I like the basement idea personally, however, not if it is below ground level.
If something goes wrong then rising water and pinballs don't mix!
I only say this as I have friends in the US who have basements and some of them have had flood problems,
(No they don't live in New Orleans!) Another friend has a high humidity problem in hers, has a sump pump in it
and a dehumidifier, too much dampness for me.
Better if your home is on a sloping block then it isn't like a large pool for water to collect in underneath.
