Interesting TG. I would have never though the water table being so close to the surface in a arid area of the country.
thedigininja, not all houses in the States has a basement and or attic. Both are nice features though. Our house in Rhode Island has neither. Our cabin Pennsylvania has a basement but no attic.
Basement = More space in the house for expansion ala, pool room, more bedrooms, storage, workshop, root cellar, etc
Attic = Storage, keeps the house warm in the winter and cool in the summer, etc. My grandparents had a fan that sucked air up into the attic from the main part of the house. During the day they would open the windows on the north and east side of the house and keep the windows lowered on the south and west sides of the house. There house was always cool with no use a air conditioner.