Among the myriad factors to consider in building or buying a new home, deciding between multi-story or one-story house plans is one of the first decisions you’ll encounter. Single-story house plans come in plenty of different architectural styles, sizes and floor plans, potentially fitting the needs of many potential homeowners.
However, one-story house plans have disadvantages to consider as well. But, how do you know if a one-story house is right for you?
One-story house plan pros
- Perfect for open floor plans: If you’re in the market for an airy, open-concept home, single-story designs provide the perfect starting point.
- Easy to clean and maintain: There are cleaning and maintenance advantages to single-story homes, such as the ability to use robotic vacuum cleaners to cover the entire square footage of the house.
- Accessibility advantages: Young children, elders and people with mobility hurdles or disabilities benefit from single-story homes because they don’t have to worry about getting up and down flights of stairs.
One-story house plan cons
- Less separation between shared and private spaces: single-story homes have every room on one level, which means bedrooms are relatively much closer to shared spaces like kitchens, living rooms and entryways.
- Often built on smaller lots: Homes built on a single-story take up more lot space, and therefore leave less room for outside living areas like backyards, porches and patios.
- Ground-level disadvantages: In some locations, having your bedroom at ground level can be extremely noisy and uncomfortable. You might not find it ideal having street and foot traffic right outside your window.
Is a single-story house plan right for you? Only you can decide, but considering these key pros and cons will help you make the most informed decision.
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
