Why do people hate new builds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Good thing you are not angry.

[Anonymous]

@ 9:22 - people get petty and spin a lot when they get frustrated about what they can't have. I could not imagine spending my life that way - how miserable.

No amount of "grabbing your neighbors" is going to change that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:@ 9:22 - people get petty and spin a lot when they get frustrated about what they can't have. I could not imagine spending my life that way - how miserable.

No amount of "grabbing your neighbors" is going to change that.

Given that there are people who DO have money, who buy townhouses in Georgetown, and condos in Logan Circle, etc, why do you assume that everyone who does or does not have money who dislikes McMansions secretly wants to live in one? I mean I know its a nice pat response whenever someone knocks one, but does it matter that its actually not true?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:@ 9:22 - people get petty and spin a lot when they get frustrated about what they can't have. I could not imagine spending my life that way - how miserable.

No amount of "grabbing your neighbors" is going to change that.

Given that there are people who DO have money, who buy townhouses in Georgetown, and condos in Logan Circle, etc, why do you assume that everyone who does or does not have money who dislikes McMansions secretly wants to live in one? I mean I know its a nice pat response whenever someone knocks one, but does it matter that its actually not true?

I think they just say that because they know they bought a big 'ole ugly house and are embarrassed. Trying to shift the focus off the fact that they have bad taste.

People can spend their money on many options - swanky urban area, renovated historic home, oversized McMansion. It's not the money - it's what you do with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:@ 9:22 - people get petty and spin a lot when they get frustrated about what they can't have. I could not imagine spending my life that way - how miserable.

No amount of "grabbing your neighbors" is going to change that.

Given that there are people who DO have money, who buy townhouses in Georgetown, and condos in Logan Circle, etc, why do you assume that everyone who does or does not have money who dislikes McMansions secretly wants to live in one? I mean I know its a nice pat response whenever someone knocks one, but does it matter that its actually not true?

I think this is more of a suburban issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Shouldn't you be in class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:@ 9:22 - people get petty and spin a lot when they get frustrated about what they can't have. I could not imagine spending my life that way - how miserable.

No amount of "grabbing your neighbors" is going to change that.

Given that there are people who DO have money, who buy townhouses in Georgetown, and condos in Logan Circle, etc, why do you assume that everyone who does or does not have money who dislikes McMansions secretly wants to live in one? I mean I know its a nice pat response whenever someone knocks one, but does it matter that its actually not true?

I think they just say that because they know they bought a big 'ole ugly house and are embarrassed. Trying to shift the focus off the fact that they have bad taste.

People can spend their money on many options - swanky urban area, renovated historic home, oversized McMansion. It's not the money - it's what you do with it.

Uh huh. And maybe well-to-do types who buy in a "swanky urban area" like Logan Circle and still dump on "McMansions" are trying to shift the focus from their own decision to buy in neighborhoods suited to closeted lawyers who arrange late-afternoon hook-ups at sleazy hotels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

100% BS

The builder is ONLY trying to maximize profit. He doesn't care about the neighborhood or fitting in. Once he makes his sale he never looks back. It has nothing to do with the market. There is way more demand at $1.2M than $1.6M. Some sucker will come along though so eventually the $1.6M will sell. But it's not what the market generally wants. The one and only reason why we have so many over-sized new home is that builders are greedy. Period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

100% BS

The builder is ONLY trying to maximize profit. He doesn't care about the neighborhood or fitting in. Once he makes his sale he never looks back. It has nothing to do with the market. There is way more demand at $1.2M than $1.6M. Some sucker will come along though so eventually the $1.6M will sell. But it's not what the market generally wants. The one and only reason why we have so many over-sized new home is that builders are greedy. Period.

+ 1000

[Anonymous]

text

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:@ 9:22 - people get petty and spin a lot when they get frustrated about what they can't have. I could not imagine spending my life that way - how miserable.

No amount of "grabbing your neighbors" is going to change that.

Given that there are people who DO have money, who buy townhouses in Georgetown, and condos in Logan Circle, etc, why do you assume that everyone who does or does not have money who dislikes McMansions secretly wants to live in one? I mean I know its a nice pat response whenever someone knocks one, but does it matter that its actually not true?

I think they just say that because they know they bought a big 'ole ugly house and are embarrassed. Trying to shift the focus off the fact that they have bad taste.

People can spend their money on many options - swanky urban area, renovated historic home, oversized McMansion. It's not the money - it's what you do with it.

Uh huh. And maybe well-to-do types who buy in a "swanky urban area" like Logan Circle and still dump on "McMansions" are trying to shift the focus from their own decision to buy in neighborhoods suited to closeted lawyers who arrange late-afternoon hook-ups at sleazy hotels.

Wow, you are really a piece of work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:@ 9:22 - people get petty and spin a lot when they get frustrated about what they can't have. I could not imagine spending my life that way - how miserable.

No amount of "grabbing your neighbors" is going to change that.

Given that there are people who DO have money, who buy townhouses in Georgetown, and condos in Logan Circle, etc, why do you assume that everyone who does or does not have money who dislikes McMansions secretly wants to live in one? I mean I know its a nice pat response whenever someone knocks one, but does it matter that its actually not true?

I think they just say that because they know they bought a big 'ole ugly house and are embarrassed. Trying to shift the focus off the fact that they have bad taste.

People can spend their money on many options - swanky urban area, renovated historic home, oversized McMansion. It's not the money - it's what you do with it.

Uh huh. And maybe well-to-do types who buy in a "swanky urban area" like Logan Circle and still dump on "McMansions" are trying to shift the focus from their own decision to buy in neighborhoods suited to closeted lawyers who arrange late-afternoon hook-ups at sleazy hotels.

Wow, you are really a piece of work.

Don't even bother. These people are so deluded about good taste and wealth it is no use. Trying to get through to them would completely shatter their world view and sense of self worth. Let them be in their tacky homes. It makes no difference to the rest of us. But make no mistake - we see you, and we are looking down on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:@ 9:22 - people get petty and spin a lot when they get frustrated about what they can't have. I could not imagine spending my life that way - how miserable.

No amount of "grabbing your neighbors" is going to change that.

Given that there are people who DO have money, who buy townhouses in Georgetown, and condos in Logan Circle, etc, why do you assume that everyone who does or does not have money who dislikes McMansions secretly wants to live in one? I mean I know its a nice pat response whenever someone knocks one, but does it matter that its actually not true?

I think they just say that because they know they bought a big 'ole ugly house and are embarrassed. Trying to shift the focus off the fact that they have bad taste.

People can spend their money on many options - swanky urban area, renovated historic home, oversized McMansion. It's not the money - it's what you do with it.

Uh huh. And maybe well-to-do types who buy in a "swanky urban area" like Logan Circle and still dump on "McMansions" are trying to shift the focus from their own decision to buy in neighborhoods suited to closeted lawyers who arrange late-afternoon hook-ups at sleazy hotels.

You are both horrible and confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:@ 9:22 - people get petty and spin a lot when they get frustrated about what they can't have. I could not imagine spending my life that way - how miserable.

No amount of "grabbing your neighbors" is going to change that.

Given that there are people who DO have money, who buy townhouses in Georgetown, and condos in Logan Circle, etc, why do you assume that everyone who does or does not have money who dislikes McMansions secretly wants to live in one? I mean I know its a nice pat response whenever someone knocks one, but does it matter that its actually not true?

I think they just say that because they know they bought a big 'ole ugly house and are embarrassed. Trying to shift the focus off the fact that they have bad taste.

People can spend their money on many options - swanky urban area, renovated historic home, oversized McMansion. It's not the money - it's what you do with it.

Uh huh. And maybe well-to-do types who buy in a "swanky urban area" like Logan Circle and still dump on "McMansions" are trying to shift the focus from their own decision to buy in neighborhoods suited to closeted lawyers who arrange late-afternoon hook-ups at sleazy hotels.

wow. are you this terrible of a person in real life?

[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.

I guess I am different. We have a yard, not huge, but still there. We hang out there almost every day as soon as it is not freezing till November. But my kid loves the outdoors and we use bug spray.