General Discussion

forgotmylogin

(7,968 posts)

103. I did some study on mcmansionhell.com and the way to tell:

Sun Oct 16, 2016, 11:58 PM

Oct 2016

- Disregard of balance or symmetry
- Garage nearly 1/2 size of the rest of the house, 2-3-+ bays
- Entire lawn is driveway
- Poor quality building materials
- Materials used incorrectly, elements appear tacked on
- Roof way way too large, sometimes as big as entire interior of house
- Improper mix of eclectic styles or too many styles at once
- Mix of materials - "rock"work and siding, or too much different rockwork, material mixnmatch like wallpaper
- Entry door lost in facade, ridiculous porticos
- Multistory windows, inappropriate and mismatched windows, windows not sized similarly, random windows
- Multiple rooflines for no reason, house appears as a "compound" of structures instead of one building
- Clutter clutter clutter
- Pillars and columns used decoratively instead of for support, mixed columns, columns too small or too large for what they support
- Elements oversized unnecessarily in general

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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 #