My generation doesn't want to live in the suburbs. (mcmansion, Portland, walkable)
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a 2600 sq ft McMansion makes a statement that they are successful, they go out in the newburbs and buy in a gated community full of HOA CC&Rs.
Older boomer here--will someone please explain who these people are who purchased McMansions and live in gated communities with HOAs? (don't know what CC&Rs is.)
I don't know of anyone my age who would be caught DEAD living in a McMansion--they are hideous and wasteful.
I don't think we have HOAs around here but I've read about them on cd. Same with gated communities. Gated-means there is so much crime that they they have to be fenced in? LOL If there's so much crime then why don't they more away like the boomers did?
Also, why would anyone want to live in an HOA? Or is that the same as a gated community? From what I've read there are obnoxious rules about what color you paint your house and even what flowers you plant. One main reason for buying a house is for the freedom to do what you want.
So what is the demographic of the people who buy these weird places to live?Is it some offshoot of the boomer generation? The same offshoot that got all tied up in a lifestyle that was way over their heads? An aberration of sorts? Really wondering and it annoys me that anyone would lump us in with them.
Boomers of my age are still frugal and sensible. We grew up in the 50s and 60s and we took to heart all the stories our parents told us about being poor in the Depression. We grew up in either new suburbs or old established towns, having left the cities due to high crime. Some of us have money, some don't, but money was never the main goal of our lives.
^^2600 sq. ft. is a "McMansion"? If a family of four lives in a 2600 sq. ft. house, that is 650 sf per person. If a Gen X er couple live in a 1300 sf condo, they have 650 sf per person.
My home has 2500 sf including the basement. I hardly think that's extravagant, especially since we raised two kids in it.
We don't have many gated communities here in metro Denver, either. There are more in the mountains (I think). We had covenants (CC&R), but they expired. Prior to expiring, they were not enforced. Someone wanted to start them up again, and we had a vote, and it lost. I agree that the older boomers are for the most part frugal.
Sad state of affairs of the USA.
It was part of the switch towards european socialism.
If you don't get it then they were successful with the conditioning.
That is not a reference that you are section 8
Katiana, In the real-estate world, I don't think basement square footage is counted, usually.
Again, what is considered a "normal" sized house might be regional. (I've read posts from Texans, claiming a 2500 s.f. house was normal) My house is about 900-1000 s.f., and was home to a family of 4 until I bought it. There are also some very large houses in the vicinity that were built by the steel mills to house large families in the teens and twenties. But, I would be very surprised to learn there are any houses in my particular neighborhood over 2000 s.f. (excluding basement--and attic--area)
I wonder why people have to stereo type others based on their generation.
Many different types of people that I have met in all generations.
I guess people like labels so they can also groom what those of a certain generation mean when they speak in idioms.
Is my 5000+ house a McMansion?
How about my 3000 square foot one?
I would say my 1000 square foot house is acceptable to Gen whatever.
You probably think I am bragging but all three of those houses are worth less than the 1200 square foot one I sold in the city.
Am I still allowed to buy or build the house I want in the USA?
Because I always wanted a roomy earth sheltered home that was more efficient than a standard urban house.
But the mortgage industry did not loan on the very efficient alternative type houses.
Even during the hay days.
So I am where I am for now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by in_newengland
a 2600 sq ft McMansion makes a statement that they are successful, they go out in the newburbs and buy in a gated community full of HOA CC&Rs.
Older boomer here--will someone please explain who these people are who purchased McMansions and live in gated communities with HOAs? (don't know what CC&Rs is.)
I don't know of anyone my age who would be caught DEAD living in a McMansion--they are hideous and wasteful.
I don't think we have HOAs around here but I've read about them on cd. Same with gated communities. Gated-means there is so much crime that they they have to be fenced in? LOL If there's so much crime then why don't they more away like the boomers did?
Also, why would anyone want to live in an HOA? Or is that the same as a gated community? From what I've read there are obnoxious rules about what color you paint your house and even what flowers you plant. One main reason for buying a house is for the freedom to do what you want.
So what is the demographic of the people who buy these weird places to live?Is it some offshoot of the boomer generation? The same offshoot that got all tied up in a lifestyle that was way over their heads? An aberration of sorts? Really wondering and it annoys me that anyone would lump us in with them.
Boomers of my age are still frugal and sensible. We grew up in the 50s and 60s and we took to heart all the stories our parents told us about being poor in the Depression. We grew up in either new suburbs or old established towns, having left the cities due to high crime. Some of us have money, some don't, but money was never the main goal of our lives.
Katiana, In the real-estate world, I don't think basement square footage is counted, usually.
Again, what is considered a "normal" sized house might be regional. (I've read posts from Texans, claiming a 2500 s.f. house was normal) My house is about 900-1000 s.f., and was home to a family of 4 until I bought it. There are also some very large houses in the vicinity that were built by the steel mills to house large families in the teens and twenties. But, I would be very surprised to learn there are any houses in my particular neighborhood over 2000 s.f. (excluding basement--and attic--area)
Here in CO the basement counts if it's finished, which ours is. 2000 sf is not *that* big, not here anyway.
There's something here that no one has mentioned and the article didn't mention. People will move where there are peers for their kids and good pubic schools. If that's in a neighborhood w/ big houses where you need a car, that's where they'll ultimately end up. Simple, really. People who come to Fort Lauderdale are forced to choose cute walking downtown area OR suburbs with kids and good schools. If there are areas with both, they'd make a tremendous investment and Id love to know where they are.
Eh, I guess the words "wet + back" combined don't make it through CD's filters. Anyway, that's the kind of frat party they were having, and such parties are not unusual.
Whoa, yeah that's totally the same thing as white flight and forced integration. Try again.
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