 1' below grade, so really the lot dictates whether or not to build the basement. You will only find walk out basements and they will be built on lots with severe fall, usually from front to back. I've been through some homes built by Moderator cut: removed and they have 10' ceilings in their basements that walk out to beautiful outdoor living landscapes/pools, etc!

[besusan016]

There are few basements & garages in Charlotte.

I've seen some houses in the new Hampton Place Development off of Sugar Creek (north of Harris Blvd) that have basements. They are all new houses too. They have a website but I couldnt find it when I googled it.
Hampton Place Subdivision

12411 Hampton Place Dr
Charlotte, NC 28269
704) 921-1077


Thats the only subdivision I have noticed that has advertised basements.