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The main reason for having or not having a basement/cellar is the frost line or how far down does the ground freeze. In cold climates you have to keep water/sewage pipes below the frost line (usually at least 4 feet) or they will freeze. In the south we have literally no frost line so our pipes are generally only a foot or so underground thus more slab construction.
There are lots of basements in Greenville. We have what's called a "partial basement" which is great for storage of our stuff - Christmas stuff, tools, etc. We just moved here from California and it's nice to have all that stuff somewhere other than the garage.
Not to split hairs, but a walkout basement is not the same as a northern basement/cellar. Many homes built on a slanted piece of property can have a walkout basement. I had a split level ranch in MA. You came in the front door and there were 6 steps up and 6 steps down. Up was to a level with 3 bedrooms, one bath, kitchen, dining room and a living room. Down was to a bedroom, den with fireplace, full bath with laundry room, and entrance to an under the house two car garage. Technically this house had no basement.
Building foundations need to be below the frost line to avoid freezing and cracking in pipes. In cooler climates, the frost line is several feet below the surface, which is why many Northern homes have basements. It’s simply more practical to install a basement if the foundation is already this deep to begin with. In warmer places, like central Florida and Georgia, the frost line tends to be much closer to the surface. Subsequently, home builders don’t bother with the extra expense of building a basement
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