Why are homes in the DMV not nice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on what range homes you are talking about:
- Yes, multimillion dollar homes should look great in all ways.
- Under a million? Those are normal homes and people who own them will typically have to prioritize savings over renovations and decor, which is the sound and responsible thing to do.

I’m from Atlanta originally and you find attractive housing at all prices. If it has been renovated since the HGTV era, it looks good. The quality of the renovation may vary based on price, and it may be obvious if you’re in the space, but it will look great in a picture. I largely think it’s a reflection of labor costs and priorities. I love telling my sister in Atlanta about the quotes I get - she’s always shocked and appalled. I don’t think she’s ever done a house project that cost more than 10K, and she’s had major work done (adding bathrooms, finishing her basement, etc). At the prices we’re quoted here, I’m constantly asking myself whether it’s worth it. With the purely cosmetic work, it often isn’t.

Atlanta + HGTV = we are not working from the same definition of "nice"

The housing stock in Atlanta is beautiful. Go browse homes in buckhead or Druid hills on Redfin.

That’s no different than just looking at DC homes in Spring Valley or Georgetown or CC MD which everyone agrees (I think on this thread) is nice stock.

[Anonymous]

It's kind of funny you mentioned the NYC suburbs as being nicer. I'm in the NYC burbs and on our subreddit we often have posts asking why the housing stock is so old/outdated/small.

Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There isn’t a lot of real money in DC. Almost everyone is here for work. There aren’t insanely wealthy people like you’d find in LA, NY etc.

There is money here but the people with it are still DC mentality vs LA or NYC so they don't want to spend it on aesthetically pleasing things. People here like to suffer because poor people, policy or something.

[Anonymous]

Why do you think it's just around here? Did you look anywhere else? Pick any state, peruse the offerings, it's a total chit show. I've never seen anything more infuriating in my life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even higher end/more expensive homes in McLean, Potomac etc. have poor finishings, bad landscaping, mediocre appliances etc.

Compared to nicer suburbs around LA, NYC, Miami or other metro areas (even Charleston homes tend to be nicer) it appears as if people in this area either have no clue how to make a place "nice" or don't care to?

Is it because it's transient so they don't want to put in a La Cornue range when a Wolf would do?

They don't want to spend $$$ on proper high end landscaping which may take years to come in?

Interested in any other thoughts!

I completely agree. Except for a few subdivisions, the homes in Potomac are grotesque. I grew up in an upper class suburb in the Midwest and the houses and neighborhoods are way more beautiful than anything around here. Maybe because the suburbs around here developed later than the early 20th century? Except for a few.

Agreed. Places like Grosse Pointe are far nicer than any DC suburb. Georgetown and Old Town are incredibly nice though as is Spring Valley. The suburbs are by and large the problem because once you get out into The Plains and Middleburg it’s far classier than any gouche Miami exurb.

I agree with what many have said on this thread -- that the suburbs in DC were hastily built after WWII to accommodate government workers. We live in such a house in Bethesda. It's nothing special at all, and yet it's worth more than a much larger and more beautiful house in Grosse Point, Michigan, such as these two nice homes (selling for under $2 million, which would be double that if located in Bethesda or Arlington).

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/355-Lincoln-Rd_Grosse-Pointe_MI_48230_M46951-99604
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4-Cameron-Pl_Grosse-Pointe_MI_48230_M41316-38649

I'm only singling out Grosse Point because PP mentioned it above. I have friends who are moving from Minnesota to Michigan for a career advancement, and they are shocked at what a nice house you can get in Grosse Pointe, MI, for the money. Chicago also seems pretty affordable to live in a nice suburb like Hinsdale, IL.

So I agree that the houses around the DMV are not particularly charming or nice. But they are expensive. For us, we would love to have nicer furniture and a nicer home. But this is what we can afford.

As others have stated above, this area has a solid middle class and upper middle class thanks to the stability that federal employment (at least used to) provide(s). And there are a lot of educated people here. But we do not have the kind of wealthy industries that other cities may have, like NY and Boston.

Also, I once read that the DMV has the highest price of housing relative to the average salary. So in summary, the housing prices are relatively high compared to the salaries that people are earning. I don't understand why this is, but it sounds accurate to me. And that would explain why the houses do not look as nice.

Chiming in to say that Grosse Pointe is beautiful 🙂 there is nothing like GP around here. But, I have a better job here than I would have in Detroit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even higher end/more expensive homes in McLean, Potomac etc. have poor finishings, bad landscaping, mediocre appliances etc.

Compared to nicer suburbs around LA, NYC, Miami or other metro areas (even Charleston homes tend to be nicer) it appears as if people in this area either have no clue how to make a place "nice" or don't care to?

Is it because it's transient so they don't want to put in a La Cornue range when a Wolf would do?

They don't want to spend $$$ on proper high end landscaping which may take years to come in?

Interested in any other thoughts!

I completely agree. Except for a few subdivisions, the homes in Potomac are grotesque. I grew up in an upper class suburb in the Midwest and the houses and neighborhoods are way more beautiful than anything around here. Maybe because the suburbs around here developed later than the early 20th century? Except for a few.

Agreed. Places like Grosse Pointe are far nicer than any DC suburb. Georgetown and Old Town are incredibly nice though as is Spring Valley. The suburbs are by and large the problem because once you get out into The Plains and Middleburg it’s far classier than any gouche Miami exurb.

And Grosse Pointe was the midwestern upper class suburb I was referring to! 🙂

[Anonymous]

There are some really nice houses here. Several of my friends live in very nice houses. Nice houses are very expensive here, though, and renovations are way pricier than in many other markets. I envy the HGTV houses in Detroit and Laurel MS, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Using a professional decorator is a game changer, along with renovating dated kitchens and bathrooms, replacing uninspired fixtures, and upgrading lighting plans in general. I think many people who buy expensive homes balk at seeking professional help and spending significant amounts on furnishings and decor, and that shows.

We’ve got young kids and an old dog. One day we’ll use a professional decorator and spend a lot on nice furniture. Today is not that day.

And you’ve answered OP’s question. Many people never get to that “one day” or they move and focus on their new home. If most of your neighbors are of the same mindset, there’s no social pressure to up the ante. In some places and circles, splurging on interiors is what people do. It sounds like DMV is not one of them.

Again, it's complete BS. Depends on the area affluence. People who buy new multimillion dollar homes or estates absolutely keep spending on their homes after their purchase. There is new furniture delivered, designer lighting in these houses, landscaping work done all the time and trucks coming and going. But, it's become a luxury here to renovate. The difference is stark when you go into more working class areas where more and more homes appear to be rundown and in disrepair, and next to them new construction homes are going up already.

There’s a difference between someone who walks into an Arhaus or RH and buys a bunch of furniture for their new build and someone who hires a decorator. Very few people I know in Arlington actually invest in the interiors of their homes - it’s very hard to choose appropriate sized furnishings, the correct colors (hence why so many houses are bland white/tan/neutral, and layer the necessary textures and finishes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on what range homes you are talking about:
- Yes, multimillion dollar homes should look great in all ways.
- Under a million? Those are normal homes and people who own them will typically have to prioritize savings over renovations and decor, which is the sound and responsible thing to do.

I’m from Atlanta originally and you find attractive housing at all prices. If it has been renovated since the HGTV era, it looks good. The quality of the renovation may vary based on price, and it may be obvious if you’re in the space, but it will look great in a picture. I largely think it’s a reflection of labor costs and priorities. I love telling my sister in Atlanta about the quotes I get - she’s always shocked and appalled. I don’t think she’s ever done a house project that cost more than 10K, and she’s had major work done (adding bathrooms, finishing her basement, etc). At the prices we’re quoted here, I’m constantly asking myself whether it’s worth it. With the purely cosmetic work, it often isn’t.

Atlanta + HGTV = we are not working from the same definition of "nice"

The housing stock in Atlanta is beautiful. Go browse homes in buckhead or Druid hills on Redfin.

That’s no different than just looking at DC homes in Spring Valley or Georgetown or CC MD which everyone agrees (I think on this thread) is nice stock.

DC has nice stock in NW and older inner suburbs like Chevy Chase. The reference to places like Atlanta and Dallas and other southern cities is the new housing stock. Which is really nice. Not just the old prewar housing, which those cities also have. The South just appreciates nice design better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There isn’t a lot of real money in DC. Almost everyone is here for work. There aren’t insanely wealthy people like you’d find in LA, NY etc.

There is a decent bit of money here. People are just more modest and less showy because it is in poor taste to be flashy with your wealth. Many households here that 30-100M in assets. However, these people often live in the same 1-3M neighborhoods that others live in. They don’t have super fancy houses, just slightly nicer than average houses in premium locations.

This is very true. I work in private wealth and my clients on the upper ends of the 20-50M level live in very nice areas but have modest homes that are well maintained. Their home splurge is usually a large vacation house in FL or DE. Not uncommon for an old 3500 sq ft Bethesda house that looks middle class but they have a 3-5M vacation home on the short that’s 6k square feet to host their kids and grandkids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on what range homes you are talking about:
- Yes, multimillion dollar homes should look great in all ways.
- Under a million? Those are normal homes and people who own them will typically have to prioritize savings over renovations and decor, which is the sound and responsible thing to do.

I’m from Atlanta originally and you find attractive housing at all prices. If it has been renovated since the HGTV era, it looks good. The quality of the renovation may vary based on price, and it may be obvious if you’re in the space, but it will look great in a picture. I largely think it’s a reflection of labor costs and priorities. I love telling my sister in Atlanta about the quotes I get - she’s always shocked and appalled. I don’t think she’s ever done a house project that cost more than 10K, and she’s had major work done (adding bathrooms, finishing her basement, etc). At the prices we’re quoted here, I’m constantly asking myself whether it’s worth it. With the purely cosmetic work, it often isn’t.

lol

Hgtv = trendy wayfair filled home

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure if it's really the houses or the suburbs that aren't nice. I have spent a lot of time in Westchester and I love the variety of the homes that you just don't get here. As others have said, most of the homes here were thrown up after WWII, just to get houses up without regards to charm or anything.
However, I have also spent a lot of time in those homes and they can be very old and drafty and dark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on what range homes you are talking about:
- Yes, multimillion dollar homes should look great in all ways.
- Under a million? Those are normal homes and people who own them will typically have to prioritize savings over renovations and decor, which is the sound and responsible thing to do.

I’m from Atlanta originally and you find attractive housing at all prices. If it has been renovated since the HGTV era, it looks good. The quality of the renovation may vary based on price, and it may be obvious if you’re in the space, but it will look great in a picture. I largely think it’s a reflection of labor costs and priorities. I love telling my sister in Atlanta about the quotes I get - she’s always shocked and appalled. I don’t think she’s ever done a house project that cost more than 10K, and she’s had major work done (adding bathrooms, finishing her basement, etc). At the prices we’re quoted here, I’m constantly asking myself whether it’s worth it. With the purely cosmetic work, it often isn’t.

Atlanta + HGTV = we are not working from the same definition of "nice"

The housing stock in Atlanta is beautiful. Go browse homes in buckhead or Druid hills on Redfin.

Who wants to live in Atlanta?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on what range homes you are talking about:
- Yes, multimillion dollar homes should look great in all ways.
- Under a million? Those are normal homes and people who own them will typically have to prioritize savings over renovations and decor, which is the sound and responsible thing to do.

I’m from Atlanta originally and you find attractive housing at all prices. If it has been renovated since the HGTV era, it looks good. The quality of the renovation may vary based on price, and it may be obvious if you’re in the space, but it will look great in a picture. I largely think it’s a reflection of labor costs and priorities. I love telling my sister in Atlanta about the quotes I get - she’s always shocked and appalled. I don’t think she’s ever done a house project that cost more than 10K, and she’s had major work done (adding bathrooms, finishing her basement, etc). At the prices we’re quoted here, I’m constantly asking myself whether it’s worth it. With the purely cosmetic work, it often isn’t.

Atlanta + HGTV = we are not working from the same definition of "nice"

The housing stock in Atlanta is beautiful. Go browse homes in buckhead or Druid hills on Redfin.

Who wants to live in Atlanta?

Lol, who wants to live in DC?

The answer to "Why are homes in the DMV not nice?" is that DC is a city build on cynicism and humorless powerlust. None of the glitz of New York or the reserved, quiet beauty of college towns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even higher end/more expensive homes in McLean, Potomac etc. have poor finishings, bad landscaping, mediocre appliances etc.

Compared to nicer suburbs around LA, NYC, Miami or other metro areas (even Charleston homes tend to be nicer) it appears as if people in this area either have no clue how to make a place "nice" or don't care to?

Is it because it's transient so they don't want to put in a La Cornue range when a Wolf would do?

They don't want to spend $$$ on proper high end landscaping which may take years to come in?

Interested in any other thoughts!

Why not just go ahead and let everyone know you're a pretentious twat that wants everyone to know that you spend unnecessary amounts of money to show people you've finally made it? Also show some links to these supposed homes in the same price range in LA, NYC, Miami, Charleston that are better and have "luxe" fittings that you deem appropriate. We'll wait.