I like my basement garage for woodworking and what not. Any paint results in fumes upstairs as others have pointed out. Also, you probably won't find many basement garages that are high enough to do a lift if you ever want one of those. Mine isn't high enough or I would have at least one lift, and maybe a two post and four post.

Bill's comment on noise I think has solidified my decision to an extent. See, anything I can afford that's closer in to town would most likely be a row house/condo. I think my neighbors would hate me. Lots of choices a little further out from town. Not sure about finding something with a lot that I can afford but we'll see.

Thanks guys

My first house buying experience was similar to yours. Houses all had garages under the house. I didn't care for it much, but there was a nice flat concrete driveway for me to push my project outside to work on. I was lucky, the previous owner was a car dude. He had it all piped up for a compressor, fire extinguisher system, etc.

The deal was sealed when we went back to look one last time, and the guy next door fired up his big block Corvette. Four houses later, he and I are still great friends. I figured that a good neighbor or two was just as important.

Good luck. And as I told my son when picking a wife or a house: Choose Wisely.

Thanks, Jim!