Why do square, Ranch-style houses get a premium?

[Webbed Feet]

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Umm, so what are some reasons Ranch-style houses given some sort of premium?

-Crissa

You are polling the wrong people. Appraisers reflect real estate markets, we don't set them. Go ask buyers in markets where one-level homes sell at a premium why they sell at a premium.

I can give you a couple of good reasons to ponder however.

A) It takes more land to build a one-level house with X number of square feet of living area than it does to build a two-level house with the same X number of square feet of living area. What does land cost?

B) Wait till you are 90 years old and still going up and down a full stair case to get to your bedroom. Or younger with mobility issues.

 

[TEL2002]

Maybe it just a California thing. Too much of that medical weed you have out there.

There is no explaining taste. Take a look at some of these house 'make over' shows. The interior designers can put together some real junk. Yet people buy it and are happy with it because 'it was done by an interior designer'. Not everyone would likes Picaso's paintings.

 

[KYLECODY]

Here in Phoenix the market prefers one level homes due to a lack of stairs. One level homes typically sell for more than two story homes of similar square footage.

As for being more expensive to heat or cool?? Not sure where that came from. The electric bill for a two story home is sometimes double the cost in the summers here than for a one level home. Heat rises and the AC system has to keep churning to keep things cool.

 

[Lee Lansford]

I think people have had this discussion before, and it really depends on the exact style, design, construction and, most importantly, basement.

...

You missed the part in my post regarding "all other variables held constant".

 

[Ken B]

What in the heck is a yurt? Shouldn't they have some kind of pill for that?

 

[Michigander]

Different strokes for different folks.

In this part of the country, SE Michigan, the good old Brick ranch commands the greatest $ per ft of any home style. That's all there are in some of the older suburbs, as far as the eye can see.

The Split levels that you are fond of are hard to give away. We had many built in the late 60s early 70s (Brady Bunch) and now they are least desirable styles homes in the market.

As for yurts, they remind me of the "Forts" we built in the woods when I was a kid.

Not to get off topic but on House Hunters the other night, the agent was showing the typical 70's quad and made sure that she and the potential buyers were calling it "mid-century modern". Hah! They still didn't buy that one.

 

[Crissa]

Multi-level houses have the ability to use convection to cool; larger roof area means more absorption of sun in the summer and heat loss in the winter; lower slopes are easier to repair but more likely to require cleaning from trees (be it leaves or pollen feeding growth)... There's lots of reasons, yes.

But I was asking here because I saw it here, and besides, buyers out here always say it's the appraisers' fault!

-Crissa

Fun fact: Houses in California more commonly have white walls than other states. The most commonly said reason is, 'resale value'.

 

[DMZwerg]

What in the heck is a yurt? Shouldn't they have some kind of pill for that?

Yurt originally referred to the type of round tent with multiple layers of felt on the sides used by the Mongols. It was in some ways similar to the plains Indian Teepees in that it had outer walls that could be raised, inner walls that air had to travel up & over to hit the interior of the dwelling, a fire hole at the top, and could use the nature of heat rising to either heat or cool the interior depending on how the exterior walls were set.

So generally a Yurt in real estate probably refers to a round house probably in the style (or even major materials) as a traditional yurt (which is normally not a fixed structure).

Hope that helps!

 

[Tennis Menace]

I don't particularly like the appearance of the ranch but break your leg, as I have, and you will quickly see the advantage of the style!