Homes with basement (Orlando, Clermont: buying a house, neighborhoods, buying)

[Punkster55]

Are there any neighborhoods with basements? I'm trying to buy a house in Orlando but all of them are built on slabs. I'm only pulling the plug if it has full basement.

[WellShoneMoon]

There aren't many homes in the entire state, let alone Orlando, that have basements, because of the high water table. Dig a hole here and water immediately starts to fill it up. Sometimes you can find a home built on the side of a small hill and it will have a walk-out basement, but it's rare.

[brinkofsunshine]

I live in downtown Orlando and my house has a basement, but it’s hardly useable because it’s so humid and damp down there. The house was built in the 20s, I guess before they realized how high the water table is here. I’ve heard of some houses in Clermont having walk-out basements. If you need a full basement, Florida probably isn’t for you.

[Ghaati]

Originally Posted by Punkster55

Are there any neighborhoods with basements? I'm trying to buy a house in Orlando but all of them are built on slabs. I'm only pulling the plug if it has full basement.

Florida is mostly sand and swamp. The elevation in Orlando is only 82 feet above sea level. You might have some luck up near the Alabama border. But if "basement" is the #1 criteria for buying a house, you'd be much better off somewhere other than Florida.

[Punkster55]

Originally Posted by Ghaati

Florida is mostly sand and swamp. The elevation in Orlando is only 82 feet above sea level. You might have some luck up near the Alabama border. But if "basement" is the #1 criteria for buying a house, you'd be much better off somewhere other than Florida.

I live in NY; My house has a full basement and sea level is only 30 ft.

[jamary1]

Originally Posted by Punkster55

I live in NY; My house has a full basement and sea level is only 30 ft.

Different soil, different water table, different aquifer, different, different, different. If you're going to start comparing New York and Florida, you'll be here all day. If a basement is a requirement, then Florida's not the state for you.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by Ghaati

Florida is mostly sand and swamp. The elevation in Orlando is only 82 feet above sea level. You might have some luck up near the Alabama border. But if "basement" is the #1 criteria for buying a house, you'd be much better off somewhere other than Florida.

Nope, they are rare in the panhandle too. My neighbor's house has one (built in 1920), but it's the only one I know of anywhere around here. Putting a basement anywhere in the Deep South is just asking for mold problems.

[Punkster55]

Originally Posted by jamary1

Different soil, different water table, different aquifer, different, different, different. If you're going to start comparing New York and Florida, you'll be here all day. If a basement is a requirement, then Florida's not the state for you.

It's not a requirement for me. A house isn't really a house without a foundation. A slab or crawl doesnt count. That's a tent.

[Punkster55]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Nope, they are rare in the panhandle too. My neighbor's house has one (built in 1920), but it's the only one I know of anywhere around here. Putting a basement anywhere in the Deep South is just asking for mold problems.

Dig the outside of the basement and put insulation layer. That prevents every mold problem.

[WinterParkLocal]

This one has a lovely 1500 sq ft. basement in the middle of winter park... house with basement