Design roof with four foot eaves, put steel roofing on mine and won't ever need again.

A friend used poured concrete concept; the basement wall and first floor all one continuous pour sort of with the windows/door frames in steel. The sill plate is not really needed and the floor/ceiling joists are steel also; fire insurance is way low, no termite worries and its quiet.

A drive through garage is convenient and a basement entrance directly from the garage. I'd prefer a detached garage with garage access via tunnel under the breezeway, I think breezeways have been under appreciated.