Rambler vs 2 story home (Chanhassen, Victoria: health, housing, retirement)

[pksparton]

Hi my family and I will be moving back to MN soon (we can't wait). We have to sell our house in NY first.
We are looking in the Victoria or Chanhassen area, we have always lived in 2 story traditional homes. We are a family of 4. Kids ages are 10 and 15. We are interested in a Rambler, but not sure how we would like the sleeping arangment with the master bedroom on the main level and the other 3 bedrooms on the lower level. I think with the kids being older it would be ok. Could anybody who lives in a rambler give me your thoughts on it. Also is it harder to sell a rambler than a 2 story house? Right now I see a lot a ramblers on the market.

[Robert P Stewart]

That's totally a question of preference. I suppose it depends on how much you like your kids.

If the 2 story arrangement is comfortable for you, by all means continue in the tradition unless there's a reason to change. What is it about a rambler that's intriguing to you?

Myself, I absolutely love ramblers above and beyond all other housing styles - especially the older, well-loved homes. Being 6'8", most folks would think (and most of my clients guess) that I live in a giant house. Not so. My family of 5 lives in a 1650 square foot home, and it's awesome. I have several clients currently recovering from big-home-itis and choosing the smaller ramblers.

Take care,

Robert

[BillyB]

The advantage of ramblers is sense that they can be much more easily added-on to, as you don't have to worry about the structural integrity of the 2nd floor. Also, people with certain mobility limitations may prefer ramblers. Not that multi story houses aren't nice too.

[golfgal]

When we moved we looked for that same set up-main floor master, 3 in the basement, and couldn't find one. We didn't have time to build so we went with a 2 story. I would have preferred a rambler though.

[WannaBeinBoston]

We built a rambler and absolutely love it and I would do it all over again too. If you think you're going to be in it for a while or til retirement, the main floor MBR is a great contingency for growing old along with any other health issues that may make climbing stairs an issue. We finished our basement and the other bedrooms are downstairs...it a great noise barrier.

[BarbaraMN]

I always disliked ramblers but we bought one (with a full walk-out basement) and now I can't imagine anything else. We have two bedrooms on the main floor and three down. The kids were 1 & 2 when we moved in and have been downstairs since day-one. I think ramblers can make perfect family houses.

[asitshouldbe]

Older people like ramblers because of the one level living. My grandmothers each lived in ramblers, it was ok for them, but with kids they are too crowded. I prefer two story or multilevel. My parents would like to sell their two story and buy a rambler, they are tired of all the stairs.