Two things occurred to me - if you're seniors (or going to be soon), are you really concerned about resale value to that extent? Do you foresee another house down the road? The other thing though that would bother me is having your bedroom in back 'right next to the... deck" - is that a sliding door, or ??

We still have 5 or 6 years before we retire,and will probably move somewhere warm. We have to move now for a job transfer and don't want another two-story.

The door to the deck is not a slider. One wall of the bedroom has a window where the deck is. There are also two other windows in the master. Are you thinking noise would be a problem with the deck? My husband and I would be the only ones using it.

I actually looked at a similar floorplan with my son when he was looking to buy a year ago. I didn't care for the master right off the kitchen just because I prefer the master to be a master retreat, totally separate from living areas. The model we looked at with my son was a very popular model, if the home suits your lifestyle and you don't mind having the master so close to the kitchen area then go for it. For resale I think there are lots of people looking for main floor master as the population ages and you will find some that won't mind if that master bedroom is off the kitchen, and some that will mind it.

Cordovamom, do you mind telling me what state your son was looking for homes in? I am in South Dakota.

My first condo had a similar layout. I was single when I bought it, then lived there for 4 years after we were married. I liked the layout because there was no space wasted on hallways. Also as a single person, and then a newlywed, I never felt a need to "retreat" from anyone.

My place also had a deck that spanned both the kitchen and master with doors from each. I never saw that as a problem. Are you worried about noise? Or security?

I'd buy that layout again in a heartbeat.

I had a home with the master off the kitcen and it was wonderful. I really miss that aspect of the home more than anything else.

If I could change one thing about my current home...it would be to put the master very close to the kitchen.

When it comes down to resale, that should not negatively affect the home. The real issue for resale is square footage, condition and location and major amenities of the home. Floorplan is usually a matter of individual preference and unless the floorplan is totally different compared to any other home in that area, it won't be a big deal.

Frank -- my son was looking in Tennessee....as a side note, I love my main floor master and wouldn't ever go back to a second floor master. With my mobility challenged more as I age, it's so nice to have a main level master.

My concern with one off the kitchen is one of privacy and noise. When my boys come home to visit, they quite often have their boyhood friends over and sometimes congregate in the kitchen til all hours of the night. With my master in a separate wing -- I don't even hear them. Do whatever works for your lifestyle, as you can tell from above you will have some that love the floorplan and others that don't, but shouldn't have a problem at resale.

I owned a house like that (sort of a mother-in-law plan) where the master had a door from the kitche. It had a sitting room right in front of the door so you didn't look directly into the bedroom. We had no problem with resale--it was only on the market for a week.

I am surprised to see all the people who like having a master bedroom off the kitchen. I thought it would be a universal turn-off, and would be very bad for resale.

Personally, I would never buy a house with the master off the kitchen, mostly for noise, but also for privacy. Some of my family are night owls, and some are morning people. We lived in a house where the master was near the kitchen, and it would wake me up if someone was trying to do dishes while I was sleeping.

And Lucy, nowadays, empty nesters can still be very young, and have decades ahead of them. I don't think it's a bad idea for empty-nesters to be at least somewhat concerned with resale - for their heirs, if they move into a nursing home, if they retire and move, etc.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I'm really not worried about noise or privacy. The house does have a lower level family room with a patio and a wet bar, and if our kids were home they would probably be down there. Most people I know who are almost empty nesters still live in two-story homes and I just didn't know if it would seem strange to people. There are alot of ranches being built here with main floor masters. I'm not sure how nmany of them have it right off the kitchen.

Happy Camper-I like that sitting room idea, was that walled off or just part of the bedroom?

I had a friend whose master bedroom was right off the dining room. I thought it was a little weird because you could be sitting at the table and see her bed. Personally, I wouldn't like that setup. Our master is down the hall from the kitchen so it's private and quiet. We have a sliding door in our master that leads to our wrap-around deck and wooded backyard. I love it!

We have a contract on a home and the master bdrm is right off the kitchen- just a door between the two. The only way out to the back patio is a door in the master bdrm unless you go out the front door and walk around.
I don't think it is damaging to resell- this house was only on the market for a week before we put an offer on it.

The sitting room was sectioned off with a couple of those half walls on each side. We were so poor when we lived there that we didn't have any furniture for a sitting room but it was still nice to have because you weren't looking directly at the bed/private space when we left the bedroom door open.

I wouldn't like it because of cooking odors.

It wouldn't be my ideal set-up, but it also would not be a show-stopper. Having the other bedrooms on the other side of the house is something I would like because it gives guests their privacy. But a family with young children might prefer to have their bedrooms closer.

My home has the master directly off the kitchen and I very much dislike it because of cooking odors. Living alone the noise isn’t much of a factor but my room smelling like stale food is the most bothersome.

This thread is 12 yrs old, just sayin :)

Thanks for the conversation. I had this same question because our house is this way. It seems weird to me, but it is good to see that many people see positives to it just as much as people see it as a bit odd.

I jusr want to know why the comment abovs said they wouldnt want to smell stale food… why wojld you be smelling stale food ? lol