. We want to build in some resale value and think that our favorite split-level designs might be out of vogue. Do you have any information that would help us? Answer: According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, traditional split-level houses are out of style. In 2005, fewer than 1 percent of the more than 2 million houses constructed in the United States were split-levels, according to new housing data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

But don’t expect them to disappear anytime soon. They were built by the thousands between 1955 and 1975. The split-level's relatively efficient floor plan developed as `50s American families, who were filling little ranches with babies as fast as they could, started to feel crowded. "The secret of it was, i

Question: I want to buy a vacation-home and had been looking at properties along the coast. The hurricane situation there makes me very nervous. Do I have a good option in the mountains- specifically Colorado? Answer: As hurricane insurance makes coastal living more costly and as wealthy buyers look to resort communities for vacation-home purchases, pricey mountaintop developments are gaining popularity.

Ridge-top homes in the western North Carolina mountains are going for $225,000 to $1.5 million. There are dozens of such developments along the mountains of North Carolina. Among the largest is Wolf Laurel near Mars Hill, with over 600 of 1,000 planned homes completed so far.

The resort communities in Summit County, Vail and Aspen are very strong markets now. While communities in Phoenix, San Diego, Florida, Washington DC and Las Vegas are struggling following double digit inflation in the past decade, our mountain market remains extremely strong.

First-Time Buyers Are Picky, Picky, Picky

Question: I might just be picky, but I have delayed buying my first home because there are certain things that I want in a home that I just can’t afford right now. Do you have any comments? Question: High expectations might be playing a role in the slowing U.S. real estate market.

A national survey by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage shows many first-time home buyers are unwilling to compromise on certain key elements in the homes they buy and that could prolong the time they spend renting.

Among the renters surveyed who say they want to buy a home, four of every 10 are unwilling to buy a home that is smaller than they'd like or one needing significant improvements. Forty-six percent are unwilling to buy at a distance farther from work than they would like; and 70 percent are unwilling to move to a less-desirable neighborhood than they would ideally like.

Other key findings from the survey include:
• 97 percent of first-time home buyers would never go back to renting.
• 77 percent of first-time buyers believe buying their home is the best investment they ever made.
• Nearly 75 percent of first-time buyers believe that the value of their home will go up in 2006.
• 78 percent of renters believe that it is generally true that people cannot obtain mortgages without perfect credit, and 52 percent of renters believe that they personally can't get a mortgage because of credit issues. But 46 percent of the first-time buyers surveyed didn't believe their credit was "excellent" or even "very good."
• 56 percent of renters believe that a downpayment of 15 percent or more is required when buying a home, and 55 percent believe that size of a downpayment is a personal barrier for them. But 74 percent of first-time buyers reported they put less than 15 percent down.

Split-Levels Are Here, There, and Everywhere

Question: Allison, I want to build a retirement home and my wife and I just can’t decide on a basic floor plan. We want to build in some resale value and think that our favorite split-level designs might be out of vogue. Do you have any information that would help us? Answer: According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, traditional split-level houses are out of style. In 2005, fewer than 1 percent of the more than 2 million houses constructed in the United States were split-levels, according to new housing data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

But don’t expect them to disappear anytime soon. They were built by the thousands between 1955 and 1975. The split-level's relatively efficient floor plan developed as `50s American families, who were filling little ranches with babies as fast as they could, started to feel crowded. "The secret of it was, it

re very strong markets now. While communities in Phoenix, San Diego, Florida, Washington DC and Las Vegas are struggling following double digit inflation in the past decade, our mountain market remains extremely strong.

First-Time Buyers Are Picky, Picky, Picky

Question: I might just be picky, but I have delayed buying my first home because there are certain things that I want in a home that I just can’t afford right now. Do you have any comments? Question: High expectations might be playing a role in the slowing U.S. real estate market.

A national survey by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage shows many first-time home buyers are unwilling to compromise on certain key elements in the homes they buy and that could prolong the time they spend renting.

Among the renters surveyed who say they want to buy a home, four of every 10 are unwilling to buy a home that is smaller than they'd like or one needing significant improvements. Forty-six percent are unwilling to buy at a distance farther from work than they would like; and 70 percent are unwilling to move to a less-desirable neighborhood than they would ideally like.

Other key findings from the survey include:
• 97 percent of first-time home buyers would never go back to renting.
• 77 percent of first-time buyers believe buying their home is the best investment they ever made.
• Nearly 75 percent of first-time buyers believe that the value of their home will go up in 2006.
• 78 percent of renters believe that it is generally true that people cannot obtain mortgages without perfect credit, and 52 percent of renters believe that they personally can't get a mortgage because of credit issues. But 46 percent of the first-time buyers surveyed didn't believe their credit was "excellent" or even "very good."
• 56 percent of renters believe that a downpayment of 15 percent or more is required when buying a home, and 55 percent believe that size of a downpayment is a personal barrier for them. But 74 percent of first-time buyers reported they put less than 15 percent down.

Split-Levels Are Here, There, and Everywhere

Question: Allison, I want to build a retirement home and my wife and I just can’t decide on a basic floor plan. We want to build in some resale value and think that our favorite split-level designs might be out of vogue. Do you have any information that would help us? Answer: According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, traditional split-level houses are out of style. In 2005, fewer than 1 percent of the more than 2 million houses constructed in the United States were split-levels, according to new housing data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

But don’t expect them to disappear anytime soon. They were built by the thousands between 1955 and 1975. The split-level's relatively efficient floor plan developed as `50s American families, who were filling little ranches with babies as fast as they could, started to feel crowded. "The secret of it was, i

pend renting.

Among the renters surveyed who say they want to buy a home, four of every 10 are unwilling to buy a home that is smaller than they'd like or one needing significant improvements. Forty-six percent are unwilling to buy at a distance farther from work than they would like; and 70 percent are unwilling to move to a less-desirable neighborhood than they would ideally like.

Other key findings from the survey include:
• 97 percent of first-time home buyers would never go back to renting.
• 77 percent of first-time buyers believe buying their home is the best investment they ever made.
• Nearly 75 percent of first-time buyers believe that the value of their home will go up in 2006.
• 78 percent of renters believe that it is generally true that people cannot obtain mortgages without perfect credit, and 52 percent of renters believe that they personally can't get a mortgage because of credit issues. But 46 percent of the first-time buyers surveyed didn't believe their credit was "excellent" or even "very good."
• 56 percent of renters believe that a downpayment of 15 percent or more is required when buying a home, and 55 percent believe that size of a downpayment is a personal barrier for them. But 74 percent of first-time buyers reported they put less than 15 percent down.

Split-Levels Are Here, There, and Everywhere

Question: Allison, I want to build a retirement home and my wife and I just can’t decide on a basic floor plan. We want to build in some resale value and think that our favorite split-level designs might be out of vogue. Do you have any information that would help us? Answer: According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, traditional split-level houses are out of style. In 2005, fewer than 1 percent of the more than 2 million houses constructed in the United States were split-levels, according to new housing data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

But don’t expect them to disappear anytime soon. They were built by the thousands between 1955 and 1975. The split-level's relatively efficient floor plan developed as `50s American families, who were filling little ranches with babies as fast as they could, started to feel crowded. "The secret of it was, i

s believe that it is generally true that people cannot obtain mortgages without perfect credit, and 52 percent of renters believe that they personally can't get a mortgage because of credit issues. But 46 percent of the first-time buyers surveyed didn't believe their credit was "excellent" or even "very good."
• 56 percent of renters believe that a downpayment of 15 percent or more is required when buying a home, and 55 percent believe that size of a downpayment is a personal barrier for them. But 74 percent of first-time buyers reported they put less than 15 percent down.

Split-Levels Are Here, There, and Everywhere

Question: Allison, I want to build a retirement home and my wife and I just can’t decide on a basic floor plan. We want to build in some resale value and think that our favorite split-level designs might be out of vogue. Do you have any information that would help us? Answer: According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, traditional split-level houses are out of style. In 2005, fewer than 1 percent of the more than 2 million houses constructed in the United States were split-levels, according to new housing data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

But don’t expect them to disappear anytime soon. They were built by the thousands between 1955 and 1975. The split-level's relatively efficient floor plan developed as `50s American families, who were filling little ranches with babies as fast as they could, started to feel crowded. "The secret of it was, i

. We want to build in some resale value and think that our favorite split-level designs might be out of vogue. Do you have any information that would help us? Answer: According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, traditional split-level houses are out of style. In 2005, fewer than 1 percent of the more than 2 million houses constructed in the United States were split-levels, according to new housing data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

But don’t expect them to disappear anytime soon. They were built by the thousands between 1955 and 1975. The split-level's relatively efficient floor plan developed as `50s American families, who were filling little ranches with babies as fast as they could, started to feel crowded. "The secret of it was, it gave them a family room in a minimum amount of footage," says housing-industry consultant Tracy Cross.

The design hasn’t disappeared altogether. The latest incarnation is a duplex split-level and they are not for the weak of limb.

"You have a garage and a family room at grade, and a main level on the second floor, so you walk up seven risers to get in, then you enter the foyer and walk up another seven risers to your two bedrooms, or sometimes three," Cross says of the typical floor plan.

"Then you walk down to the foyer again and then another seven risers down from there to grade level, which is your family room."

Makes a Baby Boomer’s knees hurt just thinking about it.

Calculators Measure Cost of Moving

Question: We’re going to be making a move for retirement and are looking for sources to determine the cost of living in different communities. Do you have any online resources? Answer: Moving to a city can be baffling. A cost-of-living calculator can take some of the mystery out of relocating.

Here are just a few: Bankrate.com’s Cost of Living Comparison Calculator. Select your current city, the city to which you’re moving, and current income. The calculator displays a range of relocation factors, including home prices. Homestore.com’s Salary Calculator. Calculates cost of living for hundreds of U.S. cities and the salary you’ll need to match your current situation. CityRating.com’s Cost of Living Comparison Calculator. Determines the cost of living in two different states based on your current income.