Unless on some desert area at Australia I recall, too hot there, but they don't have moisture problem either.

The problem with basements is the cost of waterproofing them against our weather. Forget a cozy man cave, you're just gonna get a damp dungeon.

Dont build on swamp.

Build on higher ground.

Even build on swamp also no problem if build properly. You can check hotel/mall carparks etc. Manada water seeping in..

 
If you build a basement on higher ground then it's not quite a basement anymore, right? And besides, I didn't say impossible, just too costly to be worth the trouble. Cheaper and easier to build upwards.

basementDictionary result for basement
/ˈbeɪsm(ə)nt/Submit
noun
the floor of a building which is partly or entirely below ground level.
"they went down the stairs into the basement"
synonyms: cellar, vault, crypt, undercroft, underground room, catacomb; More
GEOLOGY
the oldest formation of rocks underlying a particular area.
"basement rocks"

in the end what ur relative do in basement?

In reality basement is overrated even the foreigners who owns it said, just used for storing rubbish, very poor ventilation and damp with pests around.
Childrens also afraid that there are monsters lurking.

My basement looks like this though:

I'm just curious anybody living in landed property with basement?  I see some houses add extra storey but do u know if anybody excavated a basement?