Why so Few Basements in Charlotte?
This is a question we get quite often, especially from folks relocating to the Charlotte area from the midwest and northern part of the country where basements are very common. In fact, in many parts of the country the odd-house out is one without a basement.
In the south, the opposite is true and basement homes are the rare bird. It is typical practice to set home foundations below the frost line to mitigate the risk of potential frost heaving problems. Thus in colder climates the foundation of a home must be set lower than in warmer climates.
In the colder climates the additional few feet necessary put in a basement is not as significant when considering the additional cost and time in constructing a home. While here in the Charlotte area our local frost line estimate is ~10 inches. Thus in warmer climates it is quicker and less costly to add a 2nd story instead of a basement.
To Finish or Not to Finish – That is the Question
There are certainly a larger quantity of Charlotte Homes for Sale with unfinished basements than there are homes with finished basements. Moreover, in some of the rolling hills of South Charlotte unfinished basements are often the foundation of choice when lots have a nice slope to the rear of the home.
However it is often times much more convenient to first explore the Charlotte Area Homes that already have finished basements. You will find homes explicitly tagged as having a \’Finished Basement\’ in the following mix of links, so feel free to explore them at your convenience.
Basement Foundations, Unfinished Basements, the Mix
Another search that is helpful is to isolate Charlotte Area Homes that have a property type attribute indicating a basement structure. While the quantity of homes selected is much greater, remember these homes are a mix of unfinished basements, finished basements, and basement foundation. Nevertheless by playing close attention to photos and agent remarks you might end up finding your very own diamond in the rough.
- Debe
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