Softening in RE market?? (Dallas, West: appraisals, medicine, resident)

[Bolanders]

Originally Posted by Wittgenstein's Ghost

Ranches are actually a distinct architectural style. They might be ubiquitous in Texas, and they may have their critics, but they are a legitimate architectural style. McMansions make no effort to exhibit any sort of architectural style or combination of styles. It's not unusual to see a McMansion that will have pseudo timbers like a tudor, turrets like a castle (or god knows what), trim like a Fraftsman and roof gables like a Greek Revival....all on the same house. That's not even mentioning their fourteen different exterior materials, total lack of proportions, inconsistent window choices, etc. It is obvious that the "designer" knew little about design.

The idea that McMansions are somehow the ugly but practical choice is even sillier. A 5,000 square foot house is never the practical choice unless one has ten kids. Its costs more to heat and cool (particularly with the dozens of cheap windows most McMansions have), costs more to build, shrinks the lot and almost certainly doesn't help family dynamics.

That 3500 square foot house you mentioned doesn't have to be a McMansion. The person could actually utilize a real architect and construct something that looks good. If you are going to demolish an old house and build something that is twice the size of surrounding houses (which is really a separate issue), at least make it look good. I don't think it has to match the architectural style of the neighborhood, but it should have some architectural value. I don't think that's asking too much.

Please people let me know what my criteria should be for the house I want to live in. A whole lot of posters sure want to decide what and how others should live. Personally, buy or build any house you want on any lot you want since you are paying for it.

[aggie972]

Originally Posted by Wittgenstein's Ghost

Ranches are actually a distinct architectural style. They might be ubiquitous in Texas, and they may have their critics, but they are a legitimate architectural style. McMansions make no effort to exhibit any sort of architectural style or combination of styles. It's not unusual to see a McMansion that will have pseudo timbers like a tudor, turrets like a castle (or god knows what), trim like a Fraftsman and roof gables like a Greek Revival....all on the same house. That's not even mentioning their fourteen different exterior materials, total lack of proportions, inconsistent window choices, etc. It is obvious that the "designer" knew little about design.

The idea that McMansions are somehow the ugly but practical choice is even sillier. A 5,000 square foot house is never the practical choice unless one has ten kids. Its costs more to heat and cool (particularly with the dozens of cheap windows most McMansions have), costs more to build, shrinks the lot and almost certainly doesn't help family dynamics.

That 3500 square foot house you mentioned doesn't have to be a McMansion. The person could actually utilize a real architect and construct something that looks good. If you are going to demolish an old house and build something that is twice the size of surrounding houses (which is really a separate issue), at least make it look good. I don't think it has to match the architectural style of the neighborhood, but it should have some architectural value. I don't think that's asking too much.

I agree with you about the turrets, mixed facades, unnecessarily complex rooflines, etc. Just give me a red brick house, or even a white cube.

Not every new build is a "McMansion" though.

[mastershake575]

Originally Posted by Wittgenstein's Ghost

The idea that McMansions are somehow the ugly but practical choice is even sillier. A 5,000 square foot house is never the practical choice unless one has ten kids. Its costs more to heat and cool (particularly with the dozens of cheap windows most McMansions have), costs more to build, shrinks the lot and almost certainly doesn't help family dynamics.

That 3500 square foot house you mentioned doesn't have to be a McMansion. The person could actually utilize a real architect and construct something that looks good. If you are going to demolish an old house and build something that is twice the size of surrounding houses (which is really a separate issue), at least make it look good. I don't think it has to match the architectural style of the neighborhood, but it should have some architectural value. I don't think that's asking too much.

Agreed. Love when a family of 4 is ranting about house effiencey when there paying inflated property taxes and inflated utilities on a 4000+ sq ft house...... (lol).

I agree with the last part. The problem I'm seeing is 60s neighbhorhoods that have true high-end ranch style houses (2900+ sq feet on .3 to .4 acre lots) there's barely any tear downs. The neighbhorhood behind Jesuit high school and the adject neighborhood across the tollroad (melshire estates) very few tear downs but the lots are huge and the houses are all 60s.

The problem is there going to neighbhorhoods like heights and canyon creek elementary which is all smaller one stories and demolishing those because the lots are cheaper. They want a big shot house but don't want to pay for big shot neighbhorhood. My parents neighbhorhood there's literally a 4000 square foot house built on the same street that literally does not have a house over 1300 square feet..... (lol).

It's strange because usually inner cities get run down and force everyone out due to run down houses and crime (desire is low). In our area there building McMansions in small house neighbhors and are basically pricing middle class people out of inner city (they want to live in the inner city but can't do to artifical inflation)

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by mastershake575

I agree with the last part. The problem I'm seeing is 60s neighbhorhoods that have true high-end ranch style houses (2900+ sq feet on .3 to .4 acre lots) there's barely any tear downs. The neighbhorhood behind Jesuit high school and the adject neighborhood across the tollroad (melshire estates) very few tear downs but the lots are huge and the houses are all 60s.

Although the neighborhood is awesome generally, I have three friends who live thereabouts, the ranch homes behind (west of) JCP are not high end in any way. And just south of there - there is a good bit of teardown activity.

[mastershake575]

Originally Posted by EDS_

Although the neighborhood is awesome generally, I have three friends who live thereabouts, the ranch homes behind (west of) JCP are not high end in any way

For there era (60s), yes there highend ranch style houses (2900-4000 square feet houses on .3 to .5 acre where highend in 1960).

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by mastershake575

For there era (60s), yes there highend ranch style houses (2900-4000 square feet houses on .3 to .5 acre where highend in 1960).

Just down the street and from the same era.....bigger, nicer, much bigger lots. FWIIW the lots you are talking about are mostly .25/.30/.35.

Just Google map that area and Inwood and Royal or say Welch and Royal.

[Wittgenstein's Ghost]

Originally Posted by Bolanders

Please people let me know what my criteria should be for the house I want to live in. A whole lot of posters sure want to decide what and how others should live. Personally, buy or build any house you want on any lot you want since you are paying for it.

No one is trying to decide anything for anyone else. We are just commenting on the poor taste we see being exhibited.

Originally Posted by aggie972

Not every new build is a "McMansion" though.

Of course not. That's why I said the 3500 square foot house doesn't need to be a McMansion. There's a lot of good design out there from modern (current) architects.

[mastershake575]

Originally Posted by EDS_

FWIIW the lots you are talking about are mostly .25/.30/.35

All 8 houses currently for sale in the melshire estates are .37 acres to .48 acres. Even the small 2200 square foot house for sale is on almost .4 acres and isn't even a corner lot ! (it's a pretty house)

Originally Posted by EDS_

Just down the street and from the same era.....bigger, nicer, much bigger lots. FWIIW the lots you are talking about are mostly .25/.30/.35

The area i'm describing has been a top 8% income neighbhorhood since the 60s.

Even today the houses i'm referring to go anywhere from 10 to 15 times the median household income....... (yeah that's upper class/highend).

Originally Posted by EDS_

Just Google map that area and Inwood and Royal or say Welch and Royal.

At that point your basically just arguing semantics. Your basically saying anything not in the 1% isn't highend or high tier

That's like me saying i'm not upper class or highend because I make $250k a year but the guy a few streets down makes $800k.

Reality is where both in the top 5% (he's not the basis of upper class).

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by mastershake575

All 8 houses currently for sale in the melshire estates are .37 acres to .48 acres. Even the small 2200 square foot house for sale is on almost .4 acres and isn't even a corner lot ! (it's a pretty house)


The area i'm describing has been a top 8% income neighbhorhood since the 60s.

Even today the houses i'm referring to go anywhere from 10 to 15 times the median household income....... (yeah that's upper class/highend).

At that point your basically just arguing semantics. Your basically saying anything not in the 1% isn't highend or high tier

That's like me saying i'm not upper class or highend because I make $250k a year but the guy a few streets down makes $800k.

Reality is where both in the top 5% (he's not the basis of upper class).

Melshire Estates and the neighborhood behind JCP are two different places.

[mastershake575]

Originally Posted by EDS_

Melshire Estates and the neighborhood behind JCP are two different places.

Yes and No.

There technically different names (melshire estates, hyde park estates, and forestcrest) but time era, school feeder, house size, and price are all nearly identical (2800-4000 sq feet 1 story ranch houses in the $600-900k range). Both neighbhorhoods have been upper class houses and upper class income since inception