Key here to putting in basement is having sump pumps and drain tile, period regardless of high water table or not, put 4 in if you have too...it isn't rocket science. Seen alot of basements that got flooded that didn't have them back in '10'11'12 I think, my brother is handy man, he got so many calls to put them in..it was unreal.
Yeah it is but back in the 70's when the houses were built - not so much of a thought then.