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Location: In a little house on the prairie - literally
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The interesting thing is that there is a growing and strong "tiny houses" movement. Our town is considering a new zoning category to encourage them, as the cost to service is so much less.
I am worried that I may like something that most people dont like, meaning if I buy into one, itll suck for resale value. Thats all. Other than that, I love these large uniform looking houses with lotsa amenities.
The problem with resale isn't so much lack of interest. It's that the people who prefer McMansions can generally get one brand new, so you're always competing with newer models. These homes tend to be built away from the urban core, in the suburbs and exurbs, where location is less of an issue because everyone is driving everywhere anyway. If a developer can put up the exact same subdivision half a mile down the road, I would be seriously concerned about what that will do to your home value. Why would a buyer want someone else's 10-year-old McMansion when they can get new construction three minutes up the road or the next town over that's equidistant to my job, only in another direction?
Is it just me, or do McMansions typically end up in a lot of short sales? I'm guessing these are people that really bit off more than they could chew. They're also situated in the strangest places. If I had that kind of money, I would get a better location.
if you dont mind me asking, what do you mean by strangest of places?
Tiny lots in the midst of far less desirable homes, not in the hottest places. I've often seen a McMansion situated next to a 1200 square foot ranch from 1973. Today, one came up for sale a block away from an industrial park.
I suppose one could say I like them, but it comes down to this: I like new houses and I like large houses. As far as I know a Mcmansion is just a new large house.
I'm not a tinkerer, I don't want to be constantly fixing things, especially if they are non-standard size as are in many older homes. I value the qualities and amenities of newer homes. Modern plumbing, electrics, HVAC, insulation, cosmetics, layout, etc. Sure, one could extensively renovate an older home, and many do and love it, but it's not my cup of tea. It's like the parable about the axe: if you put a new head and a new shaft on it, is it the same axe?
I say to each their own, big house, small house, old, new, whatever. I have nothing against discussions or comparisons either, it's all good.
What gets annoying is when people try to push their views on others saying stuff like "Why do you NEED a XXXX square foot house? No one needs a XXXX square foot house! My family of thirty lives perfectly comfortably in a Janitor's closet, we are the model of what everyone else should be!"
The problem with resale isn't so much lack of interest. It's that the people who prefer McMansions can generally get one brand new, so you're always competing with newer models. These homes tend to be built away from the urban core, in the suburbs and exurbs, where location is less of an issue because everyone is driving everywhere anyway. If a developer can put up the exact same subdivision half a mile down the road, I would be seriously concerned about what that will do to your home value. Why would a buyer want someone else's 10-year-old McMansion when they can get new construction three minutes up the road or the next town over that's equidistant to my job, only in another direction?
I don't know...but I ended up selling my 10 year old McMansion over asking despite the surrounding new home construction. In the suburbs, location and schools apply. I personally don't like uniformity at all.
I suppose one could say I like them, but it comes down to this: I like new houses and I like large houses. As far as I know a Mcmansion is just a new large house.
I'm not a tinkerer, I don't want to be constantly fixing things, especially if they are non-standard size as are in many older homes. I value the qualities and amenities of newer homes. Modern plumbing, electrics, HVAC, insulation, cosmetics, layout, etc. Sure, one could extensively renovate an older home, and many do and love it, but it's not my cup of tea. It's like the parable about the axe: if you put a new head and a new shaft on it, is it the same axe?
I say to each their own, big house, small house, old, new, whatever. I have nothing against discussions or comparisons either, it's all good.
What gets annoying is when people try to push their views on others saying stuff like "Why do you NEED a XXXX square foot house? No one needs a XXXX square foot house! My family of thirty lives perfectly comfortably in a Janitor's closet, we are the model of what everyone else should be!"
agreed, i like large new houses too in nice schools and neighbourhoods...big time remodeling is not for us either. i dont mind doing some cosmetic changes. as long as i am in a nice neighborhood thats all i care about.
...and yeah, i dont like the preaching either! hahah, though, to each, their own.
A McMansion isn't just a large house. Of course there are many beautiful large houses. I think of a McMansion as a larger house constructed with cheaper materials that looks nearly identical to the neighboring houses. Generally they have tacky looking faux details, like fake columns, in a failed attempt to make them look more expensive. They are often much too big for the lot they are built on, so they have very little privacy and sparse yards, maybe one small sad looking tree in the front if you're lucky.
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