Comments on: Why is a large modern house a “McMansion”?

By: John Ray

John Ray — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:55:56 +0000

Reply to T:

There is a “correct” ratio of house-size to land-size?

By: Ed Wallis

Ed Wallis — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:23:50 +0000

Agreed with both of the above. It is the free market that – sigh – at this time in history deems that building contractors only see fit to build absurdly huge (in the U.S.A. 1,000-1,500sm…that’s 3,000-to-4,000 sf) single family homes to make a profit.

But that’s why I’ll buy an old fixer-upper and make it right…I’m grateful I still have the choice.

By: mh

mh — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:20:22 +0000

On what planet is 1011 sq ft (308 sq m) a ‘McMansion’?? IMO, McMansion is a moniker used by those who wish they had a nicer house in a better neighborhood.

I suppose I own one of these terrible McMansions, 3100 sq ft, 10000 sq ft lot in a ‘tract’ neighborhood. I have a nice view of the river and city. So what? I’m not trying to ‘impress’ anyone – I bought a nice home for my family, in a quiet, safe neighborhood, with excellent schools.

Where I live (Portland, OR), the elite, ever-so-green city leaders would have had me spend my $600K on a 700 sq ft cement box in the Pearl District, where I could ride the street car, and shop in ’sustainable’ grocery stores like Whole Foods (for twice the price). If you dare to live outside of this hell hole, then you pay the price of driving in all day, engineered congestion while all transportation dollars go to bike paths and light rail that serves 2% of the population. Nevermind that you can’t find a living wage job downtown. Hypocrits, all of them!

Viva la McMansion!!

By: T

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:24:24 +0000

Generally speaking, the “McMansion” monkier is given to larger homes built in tract neighborhoods (which are usually too large for the lots they’re built on). I have no problem with wanting to own a large home, but the “McMansions” I live near are obviously owned by people who *want* to look wealthy. If they were actually as well off as they hope to appear, they wouldn’t buy a home on a lot that’s barely bigger than the house that’s built upon it.