Key Takeaway: Single-story homes offer single-level living that’s easier to navigate, simpler to maintain, and perfectly suited for Florida’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle. After 35 years of building in Marion County, we’ve seen firsthand why buyers keep choosing single-story layouts over any other style.
We get asked all the time: “Do you build two-story homes?”
The honest answer? No. And it’s not because we can’t. It’s because we’ve spent 35 years watching families live in the homes we build, and single-story homes consistently deliver what Florida buyers actually want.
Less climbing. Easier upkeep. Better flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. The kind of layout that works whether you’re raising kids, working from home, or planning to stay put for the next 30 years.
Here’s why we’re all in on single-story homes, and why we think you’ll love living in one.
What Makes a single-story Home Different?
A single-story home puts all your living space on a single level. No stairs. No split floors. Just one continuous layout where every room connects without climbing up or down.
The style originated in the American Southwest in the 1920s, designed for wide-open land and warm climates. It spread across the country after World War II because families loved the practicality: easy access, open floor plans, and a direct connection to the yard.
In Florida, single-story homes make even more sense. Our climate rewards outdoor living. Our demographics skew toward buyers who value accessibility. And our lots tend to be generous enough to accommodate the horizontal footprint that single-story living requires.
5 Reasons single-story Homes Work Better for Florida Living
1. Single-Level Living Is Simply Easier
Everything you need is on one floor. Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, garage. You’re not hauling baskets up and down stairs or chasing toddlers near a staircase. You’re not worrying about mobility 20 years from now.
A 2024 National Association of Home Builders survey found that 64% of homebuyers prefer single-story homes when given the choice. The reason is simple: stairs add friction to daily life. Eliminate them, and everything flows better.
This matters even more if you’re planning to age in place. According to AARP, 77% of adults over 50 want to stay in their current home as long as possible. A single-story layout supports that goal without expensive retrofits later.
2. Indoor-Outdoor Living Comes Naturally
Florida living is about being outside. Morning coffee on the patio. Evening cookouts. Letting the dog in and out a dozen times a day.
Single-story homes excel at this. The horizontal layout allows for sliding glass doors, covered lanais, and direct backyard access from multiple rooms. Your great room opens to the patio. Your primary suite walks out to a private courtyard. The kitchen passes food straight to the outdoor grill.
Two-story homes push bedrooms upstairs, away from the yard. Single-story homes keep your whole life connected to the outdoors.
3. Maintenance Stays Manageable
Cleaning gutters on a single-story home? A weekend task with a standard ladder. Pressure washing the exterior? You can reach everything from ground level. Replacing a window screen? No scaffolding required.
With a single-story home, you can handle most routine maintenance yourself. That saves money year after year and keeps you in control of your home’s upkeep.
Roof inspections, painting, and repairs are also simpler and cheaper when contractors don’t need specialized equipment to reach the second floor.
4. Open Floor Plans Feel More Spacious
Without a staircase eating up 100+ square feet, single-story homes dedicate more space to actual living areas. The result is often a more open, connected layout where the kitchen, dining, and living areas flow into each other.
This matters for how you use your home daily. You can see the kids in the family room while cooking dinner. You can talk to guests at the island while they’re relaxing on the couch. The space works together instead of stacking on top of itself.
At Triple Crown Homes, our floor plans emphasize this flow. Great rooms connect to covered lanais. Kitchens open to casual dining. Primary suites sit apart from secondary bedrooms for privacy without separation by floors.
Explore our floor plans to see how we design single-story layouts.
5. Resale Appeals to a Wider Buyer Pool
Florida’s buyer demographics favor single-story homes. Retirees relocating from the Northeast. Empty nesters downsizing. Young families who want room to grow without stairs to manage.
When it’s time to sell, a well-built single-story appeals to nearly every segment of the market. You’re not limiting your buyer pool to families who specifically want a two-story layout.
According to Florida Realtors, single-story homes in Central Florida consistently sell within 5% of comparable two-story listings, with less time on market in communities where single-story homes dominate.
What We Include in Every Single-story Home
Building a quality single-story home isn’t just about putting everything on one floor. It’s about the details that make single-story living work long-term.
Here’s what comes standard with every Triple Crown home:
Concrete block construction. Florida weather demands durability. Our homes are built with concrete block walls, not wood frame, for better wind resistance and fewer pest concerns. Learn more about concrete block construction benefits.
Site work included. We don’t surprise you with hidden costs. Clearing, grading, driveway, and utility connections are part of the price, not add-ons that inflate your budget after signing.
High-efficiency HVAC. Single-story homes are easier to cool evenly than multi-level layouts. We install properly sized systems with SEER2 ratings that exceed Florida’s minimum requirements.
2-10 Home Buyer’s Warranty. Every home includes warranty coverage for your peace of mind during the first years of ownership.
See the full list of what’s included in a Triple Crown home.
How to Choose the Right Single-story Floor Plan
Not all single-story homes are created equal. The layout that works for a retired couple looks different from the layout that works for a family of five. Here’s how to find the right fit.
Count Your Must-Have Rooms
Start with the basics. How many bedrooms do you need? How many bathrooms? Do you want a dedicated home office, or can a flex room pull double duty? Write down your non-negotiables before you start browsing floor plans.
Think About Privacy Zones
Even on one floor, some layouts separate the primary suite from secondary bedrooms better than others. If you have teenagers, guests who visit often, or work-from-home needs, look for split bedroom designs that put the primary suite on the opposite side of the home.
Prioritize Your Lifestyle Spaces
Do you cook elaborate meals and need a serious kitchen? Do you entertain and want an open great room? Do you work from home and need a quiet office away from the main living area? Rank your priorities and look for plans that emphasize those spaces.
Picture Your Outdoor Living
How do you want to use your yard? A covered lanai for dining? A pool in the future? Direct access from the primary bedroom? Walk through the floor plan and imagine how you’ll move between inside and outside.
Walk the Model
Nothing replaces walking through a completed home. You’ll feel the ceiling heights, see how light moves through the space, and understand the traffic flow between rooms. At Triple Crown, we encourage every buyer to tour our model homes before making a decision.
Visit our Ocala communities to schedule a walkthrough.
Single-story Home Costs in Florida (2026)
Single-story homes in Central Florida typically cost between $150 and $200 per square foot for quality construction in 2026, depending on finishes and site conditions (Source: HomeAdvisor, Fixr.com).
Here’s what that looks like for common home sizes:
| Home Size | Estimated Cost Range (2026) |
|---|---|
| 1,400 sq ft | $210,000 – $280,000 |
| 1,800 sq ft | $270,000 – $360,000 |
| 2,200 sq ft | $330,000 – $440,000 |
| 2,600 sq ft | $390,000 – $520,000 |
Note: Ranges reflect mid-range to upper-mid finishes in Marion County. Triple Crown homes include site work in pricing. Actual costs vary by lot conditions and selections.
For a detailed look at our available homes, contact us for current pricing in your preferred community.
What 35 Years of Building Has Taught Us
We’ve been building homes in Marion County since the late 1980s. In that time, we’ve seen styles come and go. We’ve watched families move in, raise kids, and eventually sell to the next generation of buyers.
Here’s what we’ve learned about single-story homes:
They age well. Families who built with us 20 years ago are still in those homes. The single-story layout that worked when they were 40 still works now that they’re 60. No one regrets skipping the stairs.
They hold value. Well-maintained single-story homes in established neighborhoods sell quickly. Buyers recognize quality construction and appreciate the accessibility of single-story living.
They’re flexible. A bedroom becomes an office. An office becomes a nursery. A formal dining room becomes a craft space. Single-story layouts adapt to changing needs without major renovations.
We build single-story homes because they work. Not just on paper, but in real life, for real families, over real time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Single-story Homes
Why do you only build single-story homes?
After 35 years in Marion County, we’ve seen that single-story living delivers what Florida buyers want most: easy access, simple maintenance, and strong indoor-outdoor connection. We focus on single-story homes because they work better for our climate, our buyers, and our building approach.
Are single-story homes more expensive to build than two-story homes?
Construction costs depend on many factors, including lot size, finishes, and site conditions. In our experience, the value of single-level living, lower long-term maintenance costs, and broader resale appeal outweigh any differences in initial construction. Our pricing includes site work that other builders often charge extra for.
What size single-story homes do you build?
Our floor plans range from approximately 1,400 to over 2,600 square feet, with 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2 to 3 bathrooms. We offer layouts for first-time buyers, growing families, and empty nesters. See all options on our floor plans page.
Can I customize a single-story floor plan?
Yes. While we build from proven floor plans, we can discuss modifications to suit your needs. Some changes are simple, like swapping a tub for a walk-in shower. Others require more planning. Talk to our team early in the process about what’s possible.
Do single-story homes work for families with children?
Absolutely. Single-story layouts let parents see and hear children throughout the home. No one is isolated on a separate floor. Many of our floor plans include split bedroom designs that give parents privacy while keeping kids’ rooms nearby.
What’s included in your home pricing?
Every Triple Crown home includes concrete block construction, site work (clearing, grading, driveway, utilities), high-efficiency HVAC, and a 2-10 Home Buyer’s Warranty. We don’t believe in hidden costs. See the full breakdown of what’s included.
Build the Home That Fits Your Life
A single-story home isn’t just a floor plan. It’s a decision to make daily life easier, to plan for the future, and to invest in a layout that works whether you’re 35 or 75.
At Triple Crown Homes, we’ve spent 35 years perfecting single-story living in Marion County. Every home we build reflects what we’ve learned: that quality construction, thoughtful layouts, and honest pricing matter more than trends.
Ready to see for yourself? Contact us to tour our model homes and explore available homesites in our communities.
