That's your front entry? How do you (or visitors) get to the steps? Are there more steps from the drive we don't see or do you just have to climb up the bank? Truthfully, I'm not sure why I am even asking the questions - regardless of the answers, the situation seriously requires some help and I doubt this is safely in the realm of a DYI project. Looks like some safety and liability issues may be present as well that should be addressed. I'd look into some design/build firms in your area and get some bids on leveling and retaining the slope and creating a more gracious, welcoming and clearly defined entry way. And some plantings to soften the edges and provide color and interest. Prepare to pay for this service - grading, retaining and hardscaping are not inexpensive landscaping activities. Your entry is the first thing visitors (and you) see of your home and first impressions carry a lot of weight. Devoting some effort and dollars to improving this impression will make a big difference in your home's appearance and could add substantially to its value. And it will make you feel good about coming home everyday :-))

Maybe I am wrong but when you say porch that includes a roof and can be a part of the home. A deck or patio is with out a roof system unless you build roof structure of sorts but it is till opened air?? So everyone stating about weather and leaves snow its a porch with a roof unless it has no knee walls a snow drift or wind blown leaves will gather at the door.???? I am having the same issue when addressing my 70ft deck that has a metal roof and I divided it with walls...So its a PORCH till I enclose each room into a sun room still a porch. A family room on the porch till It is structured as one etc...

Yes...and no. Building a residence with a basement or a crawl space was a common building technique in much of North America for a very long time. Many of the wonderful houses posted in RES's thread are built this way. And, of course, in many cold climate regions basements continue to be a popular way to build. I'm guessing that the post WWII housing boom helped to usher in the use of slab on grade construction for houses in temperate climates. It is faster and cheaper construction. That said...crawl space construction has gone out of favor for many reasons, including energy efficiency, mold, rhodents and "tight houses" which are much more efficient when built slab on grade. Custom designed houses using a properly designed and prepared slab on grade construction can be as high quality, energy efficient and long lasting as any other approach. But...if you want a house built like they were a century ago...and have the resources for it...then by all means proceed. Just be aware of the various issues that go along with it and be prepared for the necessary mitigation measures.

IMO the storm needs to go and honestly with good insulated doors there really is no need for storm doors anymore and if you like to have the air from a screen door get a phantom screen but either way you need to have a much larger front entry and for that you might need to get a stone mason to help with the design My first thought would be to make the whole entry the same height as that bottom step .