Originally Posted by julia58
I grew up in Indiana, and I don't know of a house there that doesn't have a basement. I'm sure there are some that don't, especially the new homes that are built. I have never lived in a house that didn't have a basement.
This was my experience in Indiana exactly, and now in Maryland I find most sfhomes do NOT have basements - possibly because they just don't get that kind of severe weather here so it isn't a big concern. The exception would be townhomes, where basements are commonly built to increase house space vertically when there isn't room to do so horizontally.
However, my husband and I DO have a basement in our single family home - it's over 150 years old and not close to comfy but we wouldn't be without it. We've had a few good storms over the years and our neighbors can access our basement even if we aren't home.