General Discussion

Warpy

(114,590 posts)

17. OK, that blog will be my time suck du jour

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Fri Oct 14, 2016, 01:11 PM

Oct 2016

The main problem with McMansions is that they tend to be Californicated, built to express all the latest fads in California and destined to look shabby and dated when the fads change, usually within a couple of years. In addition, instead of being places to live, they tend to be places to show off and entertain lots of people in, meaning they're given to large dedicated spaces like the private home theater, the large, equipment filled workout room, the game room and so on but without the family bedrooms and guest rooms that people with real money generally own. McMansions want to be glitzy, flashy, faddish, and that makes them temporary. Most will be razed once the trendy yuppies move on to something trendier. They're stage sets for the trendy life and once the trends die, they will be struck.

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McMansions are a poor investment [View all] Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Oct 2016 OP

I would stay in our house instead get the red out Oct 2016 #1

I went to a McMansion last night. Cracklin Charlie Oct 2016 #2

They contain so many spaces that I imagine go unused unless owner has ten kids Liberal_in_LA Oct 2016 #21

Heating and cooling unused space moondust Oct 2016 #46

McMansions are like normal houses on steroids. forgotmylogin Oct 2016 #85

Apart from everything else, why would anyone want to live in such a huge place?? ailsagirl Oct 2016 #137

McMansions are so tacky. Either live in a real mansion, or get something smaller and more modest. Bonx Oct 2016 #3

Well, Some of us are democrats with family who have our mother living with us snooper2 Oct 2016 #10

That's beautiful and the price is a steal. yeoman6987 Oct 2016 #14

You may end up paying through the nose for it Mariana Oct 2016 #88

You should be a home inspector Travis_0004 Oct 2016 #130

Well, the cabinets are obviously flimsy. Mariana Oct 2016 #132

Look like the same cabinets in my house made out of oak with an oak veneer panel snooper2 Oct 2016 #150

That's faux bricking and typically adds a 2R value to the home. Exilednight Oct 2016 #151

I hear ya... Ilsa Oct 2016 #36

For that price, you would be lucky to find a 500 square foot condo in my neighborhood DFW Oct 2016 #49

In metro DC, 289000 would be at least 2 hours away--or spooky3 Oct 2016 #52

I grew up in Falls Church, and my brother still ives in the area DFW Oct 2016 #53

We should definitely have a DC area DU Meetup--maybe for the inauguration? spooky3 Oct 2016 #55

I wish!! DFW Oct 2016 #56

It's all location, isn't it? I landed in a gorgeous place to live 36 years ago.... Hekate Oct 2016 #82

All the CA tech folks have really driven up prices in Austin TexasBushwhacker Oct 2016 #123

I can be downtown off 75 in about 30-35 minutes (on a Saturday :) ) snooper2 Oct 2016 #112

We used to go to Lake Ray Hubbard all the time OriginalGeek Oct 2016 #119

This message was self-deleted by its author JI7 Oct 2016 #75

There's such a thing as neighborhoods full of McMansions. Mariana Oct 2016 #89

people who want to keep up and show off to others ? JI7 Oct 2016 #90

This message was self-deleted by its author JI7 Oct 2016 #91

I believe most of them Mariana Oct 2016 #95

Some of the newest parts of Fargo are like that. Ugly as fuck. Odin2005 Oct 2016 #106

Hideous, pretentious exterior, with mismatched windows and unbalanced mass. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2016 #76

It's badly proportioned and the usual mcmansion roof and column problems, LeftyMom Oct 2016 #83

I wouldn't call that a McMansion forgotmylogin Oct 2016 #86

Love, "Yo, front door, Imma let you finish but. . . . " nt tblue37 Oct 2016 #92

Lost it at, "Notice me, senpai!" Odin2005 Oct 2016 #107

"Soul patch" Denzil_DC Oct 2016 #118

"ahoy mateys" lol n/t susanna Oct 2016 #146

The usual McMansion tacky 2-story door columns. GAG! Odin2005 Oct 2016 #105

Ack! The right 2nd story window is higher than the left! TexasBushwhacker Oct 2016 #124

It looks like an office building, but it's not terrible jmowreader Oct 2016 #129

I can't believe that price in Texas! meadowlark5 Oct 2016 #152

I think it's a very nice house metroins Oct 2016 #153

This message was self-deleted by its author kestrel91316 Oct 2016 #4

you want a laundry on the ground floor, my bad knees&rt hip wants you to know. irisblue Oct 2016 #32

This message was self-deleted by its author kestrel91316 Oct 2016 #34

The added benefit of a basement... awoke_in_2003 Oct 2016 #39

This message was self-deleted by its author kestrel91316 Oct 2016 #41

It is my hope awoke_in_2003 Oct 2016 #42

Housing is very cheap here in Fargo, you can retire confortably, here. Odin2005 Oct 2016 #108

I want a basement! Avalon Sparks Oct 2016 #44

Basements are generally a northern thing because of the soil freezing in the winter, here. Odin2005 Oct 2016 #109

You can get that worth the money in small Texas towns that have Jim Beard Oct 2016 #69

This message was self-deleted by its author kestrel91316 Oct 2016 #74

I collected too many books by far for 1500 sf. Our lot is too small to expand.... Hekate Oct 2016 #84

You are going to hate me JustAnotherGen Oct 2016 #128

Ooooooooh, I would love to see both of those. Must have single level now though.... Hekate Oct 2016 #134

I have a B-I-L with one Sherman A1 Oct 2016 #5

Sorry Kate, three car garages are freakin' awesome. Throd Oct 2016 #6

Agree!!! Three car garages IMO are a big plus! n/t RKP5637 Oct 2016 #9

My sister and brother in law have a 6800 square foot house yeoman6987 Oct 2016 #12

You are so lucky TuxedoKat Oct 2016 #35

Give me a 1,100 sq ft home with a 6 car garage Glassunion Oct 2016 #19

Even better if one bay has a Lift One_Life_To_Give Oct 2016 #37

Yep, wish I had one... awoke_in_2003 Oct 2016 #40

Cost of ongoing maintenance and utilities can be prohibitive for someone stretching RKP5637 Oct 2016 #7

Every time I see one I think "who wants to clean all those rooms every week"? Shrike47 Oct 2016 #13

I have always referred to them as "Ego Palaces". I have been in a few and it was cornball 24 Oct 2016 #15

OK, that blog will be my time suck du jour Warpy Oct 2016 #17

They do not age well at all, you are right. susanna Oct 2016 #20

Hey, don't blame California for this! XemaSab Oct 2016 #65

That's where the Trendies look to find their fads Warpy Oct 2016 #67

They are ruining the old neighborhoods in Dallas dem in texas Oct 2016 #18

I was at the state fair last night Skittles Oct 2016 #31

This is my so-called problem with McMansions... Phentex Oct 2016 #99

That makes me sad OriginalGeek Oct 2016 #148

I'm a children's entertainer TlalocW Oct 2016 #23

I'm betting the roofs on half of them aren't tied in together sturdily enough. Lars39 Oct 2016 #28

I built my home. panader0 Oct 2016 #24

Owner of Controversial Lyon Park Mansion Wants to Use It as a Bed and Breakfast mahatmakanejeeves Oct 2016 #25

The comments on that house at ArlNow are great. spooky3 Oct 2016 #57

There's one off Lee Highway on George Mason Drive and another up by Bishop O'Connell. mahatmakanejeeves Oct 2016 #62

Is that the big blue monster with all the marble inside? spooky3 Oct 2016 #63

The one off Lee Highway is not far from Arlington Hospital, but it's mahatmakanejeeves Oct 2016 #64

Let me guess... Sen. Walter Sobchak Oct 2016 #26

Huh what? Those big houses have poor Foggyhill Oct 2016 #30

??? Let me guess: You commented without actually reading the article ??? etherealtruth Oct 2016 #51

Obviously you're the one who didn't read it Sen. Walter Sobchak Oct 2016 #68

Ah, you found an excerpt ... kinda makes it clear you commented without reading etherealtruth Oct 2016 #70

It's called context Sen. Walter Sobchak Oct 2016 #71

Have a great night etherealtruth Oct 2016 #72

sorry the ambush didn't work out for you, Sen. Walter Sobchak Oct 2016 #73

Walter seems to be easily offended by criticism of Suburbia and America car culture. Odin2005 Oct 2016 #116

Some folk are really upset by criticism or pereceived criticism etherealtruth Oct 2016 #117

If you want to pay $2500 a month for a studio apartment, more power to you Sen. Walter Sobchak Oct 2016 #135

If there was investment in cheap high-density housing for working class people... Odin2005 Oct 2016 #145

Yeah... don't hold you breath for that. Sen. Walter Sobchak Oct 2016 #154

That "kid" is 100% correct. Suburbia is a cancer on society. Odin2005 Oct 2016 #111

what came before the suburbs was a cancer on society Sen. Walter Sobchak Oct 2016 #113

Right, and I bet trickle-down economics works and climate change doesn't exist in your world? Odin2005 Oct 2016 #115

This message was self-deleted by its author Sen. Walter Sobchak Oct 2016 #136

I guess I'm more rural than surburb Travis_0004 Oct 2016 #131

when's the last time you were in an actual city? geek tragedy Oct 2016 #121

Do New York and London count? Sen. Walter Sobchak Oct 2016 #138

Where are you seeing sidewalks full of heroin needles? nt geek tragedy Oct 2016 #139

San Francisco and Los Angeles mostly Sen. Walter Sobchak Oct 2016 #140

what parts of SF? City's been gentrified beyond recognition nt geek tragedy Oct 2016 #143

This message was self-deleted by its author Sen. Walter Sobchak Oct 2016 #144

Lots of room for lots of junk LeftInTX Oct 2016 #27

Ultimate McMansion debacle citood Oct 2016 #29

this reminds me of a 1700s farmhouse I lived in wordpix Oct 2016 #149

I remember visiting a "Parade of Homes" as a teenager in the late 1980s GreenEyedLefty Oct 2016 #43

I consider McMansions to be the HUGE homes that I've seen erected in my area... Buckeye_Democrat Oct 2016 #45

Ads for a development with 7 bedroom houses are running here. Very few need 7 bedrooms Liberal_in_LA Oct 2016 #93

I did some study on mcmansionhell.com and the way to tell: forgotmylogin Oct 2016 #103

Spent some time over lunch there - really is a pretty good blog hatrack Oct 2016 #47

I expected just a bunch of complaining and axe grinding, but she makes good architectural points. Warren DeMontague Oct 2016 #48

This blog is fascinating and fun! yardwork Oct 2016 #59

conspicuous consumption thorsten veblin was right and still is dembotoz Oct 2016 #60

My friend calls them "people coops" XemaSab Oct 2016 #66

Plywood? Please. Mariana Oct 2016 #104

Yup OSB n/t TexasBushwhacker Oct 2016 #125

I grew up in a large house and now own a smaller home kimbutgar Oct 2016 #77

I prefer living in cites so give me a decent apartment. white_wolf Oct 2016 #87

Across the highway from me is a large McMansion neighborhood. Kablooie Oct 2016 #94

Homes in general are a poor investment Major Nikon Oct 2016 #97

I agree with you. Mariana Oct 2016 #100

All those year I spent paying rent wasn't exactly a great deal. n/t Throd Oct 2016 #101

You are paying taxes regardless davidn3600 Oct 2016 #114

buying is a better investment than renting. geek tragedy Oct 2016 #122

They've raised the standard deduction so much TexasBushwhacker Oct 2016 #126

I'm going to disagree Travis_0004 Oct 2016 #127

We bought our house to live in JustAnotherGen Oct 2016 #133

They are a good inflation hedge however Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Oct 2016 #141

There are good reasons for buying a home you live in Major Nikon Oct 2016 #142

They are such eyesores! smirkymonkey Oct 2016 #98

People need to check out the blog of the woman mentioned in the article. Odin2005 Oct 2016 #120

Interesting blog. Did you ever get stuck at a party listening to someone tell you what "good" music hughee99 Oct 2016 #147

Dec 1969 #