When you\u2019re checking out homes to buy in your area, there\u2019s one architectural style you might skip over. With their staggered levels and retro curb appeal, split-level homes are seen by some homebuyers as outdated, inconvenient, and a little awkward. But these houses also come with plenty of perks, like a lower price tag, less competition, and lots of space and privacy.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what you need to know about split-level homes:<\/b><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n A split-level home contains at least three levels of living space separated by short flights of stairs. From the main floor, one set of stairs goes up to the bedroom area and another goes down to a basement level.<\/p>\n There\u2019s plenty of storage space, too, as split-level homes tend to come with finished basements, multiple attics, and integrated garages.<\/p>\n These homes share many of the same features, such as:<\/p>\n In recent decades, however, this style has fallen out of favor. Only 2% of homeowners said they prefer the split-style floor plan in a recent construction and remodeling trends report conducted by home remodeling website Fixr<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n <\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s a good idea to explore all your options if you\u2019re buying a home<\/a> in an area with multiple split-level houses. While most will follow a basic split-level house plan and come with similar features, there are several architectural styles to choose from:<\/p>\n A back-split home is divided into multiple levels, but you can only see one story when standing outside on the curb. The split levels can only be seen when you walk to the side of the house, while two stories are visible from the back.<\/p>\n When shopping around for your next home \u2014 whether it\u2019s a split-level home or not \u2014 be sure to shop around and compare mortgage rates. Doing so can potentially save you thousands of dollars in interest over the life of the loan. Credible lets you easily compare our partner lenders. Find My Rate<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n A side-split house, where you can see all levels from the curb, is the most common type of split-level home.<\/p>\n Side-split homes are typically divided into two distinct sides: On one side, the garage is built on the bottom floor with the bedrooms stacked on top to create the middle floor. The kitchen and main living spaces are on the other side of the house, connected by a half-flight of stairs to form the upper floor.<\/p>\n Stacked split homes have multiple floors (typically four or more) with the same number of half-staircases. These are often structured with a basement or informal living area at the bottom level with a kitchen and dining room above, then bedrooms stacked on top. The home entrance is at ground level between the bottom- and middle-level floors.<\/p>\n In a standard-split home, the entrance is at the ground level and a short set of stairs leads to the other levels. The bottom level typically includes a garage, while the middle level has the main living-area rooms such as the kitchen, dining room, and living room. The bedrooms and bathrooms are all located at the top level.<\/p>\n\n
What is a split-level house?<\/h2>\n
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Types of split-level houses<\/h2>\n
Back split<\/h3>\n
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\n<\/p>\nSide split<\/h3>\n
Stacked split<\/h3>\n
Standard split<\/h3>\n