We purchased a home on a suburban lake a few years ago and it is a neighborhood built in the 70s so there are lots of mature trees, no two houses look alike, and the location is great. There are several split levels in our neighborhood and to be honest we didn't consider any of them, but that is because we have young children. We have a rambler with a walkout basement, so we obviously need a baby gate at the top of the stairs on the main floor and at the bottom of the stairs on the lower level. A split level would be too much for us at this point in our lives. One set of stairs is enough for us,

If you like it, and get it at a reduced price, what does it matter if it also sells at a reduced price when you are done with that phase of your life? Now, if the owners are using comps from non splits to justify a too high price for a split, then that's different. It has to make financial sense on both ends of the sale transaction.

A lot of us still like split levels. We have lived in ours for twelve years. I guess it depends on what you are looking for. We have found it to be great for kids..the staircases are short. I find them spacious and open compared to the older colonials which are much choppier. I don't know where you live, but they still sell well in the dc area. We did some renovation last year and put the kitchen in the living room which we love. Here are some photos of before and after.

http://www.houzz.com/projects/965181/meath-dr-first-floor-remodel

Nancy…I agree. Those are called split foyers around here and I don't like them.

I've never understood the case against splits, either. You have same number of steps overall. In a typical 2 story home, you would have a full set of stairs (13 or 14 steps?) between bedroom level and main level, then another full set to basement playrooms. The split level pictured probably has half a flight from bedrooms to entrance/kitchen/living, then another half to family room, then another half to basement/crawl space. Looks like fewer steps to me!

Our first house was a raised ranch - so technically a split level . But really a bungalow with a high basement. Only the entrance and garage were on the 'in between' level.

Next house was officially a 7 level split! That includes garage/basement to attic, so 5 levels for living, but 2 were just big landings, with a desk in one and a game table in the other. So really 3 main levels: main entrance and living room, kitchen+dining, then bedrooms. It was fine - especially since living room and kitchen level had one ceiling height - ie standard height in kitchen/dining and hugely high ceiling in living room. Guests commented on the number of stairs, but I would go their houses and it was at least as many steps, just not the split between living room and kitchen.

So imo, if you see value in the area and like the house itself, so will others when its time for you to sell.

We beat out 8 other bidders for a split entry (choose when you walk in) in a great Minneapolis metro suburb. If the neighborhood, amenities, and proximity is right, it shouldn't matter what style of home. We said at the outset of our first home search that we would never buy a split and here we are loving it! We expanded a non-structural wall opening the kitchen into the dining room and added a 71" island to start updating. The bathrooms will be next. Moral of the story just find something with good bones and you'll have time to update/upgrade as you see fit.

Here are some before and after pics from our kitchen.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/finished-1967-split-entry-kitchen-remodel-dsvw-vd~3472554

here is my home and garden. let see

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2SdqIen2MU&list=PL3BXdDjVvEpyrAqkbNhlpBmP5OKVpEMR4