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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate, Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker (Fred Griffin Real Estate)

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Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Fred - in our area, most single family homes are built on what we call a "raised foundation" since construction was largely in the early to mid parts of the 20th century.  There are examples(many) built post-1950 that are also built utilizing slab foundation techniques

I will leave the pros and cons of different constriction techniques to the experts in those fields where fact is more important(and relevant) than opinion.

Dec 01, 2017 04:44 PM
Rainer
417,221
Caroline Gerardo
Licensed in 20 states - Newport Beach, CA
C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982

Slab most common in California- is cheap BUT slab leaks, cracked slabs and using a jackhammer to access below ....hmmm

Raised with concrete floor allows access through a crawl space (cons critters tend to visit) 

Dec 01, 2017 04:35 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Homes in our area of NH have full basements, it is rare a home is on a slab.

Dec 01, 2017 04:02 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

When we built our home 3 years ago we opted to build on a slab so we could limit steps and have most of the living on one floor. We have 3 ways to access our home with no steps and 3 other ways with 1 step. It's a home run for us baby boomers.

Dec 01, 2017 05:38 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

We prefer a raised foundations, because it is easier to access the plumbing, etc.  Slab is a pain and often a huge expense, when something goes wrong. A

Dec 02, 2017 04:47 AM
Rainmaker
183,505
James (Jim) Lawson, DBA
DomainRealty.com LLC - Bonita Springs, FL
Broker Associate, RSPS, BPOR, HI & PE

Any type of foundation, if properly designed and built, will function fine and be long-lasting. The key is to understand the soil and watertable conditions and design accordingly.

One of my favorite designs is a high-ranch. The first floor has a concrete slab poured on a concrete perimeter wall resting on a footing where the bottom of the footing is at the frost-line. The slab is ideal for low-use spaces like home office, man-cave, half-bath, rec room, etc. The second floor is wood construction (decking on floor joists) which is ideal for a living room, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and a utility room. The wood floor is especially easy on the feet where much time is spent. 

A major challenge with the high-ranch design is storage. There is no cellar or basement to store items. A second challenge is to give it architecural curb appeal since it's essentially a salt-box design that is elevated.

Like the question Fred!    

Dec 01, 2017 10:21 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Slab.

Dec 01, 2017 08:49 PM
Rainmaker
547,327
Steven Nickens
Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers - Wailea, HI
R(S)GRI ABR, Maui Real Estate Hawaii

Fred, in Hawaii, if it is a single story, I like post and pier for air circulation.

 
Dec 01, 2017 07:58 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Most have basements here.

Dec 01, 2017 07:20 PM
Rainmaker
508,318
Joseph Domino 480-390-6011
HomeSmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Real Estate Made Easy

Here in the Phoenix area the concrete slab on grade is the predominant method for building. We do not have to worry about frost or freezing. However, we do have areas that suffer from expansive soil which can wreak havoc with a slab. They solved the problem by going to a "post-tension" slab which allows the slab to float as one peice.

We do have a few builders that have attempted to build homes with basements but they haven't caught on because it is cheaper to build up than down and our property tax rules require basements to be taxed at the same value as living space unlike other areas of the country.

Dec 01, 2017 07:03 PM
Rainmaker
2,220,654
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Majority of homes in our area have basements...

Dec 01, 2017 05:55 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

It's all about affordability here in the good ole' Midwest. $10K+ for a basement so most people opted for slabs. Not much you can do about it but basements are the craze here. That & brick homes.

It's like a reminant from the Chicago fire. People will pay for brick, brick & more brick before the basement I think.

Dec 02, 2017 05:42 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

We have all kinds of foundations and all they have pluses and minuses. But homes under a certain price point are almost all slab these days.

Dec 02, 2017 04:39 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,409
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Depends wher you live. In Chicago, a basement is preferred. In Florida, the slab rules!

Dec 02, 2017 04:39 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Many people don't like basements, so they go with Patio homes / slab on grade. I have run into cracked slabs, water infiltration, cold floors, frozen/broken plumbing pipes under the slab. Older people might complain of hard floor being hard on the joints.

 A riased slab can have some of those same problems. Thick padding and carpet is usually the solution many choose to offset the hardness and coldness of concrete. These days some use insulated and/or heated slabs, but many builders don't do those.

Dec 02, 2017 04:21 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Joseph Domino 480-390-6011 nailed this one!

Dec 02, 2017 02:17 AM
Ambassador
5,230,113
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I prefer a crawl space - grade or off-grade, although we have a large number of slab homes in our area and few full-basement homes. The vast majority of the older homes are on a crawl space though.

Dec 01, 2017 10:45 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I would never buy a slab house... we call them slab or crawl space homes here.  I even refused to let my daughter look at them.  I believe it's easier to do plumbing repairs on a home on a crawl space.  I do plan on my next home having a partial basement ... of course a slab, but no living spaces down there, just storage and storm shelter.

Dec 01, 2017 08:14 PM
Rainmaker
809,258
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

Crawl spaces are more common around here, though there are a couple of builders that do slab foundation. I like crawl better, likely because that is what I am used to, but also we have a lot of issues with water in crawl spaces and mold because of it, so...-Kasey

Dec 01, 2017 07:42 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

In our area every home no matter the style you need footings

Dec 01, 2017 07:09 PM
Rainer
509,449
Susie Kay
Ultra Real Estate Dallas Fort Worth - Plano, TX
North Dallas Specialist

Most homes here are slab and some are pier and beam.  Some buyers prefer pier and beam because it's easier to fix if there's a problem with the foundation. 

Dec 01, 2017 07:08 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Slab is cheaper to fabricate. The downside there is no ventilation of air under the house so far as moisture goes.  The good side coupled with stucco wall there is less likelihood for termite or insect infestications.

Dec 01, 2017 06:50 PM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Ditto, Ken Jones, ASA, SCGREA Full basement is a must!!!

Dec 01, 2017 05:07 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,139
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Slabs are not common or desired in our area.

Dec 01, 2017 04:40 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

homes in the northeast have full foundations.... it's tough to sell a slab home in our area....

Dec 01, 2017 04:35 PM
Rainmaker
4,936,705
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I love my basement!

 

Dec 04, 2017 10:32 AM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Most( not all) residential houses have some kind of raised foundation with a crawl space under. I often watch home inspectors crawl under the house.... Very few houses have some kind of  basement. 

Dec 02, 2017 10:02 PM
Rainmaker
542,913
Sean Casey
Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate - Newark, DE
Greenville, Hockessin, Newark & Bear Homes

Most of the homes in this area have basements or crawl spaces.

Dec 02, 2017 03:09 PM
Rainer
130,857
Steve Penner
Royal LePage Dynamic RE / Pro Ledger Bookkeeping Software - Winnipeg, MB
REALTOR® / Pro Ledger Online (owner)

Full basement whenever possible.... that way foundation  stays below frost line.... as it gets cold up here.

Dec 02, 2017 01:27 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Slab is standard out here.  Raised does make for easier changing of pipes though.  Just needs to be secured for an earthquake.

Dec 02, 2017 10:06 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Being in California (Earthquakes) having a raised foundation of any kind with a crawl space leaves room for more foundation issues.  I've seen many pillar posts slipping.  It can be corrected.  

Being on a slab ... when there are underground plumbing issues the repairs are more costly and invasive in the home. Floors inside the home must be torn up and  jack hammer through the foundation to get to the underground plumbing ... versus on a raised foundation those pipes can be accessed via the crawl space. 

We have a mixed bag of both in my market. 

Dec 02, 2017 08:29 AM
Rainmaker
599,274
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

I prefer off-grade and that's what is most common here.

Dec 02, 2017 07:19 AM
Rainmaker
577,750
Gloria Valvasori, Accredited Senior Agent
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS REAL ESTATE SIGNATURE SERVICE - Mississauga, ON
REAL Experience | REAL Commitment | REAL Results!

99% of homes in my area have full basements.  We don't have homes built on slabs...

Dec 02, 2017 06:52 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Crawlspace has been accepted for centuries all over the world...However lately I have been seeing slab as the standard

Dec 02, 2017 06:08 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Almost everything is on a slab here in FL.

Dec 02, 2017 05:49 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I agree with Ken.

Dec 02, 2017 04:51 AM