Couple has young kids won't be interested in a house which the master bedroom is on the first floor?

Question

We saw a single family house yesterday, it's bank owned now. We like it very much but have two major concerns, one is that the living room and dinning room have very high ceiling, the circulation of air won't be that good, so it might cost high bills of utility. The other concern is that the master bedroom and a very small bedroom are one the first floor; there are another two bedrooms on the second floor. Our friends told us that this kind of design doesn't sound good for the couples with young kids when we try to sale it later. Should we still go for this house?

Answer 1

It sounds like a traditional "cape" style layout.  As with any style of home you are going to get people who like that set up and people who don't...

As a mom of two little ones under 5, i wouldn't buy a home with that set up...  but i would consider it if they were older - it's nice for parental privacy.  However, i might use the small room on the first floor for a while untill the were old enough to move upstairs.

Remember that when you go to sell "parents with young kids" are only a small percentage of your market.  

As far as the high ceilings, there are ways around that efficiency problem - the first being to make sure you install some ceiling fans, the second is to make sure you have good window and door insulation.  That helps a lot with heating and cooling and circulation.  My first house had a loft so part of the living room was essentially two stories high.  I pay more for heating and cooling in my second house because we need new windows.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I have been in homes with these kinds of ceilings and circulation seems fine.  You may invest in a ceiling fan, but I wouldn't worry.  The bedrooms being upstairs is not necessarily a problem either because a couple with a baby will most likely use the smaller room for the child until they are much older and having kids removed form the master bedroom does have some advantages.  If you like the house and the price is right go for it

Answer 3

Don't let that prevent you from buying a house that you really want.  As a married father of one, I can tell you that we have passed over two or three houses that had 2 vs 3 bedrooms on the 1st floor but that should be the least of your worries unless that floorplan is very uncommon in your area and most buyers are families.  I would rather have two large bedrooms on one floor than 3 small ones.