Why do people hate new builds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:What I don't like is that all new builds are McMansions or multifamily units. You don't see starter homes being built any longer and that sucks.

I see lots of condos being built

Condos are multifamily homes which I addressed. Starter homes that are HOUSES are no longer built. The best you can find are some from the 80's and most in this region seem to be from the 40's-70's. You can't buy a new small SFH.

The smaller new homes exist but are very hard to find. We had a couple on our street because a neighbor is an architect and when a couple small tear-down houses went on the market he bought them quickly and built new homes that were very much in keeping with the size/style of the neighborhood. He told me he didn't particularly want to do those projects (he doesn't normally build spec houses) but the alternative was another builder getting those lots and putting up something way too big.

I like this! I wish there were new builds around 2-2.5K sq.ft. because if the space is properly planned, that's enough space for a family of 4.

[Anonymous]

Actually, I think there are a couple of NDI new builds in my neighborhood that are just under 3,000 sqft. No garage. Hardly a McMansion. Not a small-small house, but a very reasonable size.

[Anonymous]

Most of the ppl we know with large homes that carry large mortgages are in financial trouble. They have nothing saved and holding on to the idea that their home is their retirement. They have the house, but their retirement accts are lacking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the ppl we know with large homes that carry large mortgages are in financial trouble. They have nothing saved and holding on to the idea that their home is their retirement. They have the house, but their retirement accts are lacking.

You have the wrong friends. Everyone I know with a new house has it bought and paid for. Vacation houses (these are SFHs, NOT condos or THs) bought and paid for, also.

Your friends are "living" (not living) wrong.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I am an architect and I just want to clarify a few things:

- the new builds people on here are talking about are in most cases extremely well constructed and energy efficient. The giant behemoth often uses less energy than much smaller '40's house.

- the ugliness is often not the architects fault. Often we will draw something proportionally correct only to have the developer change everything until it's a whitetrash monstrosity

- I personally believe neighbors should live and let live. Worry about your own house/yard and MYOB

That's easy to say until the developer has cut down a 200 year old tree to cram two enormous homes where once there was one. Blocking neighbors sunlight and killing their gardens.

Then buy the lot next door and quit your bitching.

THIS.

You say you have money, right?

Don't be an idiot

An idiot is someone who chooses to spend time being negative about people who have so much more than them. MYOB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't like is that all new builds are McMansions or multifamily units. You don't see starter homes being built any longer and that sucks.

I see lots of condos being built

Condos are multifamily homes which I addressed. Starter homes that are HOUSES are no longer built. The best you can find are some from the 80's and most in this region seem to be from the 40's-70's. You can't buy a new small SFH.

The smaller new homes exist but are very hard to find. We had a couple on our street because a neighbor is an architect and when a couple small tear-down houses went on the market he bought them quickly and built new homes that were very much in keeping with the size/style of the neighborhood. He told me he didn't particularly want to do those projects (he doesn't normally build spec houses) but the alternative was another builder getting those lots and putting up something way too big.

I like this! I wish there were new builds around 2-2.5K sq.ft. because if the space is properly planned, that's enough space for a family of 4.

They make condos that small

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't like is that all new builds are McMansions or multifamily units. You don't see starter homes being built any longer and that sucks.

I see lots of condos being built

Condos are multifamily homes which I addressed. Starter homes that are HOUSES are no longer built. The best you can find are some from the 80's and most in this region seem to be from the 40's-70's. You can't buy a new small SFH.

You're right. So many developers are buying up older, smaller SFHs that a lot of families would love to live in and then tear them down/replace them with giant mansions for the wealthy. Sure, families can buy starter condos, but when so many people aren't buying until their mid-30s, a condo doesn't seem as attractive. Not to mention, a lot of people still want the ability to buy a small detached home, but are getting pushed farther out to do so. What happens is you end up with a bunch of rich people, renters, and manadated affordable housing in places like N. Arlington. Regular middle class families just aren't buying there anymore and I see other areas in N. Virginia going in that same direction.

But it's not like developers have a secret channel to buy these older, smaller SFHs. If the families looking for houses would love to live in them, why don't they buy them? Smaller homes regularly come up in my 22043 neighborhood, and Arlington is certainly full of them, as is McLean.

Cash is king. Developers have cash in hand. 99% people do not.

But then again, PP claims he does not "want" a large house.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I always love this debate on DCUM, from people in a city with no fashion sense who look like cookie cutter office dwellers in neutral uniforms, bad haircuts, and no makeup. But yet you are all arbiters of architectural "taste" and "aesthetics.". Give me a break.

^^Agreed. New construction and flips are tasteless and lack character in the DC area. I actually believe that the green designs and asthetic coming out of the Pacific Northwest will be the next big design wave (like arts and crafts or MCM). It's so functional, beautiful and conducive to living in this century.

Examples??

https://www.redfin.com/WA/Seattle/7316-12th-Ave-NW-98117/home/61440135?from_mobile_app=true

Gorgeous. Bit now show me examples that middle class mortals can afford at half that price point or less.

https://www.redfin.com/WA/Seattle/9245-9th-Ave-NW-98117/home/101143?from_mobile_app=true

https://www.redfin.com/WA/Seattle/9048-15th-Ave-NW-98117/unit-A/home/62342258?from_mobile_app=true

Are those metal track shower doors, IKEA looking cabinets and carpet "high-end" finishes? It looks nice, but I hate to break it to you DCUM snobs that the vast majority of people in this country cannot afford a nearly $600K home, and don't want to waste the money on faux high-end anyway. We're not stupid with our money. Instead of being angry with people who buy "tacky" new builds, why don't you direct your ire to the developers who design everything for the low-end and the high-end, and nothing for the middle? Being middle-class is not a crime, people, and the options are limited. If, as a dual income middle class family, you choose a standard new build to minimize maintenance headaches over an unrenovated older home that requires constantly stressful and expensive maintenance/upgrades, you are making a rational choice that makes sense for your life and your family. The middle class cannot afford full renovations of historic homes, which cost far more per square foot, even if they wanted to.

The bottom line is that the new build haters are mostly nouveau riche snobs who've lost touch with how most of the world lives and think their newfound wealth makes them better than everyone else. It doesn't. You may have a nicer home, but your materialistic, judgmental pettiness makes you very small and pathetic in your insecurity and defensiveness. Get a fucking life and find something better to do with your time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the ppl we know with large homes that carry large mortgages are in financial trouble. They have nothing saved and holding on to the idea that their home is their retirement. They have the house, but their retirement accts are lacking.

Keep telling yourself that. Our mortgage is very affordable and our retirement is very well funded, despite our large home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the ppl we know with large homes that carry large mortgages are in financial trouble. They have nothing saved and holding on to the idea that their home is their retirement. They have the house, but their retirement accts are lacking.

You have the wrong friends. Everyone I know with a new house has it bought and paid for. Vacation houses (these are SFHs, NOT condos or THs) bought and paid for, also.

Your friends are "living" (not living) wrong.

You are out of touch with reality. You are rich, and most people are not. Most people who own a home have a mortgage. Most people do not own multiple homes outright. Come down off your fucking ivory tower, you insufferable snob.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I don't like is that all new builds are McMansions or multifamily units. You don't see starter homes being built any longer and that sucks.

I think in my neighborhood, you get a bit of started home new buils, but they are all townhomes, so I am not sure if you consider that multifamily units. Plus, they are 700K still, so not really a starter for most people. Well, at least not for me!

I like new builds from the concept that everything is new and shiny and it be nice to have all of that. I don't like that because they often don't have any yards (at least when we are talking about the ones in Arlington). I would much rather have a 2K square foot house with a nice yard than a 5K square foot house with no yard. I just don't get why they all have to be SOOO big, it isn't like most people here have 6 kids or anything. I guess people just like a lot of space.

[Anonymous]

Blaming the developers per some of the comments above is so misguided.


Demand sets property values. Property values set price.

If there was less demand for larger new builds, they would not be built.

Scenario #1

Buy Existing House - $700K
Build New House - assume $150 per SF simply for sake of argument - 4,000 SF - = $600K
Builder Profit - 20%, transaction fees, etc - 350K

Sales price $1,650K


Scenario #2
Buy Existing House - $700K
Build New House - assume $150 per SF simply for sake of argument - 2,000 SF - = $300K
Builder Profit - 20%, transaction fees, etc - 230K

Sales Price $1,230K


Three things happening here

First - The builder makes more money provided that there is a market for the larger house

Second - the smaller house still costs $1,230,000 (and probably slight more on a SF basis) which I don't think most would consider affordable unless..........


Third - the price of the existing home inventory is largely a function of the price of a new build. Simply put, if you are in an old house surrounded by new builds you should thank them for putting money in your pocket.


The builder/developer is just responding to the market. Land is a scarce commodity, more so in desirable areas - this is capitalism at its best. If you really disagree, grab your neighbors, fight and get zoning laws changed. The builder is working within the law and responding to the market. Your anger with the developer is misplaced. Even if he was providing the product you desire, you couldn't afford it unless everybody took a haircut in the value of their house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't like is that all new builds are McMansions or multifamily units. You don't see starter homes being built any longer and that sucks.

I think in my neighborhood, you get a bit of started home new buils, but they are all townhomes, so I am not sure if you consider that multifamily units. Plus, they are 700K still, so not really a starter for most people. Well, at least not for me!

I like new builds from the concept that everything is new and shiny and it be nice to have all of that. I don't like that because they often don't have any yards (at least when we are talking about the ones in Arlington). I would much rather have a 2K square foot house with a nice yard than a 5K square foot house with no yard. I just don't get why they all have to be SOOO big, it isn't like most people here have 6 kids or anything. I guess people just like a lot of space.

We had a big yard and with the DC winters, swamp like summers and mosquitoes we didn't use it that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't like is that all new builds are McMansions or multifamily units. You don't see starter homes being built any longer and that sucks.

I think in my neighborhood, you get a bit of started home new buils, but they are all townhomes, so I am not sure if you consider that multifamily units. Plus, they are 700K still, so not really a starter for most people. Well, at least not for me!

I like new builds from the concept that everything is new and shiny and it be nice to have all of that. I don't like that because they often don't have any yards (at least when we are talking about the ones in Arlington). I would much rather have a 2K square foot house with a nice yard than a 5K square foot house with no yard. I just don't get why they all have to be SOOO big, it isn't like most people here have 6 kids or anything. I guess people just like a lot of space.

We had a big yard and with the DC winters, swamp like summers and mosquitoes we didn't use it that much.

You make an excellent argument for townhouses. Unfortunately they are illegal to build on most of the lots where mcmansions are being built

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the ppl we know with large homes that carry large mortgages are in financial trouble. They have nothing saved and holding on to the idea that their home is their retirement. They have the house, but their retirement accts are lacking.

Keep telling yourself that. Our mortgage is very affordable and our retirement is very well funded, despite our large home.

+1

I think it makes people feel better to think that rich people are somehow in debt, like the accusers are. Maybe it makes them feel better. Except when it doesn't.