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Split-level homes are not as popular as they were 30 years ago. From what I've seen, the Colonial type is more popular with new subdivisions. Most lots in New Hamsphire are sloped, so the walkout basement is a natural design. Split levels offered that walkout as part of the design with some having attached garages off the lower portion. Colonials and Capes these days mostly offer the walkout with the garage under. There are many older homes for sale, so there will be a lot of split-levels for sale. I personally don't like them, as I prefer a full basement. I also don't like coming into the house and having to walk up or down the stairs right away.
Here on the Cape, we have a huge abundance of Ranch style homes, with one level living, such as the one I live in. I've elled off my house twice, like many others looking for more room. My main focus for purchasing in NH is a Colonial. They offer lots of room and a full basement, which is to my liking! A full Cape is second choice, with a Garrison third. I haven't seen a whole lot of Ranches, but they are out there.
Garage down is probably not as bad as all bedrooms upstairs. How many times a day do you go to your garage? Taking groceries up is a pain, I know. I once used to live in an upside down house where kitchen, living and dining rooms were upstairs and bedrooms downstairs. And you enter the hous downstairs too! Very weired.
Split levels, as you've seen, are usually among the lowest priced single family homes. It's basically a ranch with a raised basement. Lots of people finish the 1st (lowest) level into a large living room. For many families, it's a way to get out of condo living and into a single family. I find it to be a better style than a "raised ranch" (in which you climb a full flight of stairs to get to the main level of the home. These are usually built in areas that have a higher water table, and if you sink a foundation the usual 9' deep, there would be moisture/seepage problems forevermore...
Something that's not at all common here (unfortunately) is a contemporary ranch, but they are out there. What area(s) of NH are you pretending to look in? In the St. Louis area where my family lived for a number of years, this is one of the most popular styles (I love them and would love to live in one once the kids are grown!) Large, open-concept, great rooms with vaulted ceilings and walls of windows. I just checked the NH MLS database, and here's a partial breakdown of homes listed in the state at this moment:
1974 ranch-style homes
705 split-level/raised ranch
3327 colonials (many of these are actually New Englanders, not typical "colonials" with center front door, 2 windows on each side, etc)
Most New England subdivision houses seem to come from the same cookie cutter as the housing in the rest of the country (Except kalifornia where they don't need a deep foundation). One and two story stick built houses with double piched roof. Cheap to build and annoying to live in.
I love Victorian and Colonial style homes. There are CD's which you can buy with these type of home plans so you can build a brand new one without the headaches of restoration (and cost). We are probably going to go that way. Also we have an interest in log homes.
Hmmm. I don't really care much about the style, at least this is not my first concern. My dream home is a one-story home. Maybe with a finished basement, high enough to allow day light in.
I looked in Concord, Bow, Hopkinton, Exeter, some Manchester, took a look up north - Laconia and even Littleton. There were some single story homes, but majority are two-story.
Love Snow - I suggest you check a recent copy of Fine Homebuilding magazine for a description of building with structural insulated panels (SIPs). They offer simpler and much faster construction with better insulation. When combined with an insulated foundation the energy savings can be substantial.
I also wanted to ask about basements. That space does not count toward the total living area of the house, even if the basement is finished, right? Here in TX basements are very rare, so I don't know.
If the basement is finished with all the utilities available, it can be considered in the square footage of living space.
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