Why Some 1990s Homes in Winston-Salem Have a Smaller Buyer Pool

When shopping for a home in Winston-Salem, you’re likely to spot a particular type of property throughout the Piedmont Triad: a two-story home with the garage tucked underneath the main living area.

These homes are especially common in neighborhoods that were developed in the 1990s. That’s when builders made the most of the area’s rolling terrain and elevation changes to design homes that fit naturally into the landscape. Many of these homes are attractive, well-built properties in established neighborhoods with mature trees and desirable locations.

However, there’s one feature you shouldn’t overlook: where the garage is located.

Basement-level or lower-level garages aren’t necessarily a problem. For some homeowners, they offer additional storage, a practical way to work with a sloped lot, or even a convenient place for hobbies and recreation. For others, parking below the living level and then walking up a full flight of stairs to reach the main entrance can be a real turn-off.

That difference in preference can affect who may be interested in buying the home down the road. A basement-level garage is just one of the less-obvious issues that can affect a home purchase. For a broader look at what Winston-Salem buyers should investigate before making an offer, see our guide to Hidden Risks of Buying a Home in Winston-Salem.

Why Are Basement Garages So Common in 1990s Winston-Salem Homes?

Winston-Salem’s geography is a big reason you’ll see this type of home throughout the area.

The Piedmont Triad isn’t a flat plain. Many neighborhoods have rolling terrain, elevation changes, and lots that naturally slope away from the street. Rather than building on a flat foundation, builders could use that natural slope to create a lower-level garage while placing the main living spaces above it.

The result was often a two-story home that looked fairly traditional from the front, but had the garage tucked underneath. It was an efficient way to work with a sloped lot while still giving buyers the features they wanted in a home during the 1990s.

Many of these homes remain great options today. The question isn’t whether they’re good homes.

The question is whether the garage configuration works for today’s buyer, and for the buyer who might purchase the home from you someday.

What Is a Basement-Level Garage?

A basement-level garage is one where the garage is located below the home’s main living area, with the driveway following the slope of the property down to the garage.

Depending on the property, the main entrance might be:

• • • At the garage level
    • Up a flight of stairs
    • Around the side of the home
    • At a higher elevation closer to the main living level

Some homes may also have additional living or storage space between the garage and the main floor. Every property is different, so buyers need to look carefully at how the individual home is laid out.

One common characteristic, however, is that getting from the garage to the main living area requires stairs. That may not seem like a big deal during a 30-minute showing. It can feel very different when you’re carrying groceries, coming home with young children, moving furniture, or simply doing the same trip several times a day.

Why Can a Basement Garage Affect the Buyer Pool?

When you’re buying a home, it’s easy to think primarily about whether the property works for you right now, but you should also think about resale. Every home has features that appeal strongly to some buyers and less to others. A basement-level garage can be one of those features.

For example, some buyers may prioritize:

• • • Easy access from the garage to the kitchen
    • Minimal stairs
    • Convenient unloading
    • Single-level living
    • Aging in place
    • Accessibility
    • Direct access to the main living area

For those buyers, a lower-level garage may be less appealing. That doesn’t mean the home is undesirable. It simply means it may appeal to a more specific segment of the market. If a home appeals to a narrower group of buyers, that can become important when you eventually sell.

Why Does the Buyer Pool Matter When You Sell?

Real estate values aren’t determined simply by how much you like a house. They’re influenced by what other buyers are willing to pay for it.

If a particular feature limits the number of buyers interested in a property, it can make the home more challenging to sell. Depending on the market and the property, that could mean:

• • • Fewer showings
    • Longer time on the market
    • More price sensitivity
    • Fewer competing offers
    • A narrower pool of potential buyers

This doesn’t mean a home with a basement garage will automatically sell for less or take longer to sell. Location, condition, price, lot, updates, neighborhood, and overall market demand are still major factors. The more specific a home’s configuration is, the more important it can be to price and market the property appropriately.

What Should Buyers Consider Before Purchasing One?

If you’re considering a Winston-Salem home with a basement-level garage, don’t write it off just yet. Instead, take some time to think about how the property will work for you.

1. How Many Stairs Do You Have to Climb?

• • Walk from the garage to the main living area as you would on a normal day.
  • Imagine carrying groceries.
  • Imagine coming home with kids.
  • Imagine bringing furniture into the house.
  • Does the layout still feel convenient?
  • A layout that seems perfectly manageable during a showing can feel very different when you’re using it every day.

2. Where Is the Kitchen?

If the garage is significantly below the kitchen, think about how you’ll unload groceries and other purchases. The difference may be small, or it could be something you notice every day.

3. Is There Another Convenient Entrance?

Some homes have a side entrance or driveway layout that makes it easier to reach the main living areas. Don’t evaluate the garage on its own. Think about how the entire house connects to the property.

4. How Does the Driveway Work?

A steep driveway might be fine for one family but frustrating for another. Drive up and down it yourself and think about what that experience would be like every day.

Consider:

• • • Slope
    • Drainage
    • Winter conditions
    • Turning radius
    • Parking
    • Guest access

The question isn’t simply whether you can drive up the driveway. It’s whether the overall approach to the home feels convenient for your lifestyle.

5. Would the Layout Work for You Years From Now?

Even if stairs aren’t an issue today, think about whether the setup will still be a good fit several years from now. That’s especially important if you’re buying a home you expect to keep for a long time. A home that works perfectly today may not necessarily be the best long-term fit if your needs change.

Can a Circular Driveway Make a Basement-Garage Home More Appealing?

In some cases, the property’s lot and existing layout may make a circular or turnaround driveway possible.

A redesigned driveway can sometimes allow vehicles to approach a higher portion of the property, providing easier access to the main level rather than requiring everyone to enter through the basement garage. That can change how the home functions and potentially make it more appealing to a broader group of buyers. However, this is highly property-specific.

Before assuming that a driveway redesign is possible, buyers should investigate:

• • The property’s dimensions and shape
  • The slope and layout of the land
  • Drainage and water flow
  • Easements or other restrictions
  • Local setback and zoning requirements
  • HOA restrictions
  • Existing landscaping
  • Construction costs

A circular driveway might be a practical solution for one property and completely impractical for another. The important thing is to consider the possibilities before deciding that the garage configuration is, or isn’t, a deal-breaker.

Should You Avoid a Winston-Salem Home With a Basement Garage?

Not necessarily. In fact, a basement-level garage might be a perfectly reasonable trade-off if the home has other features you really value.

You might be getting:

• • A great location
  • A larger lot
  • Mature trees
  • A well-maintained home
  • Additional living or storage space
  • A price that reflects the home’s configuration
  • A neighborhood where similar properties are difficult to find

The key is understanding what you’re getting, and what you might be giving up. If you love everything else about the house, don’t automatically dismiss it because of the garage. Instead, ask yourself whether the layout works for you, your budget, and your long-term plans.

If you eventually sell the property, remember that some buyers may value the garage configuration differently than you do.

Bottom Line for Winston-Salem Home Buyers

Many homes in Winston-Salem built during the 1990s are great places to live, but some were designed around the area’s rolling Piedmont terrain, which means the garage may sit below the main living level. That isn’t automatically a problem, and it certainly isn’t a reason to avoid an otherwise great home, but it is a feature worth understanding.

The same terrain that made these homes possible can also create a garage-to-living-area layout that isn’t ideal for every buyer.

Before you make an offer, don’t just ask whether you love the house. Think about what you’re getting into and whether a future buyer might see the garage as a benefit or a drawback.

That’s one of the most important things to keep in mind when buying a house: look beyond the things that catch your eye during the showing and think about the details that could affect how the home works day to day—and how it might sell tomorrow.

If you’re comparing homes in Winston-Salem and trying to understand which compromises are worth making, working with a Winston-Salem buyer’s agent can help you evaluate the property beyond what you see during a showing.

Are You Buying a Home in Winston-Salem?

The right house isn’t necessarily the one without any compromises. It’s the one where you understand the trade-offs before you buy.

If you’re house hunting in Winston-Salem or anywhere in the Piedmont Triad, The Ginther Group can help you evaluate the property, the neighborhood, and the details that may matter during your purchase and down the road.