Homes without basements?

[middle-aged mom]

Good balanced stuff, Chet.

Folks coming from southern and western states often do not understand the big deal about basements. Midwest and NE folk tend to expect them.

Many towns have pockets of homes without basements because they were cheaper to build back when. Scarsdale, one of the nicest areas in Arlington Heights, has 2-3 br mid century ranches w/o basements, on half acres. One by one, they are resold and become tear downs. Occasionally someone buys one because they like it and don't care about basements.

Resale value tends to go with the land, not the house or any improvements.

[chet everett]

Funny thing too is that my cousins from Texas moved to St. Louis and they bought a home with a HUGE partially finished basements and have ZERO desire to do anything with it -- to them its storage locker / "storm cellar"...

About a block from my home there was a ranch built in the 1980s by a unmarried middle aged woman. She likea the area as it was close to where she worked and she had very modest needs. The place has a "utilities only" type crawl space and is on a VERY tight lot. The builder that bought it did not tear it down as the lot is so small but the two-story home he renovated the place into was really only suited to a childless couple. Fortunately for him his brother and sister-in-law fit the bill. Down the road that place will spend on a long time on the market...