Lot Type - Walk-Out, Daylight, Flat
- Thread starter scottie33
- Start date
Not sure on your liquidity needs, but if you want some programs allow you to "lump sum" PMI upfront, and then tack it on to your 30 year note. So in other words, you avoid the full PMI payment by paying up front, but then it becomes a minuscule amount over 30 years and you aren't strapped for cash to begin.
Another question I would ask is about any tax benefits you get from it. I know regular PMI payments are deductible, not sure about lump sum.
It might matter. You're either devoutly Catholic or a Duggar.
Seriously, we love our daylight windows, non-walk-out. More secure.....have one egress window in the family/TV room. Walk-outs? susceptible to break-ins, as are exterior access doors to the attached garage
With kids, a walk-out makes sense---easy access to backyard
~a sidebar. when interior walls framed-up....and electrical and plumbing in, plus one side of room is drywalled, get in there with fiberglass insulation and fill every interior bathroom and bedroom WALL (before you drywall other side and seal)
Cheap sound insulator. You'll be glad you did
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An additional $13,000 on the mortgage over 30 years is around $62 a month. Seems worth it to me. Especially if you are going to grow the family. You will want additional space with access to outside.
That said, hope you have a big enough lot you can justify a riding mower, otherwise you are going to cuss yourself everytime you push the mower up that hill beside the house.
That said, hope you have a big enough lot you can justify a riding mower, otherwise you are going to cuss yourself everytime you push the mower up that hill beside the house.
If you go with a walk out, make sure you're lowest door or window opening is still above the 100 year flood elevation (check with city on how much above - some requirements are 3 feet.) I only say this because I've designed subdivisions for look-out homes, and after the lots have sold the homebuilder has put in walk-outs.
In one particular case the home's backyard backed out to a creek. Big rain events over several days equaled water in their walk-out basement. Whoops!
In one particular case the home's backyard backed out to a creek. Big rain events over several days equaled water in their walk-out basement. Whoops!
Pick the best lot (best views, etc). Walk outs are fantastic in the right circumstance, but decks 15' above grade are odd... Personally, I prefer to design a walk out on a flatter lot (though not a flat lot) with terraced patios that connect and interface with a deck. This gives you privacy on the lower terraces (as they are below grade) and a more connected and integrated exterior space. As a bonus, the deck usually ends up only a few feet above grade, making it an accessible extension of your landscaping. It'll cost more, but you're getting a lot more for your money IMO. Just my 2 cents... (I'm an architect btw).
It would depend on the usable lot space for me. We are yard people and spend a ton of time outside. The kids are into sports and love to play in the back yard. I love the idea of a walk out, but only if it allows for at least a flat enough back yard to still enjoy it beyond the deck or patio.
I actually have a walk out, but really lucked out in the lot going relatively flat once it gets beyond the back of the house.
I actually have a walk out, but really lucked out in the lot going relatively flat once it gets beyond the back of the house.
I'll be the naysayer. I have a walk out and more and more often I wish my deck was only a step down to grass and not a long flight of stairs. I do agree that yeah the resale value is WAY higher on a walk out so it's worth it.
In the basement I do like the extra daylight. If you don't do a walk out for sure do the biggest windows you can down there.
In the basement I do like the extra daylight. If you don't do a walk out for sure do the biggest windows you can down there.
from a resale perspective in central Iowa, walkouts are much more desirable. Go with it if you can afford to.
That tall deck on a walkout means steep steps for you, the kids, and any pet. Sending the dog or kids out in January may mean shoveling your deck and steps. Tall maintenance in the summer......
I'd take daylight over most walkout options. Resale is nice, but input a premium on me and my family over a potential next family.
I'd take daylight over most walkout options. Resale is nice, but input a premium on me and my family over a potential next family.
I would agree with the walk out crowd.
My personal opinion after building a walkout and egress is the walkout felt like more like the upper levels and the egress is more dark and feels boxed in.
My personal opinion after building a walkout and egress is the walkout felt like more like the upper levels and the egress is more dark and feels boxed in.
Walk out for sure. I like my deck 15' in the air. I feel like a king looking down on my serfs. Like Simba on Pride Rock. Like Leo on the deck on the Titanic ...
Makes moving furniture into a basement 500% easier. If you have dreams of a workshop, bringing in full sheets of plywood is a cinch.
Makes moving furniture into a basement 500% easier. If you have dreams of a workshop, bringing in full sheets of plywood is a cinch.
Wife and I did a walkout when we built 3 years ago but we haven't finished the basement yet. I love the walkout for the ease of gamewatches/tailgating for games where we can all hang out in the basement and go in and out without worrying about messing up the upstairs.
So, I am going to go against the grain of the walk-out crowd. I would suggest daylight with egress windows if you have kids and pets.
1. If you have a walk out 9 times out of 10 you end up with a high deck off your main living space. That means, added cost for a high deck. So, often with the walk up you worry constantly about the kids running up and down the stairs, and open wood stairs are very difficult for many dogs. Tall decks are also expensive and a PIA to maintain.
Trust me, running up and down the stairs to let the dog in and out gets very old. It also gets old that every time you leave the house you have to check the downstairs doors to make sure they are locked if your kids use them.
2. Security - homes with sliders in the basement are exceptionally attractive to burglars.
A daylight basement with egress gives you the best of both worlds.
Now, if the basement was your center of family activity and time, then I would consider it. But otherwise, consider the effects of adding stairs to your routine inside and outside, and what that means for your family. I know there are a lot of walk out basements that go unfinished, a lot of them that never get decks installed and have barricaded sliders off the kitchen too.
1. If you have a walk out 9 times out of 10 you end up with a high deck off your main living space. That means, added cost for a high deck. So, often with the walk up you worry constantly about the kids running up and down the stairs, and open wood stairs are very difficult for many dogs. Tall decks are also expensive and a PIA to maintain.
Trust me, running up and down the stairs to let the dog in and out gets very old. It also gets old that every time you leave the house you have to check the downstairs doors to make sure they are locked if your kids use them.
2. Security - homes with sliders in the basement are exceptionally attractive to burglars.
A daylight basement with egress gives you the best of both worlds.
Now, if the basement was your center of family activity and time, then I would consider it. But otherwise, consider the effects of adding stairs to your routine inside and outside, and what that means for your family. I know there are a lot of walk out basements that go unfinished, a lot of them that never get decks installed and have barricaded sliders off the kitchen too.
yeah definitely try to avoid the egress windows.
as far as the walkout=steep deck steps, that depends on the lot. Several around us are doing walkouts but their patio/deck is a level walk out to the yard. Just put the deck/patio on the opposite corner of the walkout and have the lot grade down between the two.
we don't have a walkout, but we do have steps from the basement to the garage for ease of moving things/alternate access since we do plan to eventually have a bedroom down there.
