When you have decided it’s time to buy a home, do you know straight away if you want a one-story home or a two-story home? This can be a simple enough choice, yet it could be challenging one, especially if nothing swings you one way or the other.

And it’s perfectly alright not to have a choice. It’s whatever feels right; you’ll know it is “it” once you step into that home of your dreams. One- or two-story – that doesn’t really matter.

But what if it does matter? What if you realize too late that you are better off with a two-story home because you need more privacy that is afforded by having your bedroom and the living room on two separate floors. Well, let’s take a look at what two-story homes can offer:

- The sports enthusiasts consider going up and down the stairs just one of those exercises to keep fit.

- The separation of the living and sleeping areas may be attractive to a family with older children for privacy reasons.

- To some degree, two-story homes could give you a greater feeling of being safe and “distant” from imminent danger at door, such as a burglar.

On the other hand, a one-story ranch style home may be more appealing to families with younger kids as well as to elderly family members. One-story homes provide the following benefits:

- One-story homes typically have more open floor plans, and allow more natural light and better air circulation.

- It is easier to clean a one-story home. Imagine dragging a heavy vacuum cleaner to the second floor.

- In case of fire, there is a greater chance of escape with one-story homes. Remember movie scenes about being caught in the second floor where the only escape is the window.

- To say the obvious, the convenience of not having to climb the stairs becomes an increasingly important consideration to senior family members. Also, parents with infants and young children feel better knowing their kids are not at risk of falling off the stairs.

Indeed, there are benefits in choosing a single-story home. Having said that, buying a two-story home presents compelling reasons that could dim any and all advantages of a one-story home.

Other considerations: What is the resale potential? What is the housing supply like? Are you ready to compromise?

So what’s it going to be? One-story home? Two-story home?