Ideally means not the only option. I do think that 10 feet is really the ideal change but everyone has different standards.

First - it matters what your ceiling height is. We had 10 feet and then 18 inches between floors so 11.5 feet. If you have 8 foot ceilings - well then 9.5 feet.

Second - how tall do you expect the front of your house to be? This is a regional issue and neighborhood issue. In my area, we typically expect 4-6 steps above grade to a front porch. So that is 3-4 feet. If you raise that to 6 feet - well there is another 2 feet. Does that cost money? Heck yeah. But it depends on your foundation type and if it wraps around. Brick costs serious money. Not to mention the steps on your porch.

Third/last - you can always move dirt around. Mostly it gets expensive when you take it off site. With 1/2 acre/ you can often use it to flatten out a sloped back yard.

So ideal is somewhere between 6 and 10 feet in slope. Each foot away from that could be $10k more or $20k more (or probably more) and it depends on a lot of factors. So it depends on your budget of course. So define ceiling height of basement, foundation type - brick/stone (4 sides?) and porch height.

When you raise the house and the porch, you also increase the steps from garage to house. Which costs money and reduces effective garage size.

A thought is a partial walkout - our neighbor had this. Maybe 1/3 of the house could "walk out" - on the low side. Is that then 6 feet from the highest corner? In this setting, there was a retaining wall and the walkout patio has stairs to the rest of the yard. Also, moving dirt is not that expensive but taking it away gets pricey. You can level the back yard and dig out a portion of it and place a retaining wall.

I suppose my goal/advice is to not focus on some magical 6 foot number and get some local expert advice.

Where are you building? Basements must not be common where you are.

I'd want a builder experienced in basement construction, or at least a foundation sub with experience.

And why a basement?

Engage a local architect to help work out how it can be done and the ramifications of doing it. Walkout basements are different on every site and the information provided does not insure an reliable response here.

You can do a "walk up" basement (a door up to grade) anywhere where the basement is below grade. It is a matter of how much excavation beyond the door that you prefer (or can afford). A "walk out" basement insinuates that the grade continues beyond at or below the basement level and more of the foundation wall is exposed. But I agree if no one does basements in your area, why is that - usually that means you have a very shallow, if any, frost depth, or soil conditions (e.g. rock or sand) that would preclude having basements.

Thank you all for taking the time to respond here. I appreciate the insight.

A partial walkout might be a good idea and more financially feasible.

The basement will only have an 8' ceiling.

Before I moved here, I always had a basement for my kids. And I grew up with one too. It is a great place for my kids to have their own space and to be as rowdy as they want. My son plays high school sports and has friends over all the time. Would love to give him room to do that.

There are a lot of basements here in town, mostly older homes though. A lot of the new builds are either smaller, inexpensive homes or homes for retired couples. And of course homes built up instead of down.

I will keep trying to find someone remotely local who can help in person. Thank you all again.