Kirk Holton Team Blog

Dear Rita,

I am very attracted to a home with no basement in St. Louis County. Why do homes with no basement get such bad press? Especially in the Mid West?  A lot of homes in other parts of the country don’t have basements, and there is usually not a problem selling them. Why is this?

Sally Ann

Dear Sally Ann,

This is a tough question to answer. I suppose that, in some parts of the Southern and Western portions of the United States, the water table is higher, and from a practical stand point basements are not a possibility. Speaking of St. Louis, I don’t have a good answer except that people like the extra storage, and in stormy weather, a good storm shelter. Actually, as the population ages, (and with the huge population of baby boomers,) homes with no basements will become more popular. I think there will definitely be a swing in this direction, especially with health care costs, and retirement home costs looming for many people. Even someone with a walker or wheelchair, or recent surgery will be able to stay in a one story home with no basement a lot longer than in a 2 story home.

I think this is a definite shift we will see in the future….. the increased desirability of one story homes, including more purchases of homes with no basement.

Have a question? Ask Rita the Realtor…send us a question in the “ask me a question box” and we will get you an answer!