I lived in a lower flat once - it was hell. I heard every scrape of furniture above me, every object that was dropped on the floor, and every footstep. It was particularly bad when upstairs had guests with children running round when the banging and scraping was like a herd of elephants. My flat plan mirrored that above and, depending where I happened to be, I could even hear them going to the loo. I always knew what TV channel upstairs was watching and the routine of their day. Worst of all was when I was trying to get to sleep at night - and the bedroom ceiling would start rhythmically creaking to the accompaniment of moans and groans!
Never again! I was in a state of continual stress and I could never relax. If you move to another room they follow you there - then back again - and back again! People shouldn't live like that in this day and age. Don't live below anyone. Buy that house!!!