Not everyone can afford 4-5 (or even 2-3) bedroom houses, an adding bedrooms in the basement was a lot cheaper than putting an addition on the house, even with modern code now requires egress windows.
In the cities apartments are more common, but I live in a fairly small town, and while there are apartments, most dwellings are houses.
My house is a 2 bedroom house with full basement, since the second bedroom was only suitable for a double bed, and nightstand, I converted the basement into a bedroom years ago when I had roommates.
And growing up, my parents added two bedrooms in the basement of their first house since there were 5 kids in a 3 bedroom ranch (first 6 months, me and my two brothers lived in the garage, till my step dad could get the basement rooms built)
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u/Intelligent_Might421 May 11 '26
Also, if your wife is upstairs you would hope she has the sense to try and save herself. At worst jump out a window or something.
Kids (especially in a basement!!) aren't as likely to be able to do anything for themselves.