When I lived with my Parents in Queens NY, we had a basement but trying to get anything large down could be difficult. Had to duck walking down the stairs. Back when the house was built in the 20s, the coal bin would be down there. When I moved into my current home, it has a walkout basement which makes all the difference in how easy it is to put things(pinball machines) down there. A walkout basement is the best of both worlds if you can find a house with one.