your advice (houses, crawl space, buy)

[weverjames]

the house in question:
-trilevel built in 1960's
-family room, 4th room and laundry room in the "lower level"
finished & looked dry after 2-3 days of heavy rain. However some days after I found water seepage in the foundation wall below the main level.
lower level has a sump pump that connects to an outside pipe,

questions,
-would you buy a house with water seepage in the foundation wall. How serious is this?
-does the sump pump in lower level offers any protection to the main level crawl space?
-does the fact than lower level goes less deep into the ground compared to a conventional basement offer any advantage in terms of water leaks/flooding into the "basement" in a tri level home?

Note: no craks seen in interior walls, lower level is "finished" and covered with carpets and recently painted. No signs of water seepage whatsoever.

[hapaleeretired]

In years past people would buy a house and plan on making a move in the future. Perhaps downsizing to a one level once the kids are grown and gone. But, as houses no longer appreciate in value if I were you I'd buy a house that you MIGHT have to live in for the rest of your adult life.
Are you going to be able to climb all those stairs when you are in your fifties and beyond? I hate trilevels. You have to climb steps to go anywhere. A coworker broke a leg and lived in a trilevel. He was in a bad way for a long time.
Sorry I cannot be of help with moisture questions but thought I'd give you a little more food for thought.

[indybail]

I would check the gutters and downspouts to see if there water pooling by the house. If so that would be simple painless problem to correct.