Hello Becky,
Finding a home with at least an eight foot tall ceiling in the basement is not difficult. You simply need to limit your search to homes that were built in 1978 or later. That was the year in which the Uniform Building Code was updated. Prior to 1978 standards were very low. For example, homes built in the 50's and 60's often had virtually no insulation. They often built with cinder blocks and faced them with brick. They were supposed to fill the cinder blocks with an insulation called vermiculite. When they poured this product down the chambers of the cinder blocks it would not flow properly, because it was a very light product and would bunch up on ledges of mortar. Inspectors had no instruments to see into the walls back in those days. If the home was stick framed with 2x4's they would often put 3/4" panels of insulation boards directly over the 2x4's, then face the wall with bricks. In both of these methods of construction, the homes simply collapse during even moderate earthquakes. This is why almost all public schools built during that era have been demolished and rebuilt. Getting back to your question, I have sold Bountiful and North Salt Lake homes for 35 years. Most homes in the area were built prior to 1978, however, if you look at homes in the upper east bench or in the newer west side you will find plenty of homes to suit your needs. If you want nine or ten foot tall basement ceilings, consider buying a home built on a steeper hillside slope, such as the upper bench of the valley. Builders make tall basements in those homes, sometimes even a sub basement, to bring the home closer to street level. In this way they avoid a steep downhill driveway, and as a bonus, you get to see the entire valley views and watch romantic sunsets over the Great Salt Lake. Please feel free to call me directly with any other questions at (801) 298-1234. I also live in Bountiful and am currently the Bountiful Lions Club President. I love living in Bountiful, because the crime rate is low and it is only ten minutes to Salt Lake or to the airport
Karl-Heinz F. Koenig
Century 21 At The Rockies
Realtor since 1973

Hello Becky,
I agree with Joe, it is just going to take time researching each home by phone or in person. I guess the best thing to do is to list for a Realtor all the wants and needs that can be filtered through the MLS data, then let him/her run through all those listings by phone or in person to determine if the basements offer 9' ceilings.

9' ceilings are more common in the newer construction of the past few years, and is somewhat of a upgrade or change order in the semi-custom & custom homes.

Your budget may determine whether the Realtor finds any homes with high ceilings after addressing the other particulars of what you are looking for and looking to spend.

I guess another option is to look for a home that fits the other needs first and has an unfinished basement, then research the cost and scope of breaking out the floor in the certain parts of the basement wherever possible taking into consideration plumbing, sewer, structural, etc etc. this is something i have seen done in homes adding theaters or in very old homes adding standard basement space.

Thank you for visiting Trulia.com, I hope my response is helpful.

If i can be of any other service please call!

Good Luck! -Kris

Kristopher Furrow – Realtor® RealEstate.com Realtors® 801.916.0815
Realtor - RealEstate.com Realtors®, Utah license # 5489913-SA00
Loan Officer - Envision Lending Group, Utah license # 5489913-MLAF

Well Becky.... yes, and no.... The chances that an agent would put that in the listing info is slim to none, at least I have never seen it. Doesn't mean it never happens, but its gonna to be rare. That means that the listing agent of any property you are interested in is gonna have to know the house well enough to remember that the basement in that particular listing is extra tall and, that you, or your agent is gonna have to call around and see if anyone has something like that in their inventory. I have been in houses that were built with 9' ceilings in the basement, but that was in North Ogden/Pleasant View and it was easily a year ago. Not much help to you in the North Salt Lake area. But if they build them like that up here, there has got to be a builder or two who used a house plan with extra tall basement ceilings in Southern Davis County or Northern Salt Lake County, given how much new construction has been going on for the last 5+ years. This may take some serious hunting to find the right set up for you and may also cost a bit more. Things are a little soft in the marketplace right now and especially in newer contruction (which is probably your best bet to find what your looking for). I have to ask, have you thought about building a home?? I know alot of people turn green at the idea or are unsure how to actually get something like that started, but a good Realtor would be able to help you and home builders are going to be very hungry right about now, which means they should be bidding low and knocking each other over to get your business. Building lots are also plentiful and soft in their pricing. I own one lot and have a couple listed that I would LOVE to get rid of, again, they are in Weber County so they probably won't help you much, but you get the idea. Who knows, you might even bump into someone who has exactly what you're looking for right here on Trulia. If you have anymore questions and would like to just "pick my brain", give me a ring or send me an email directly. 801-391-9811 or jkpatton@century21.com Good luck and I hope you find what you need soon!

P.S. I have no idea what your husband must have to put up with being close to 7' tall.... I'm only 6' tall and as it is I find myself in places and situations all the time that even I'm too big for.... nothing worse than having the shower head hitting you mid chest and always having to duck to get your hair wet.... I guess getting stuff off the top shelf is a cinch though....