What exactly is a McMansion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A picture-perfect example:

SORRY this one beats yours, nothing like a wrap around garage that makes up 70% of the house

[Anonymous]

That is freaking hilarious.

[Anonymous]

Now, now, BOTH those houses are awful. You both win.

To the OP: In general terms, a McMansion is a house that features quantity (of sq ft, of garage capacity) over quality (of design, of materials).

There are new buildings that are large, well designed, and well built. But their owners had to be willing to forgo the his-and-her walk-in closets to pay for hardwoods throughout.

[Anonymous]

And ye will know them by their haphazard design, garage face, combination of brickface and siding, roof peaks every which way, strangely shaped windows cast about for no particular reason, incredible closeness to the other houses in the development, entire sides of the house without windows...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see it:

http://franklymls.com/AR7833372

yes! exactly!

[Anonymous]

yep! Why have a wrap-around porch when you can have a wrap-around garage instead?

Thanks for posting! hilarious!



SORRY this one beats yours, nothing like a wrap around garage that makes up 70% of the house

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And ye will know them by their haphazard design, garage face, combination of brickface and siding, roof peaks every which way, strangely shaped windows cast about for no particular reason, incredible closeness to the other houses in the development, entire sides of the house without windows...

Only the fourth one really meets my definition of McMansion: over large, overwhelming amount of things (bays, windows, bump outs) screwing with the line of the house, poorly designed spaces inside, at least one or two "grand" spaces. My Urban Studies class were way too long ago.

The others, sadly, are just what mid priced construction looks like nowadays.

[Anonymous]

OK, in thinking about the SC house, I honestly don't believe that house is affordable to the lower middle class in THAT area. The average price in that zip code according to realtor. com was $150Kish. I have a feeling THAT house is more upper middle class and better in the burbs of Columbia, SC.

Just like my friends who built a huge home in San Antonio for $400K - THAT is the upper class neighborhood there. Everything is relative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And ye will know them by their haphazard design, garage face, combination of brickface and siding, roof peaks every which way, strangely shaped windows cast about for no particular reason, incredible closeness to the other houses in the development, entire sides of the house without windows...

none of those are mcmansion they are actually normal sized home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A picture-perfect example:

SORRY this one beats yours, nothing like a wrap around garage that makes up 70% of the house

the garage wrap around is for sale http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/7056-Idylwood-Rd-22043/home/9470542

[Anonymous]

The house in SC ... how many people make even $50k a year out in Columbia SC? Or among the IT and other professionals ... you're either stuck with your job or have to move if you lose it.

[Anonymous]

OP, it is a term that people use when they can't afford a big house. Do you ever hear people with nice, big houses using the term? Of course not! I don't have a big house, but that doesn't mean I can try to rip apart others - it would just mean that I am miserable. Why tell everyone?

[Anonymous]

The Idylwood house is a nice house on over an acre in Falls Church zoned for McLean schools and close to WFC metro. It's not over-done or garish, and looks like it was a custom build for someone who knew they wanted a three-car garage. Not my cup of tea, but wouldn't be surprised to see it sell fairly soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Idylwood house is a nice house on over an acre in Falls Church zoned for McLean schools and close to WFC metro. It's not over-done or garish, and looks like it was a custom build for someone who knew they wanted a three-car garage. Not my cup of tea, but wouldn't be surprised to see it sell fairly soon.

Been on the market for over 2 years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it is a term that people use when they can't afford a big house. Do you ever hear people with nice, big houses using the term? Of course not! I don't have a big house, but that doesn't mean I can try to rip apart others - it would just mean that I am miserable. Why tell everyone?

Sorry, but no. It's a term used by people who have some education about architectural integrity, who understand the value of a short commute, and value quality above quantity.