Regardless of terms, it appears you essentially want a two level house above grade so start with a two level framed house on a slab with a perimeter foundation to the depth required by code. The issue is whether the entry stair is to the upper level outside or half out and half in or fully inside.

It is possible to lower the first level into the ground a half flight or less and continue the masonry foundation to the first floor (difficult to change wall systems between floors) but it results in a sunken house look that is not relieved by the realtor's nickname "raised ranch" because it's obviously a sunken 2 story house. Figure out what you want and skip the names.

You want your entry and main level to be on the second floor? Not hard to do, a lot of "coastal" plans could work. My brothers home is based on a coastal plan with the area intended for storage and parking configured as a " walkout basement". It is not a basement and looked pretty odd until his foundation plantings matured. Actually it still looks odd but it's what the wife wanted. Do you have a photo of your site?

dont throw good money into something 'cheap to build' if that will mean 'looks sort of bad' and be 'hard to sell for what i put into it'.

Another name for Raised Ranch is Bi-level (like the picture shown above). They are usually built on a concrete slab foundation. I don't know that builders make those anymore (our bi-level was built in 1964). You enter in the middle of the house, and then have to go either half a flight up or down. Upstairs usually has a living, dining, kitchen and three bedrooms. Downstairs has the garage, family room/den and usually a fourth bedroom. There is no "basement" as such. They also tend to be pretty small by modern standards. They were a very popular option from the 60s through the 80s, because they are an efficient use of space in a small floor plan.

An "above ground basement " is simply a WALK OUT basement using a hill for a site in most cases, . Yes most of it IS under house and ground , but an exterior wall is on plane with the low / flat of the hill :) often to a patio under a deck above.

Call it at ground.......but it's a walk out!

I guess my question would be, what are you actually trying to achieve in terms of function with the above ground "basement" - why not build either a single story house on a slab, or a proper two story house.

"...aboveground basement & a raised ranch???..."

There is no such thing as an above ground basement. Really! Basements are below ground. Google "basement".

And...there's no such thing as a "raised ranch". Really! Google ranch house.

These are terms made up by over-zealous realtors and others who know nothing about architecture and construction.

If you are going to invest in and have a modular home delivered to your site, all you need is a prepared foundation, consistent with the shape and dimensions of your modular units.

Forget all the nonsensical terms from realtors.

I really read through the original post, again. Must have missed the words "bedrock" or "manufactured home on top" when I read originally.

Enjoy your home site Fred.

A mobile home on a hunk of rock ain’t any of that.

JDS had it right several hours ago.

One change to consider, add more of a porch and consider having your steps start down toward the road but then curve toward your driveway.

Get an architect to design a house for the site, then you can call it whatever you want.

Tara. Graceland. Hermitage. Falling Water.

Too bad those are taken.

Hunkarok might not be though.

Our walkout raised ranch has 3 basement walls under ground. Its a slightly hilled lot on water front south florida. Raised step up foundation. It steps up into the home with 5 stair steps. Looking from the street no one knows we have a walkout basement.

In the past 7 years I imagine the OP figured things out.