What is a McMansion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow some strange definitions of a McMansion here. Probably because so many of you live in McMansions. And 8 bedroom 16,000 sq ft house is an actual mansion. A 4500 sq ft house with 4 bedrooms built on a postage stamp lot within spitting distance of your neighbor is a McMansion. Often times a McMansion will have a couple of cavern sized rooms that are absurdly large. A friend of mine has a family room that's so big, the 60" TV hanging on the wall looks tiny from the couch 20 feet away. It's way more room than a family of 4 needs.

The weird thing is that so many of you who live in shitshacks don't seem to mind the "actual mansions," but the thought that someone you actually know lives in a bigger house than you do sends you off into such a frenzy (cue the "we could easily afford to live in a 6000 sq ft house, but we chose a house with craftsmanship.(sic)").

The old "shitshacks" as you call them are worth way more than the new developments. I guess you can afford one

The land underneath the shitshacks may be worth something. The houses themselves, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow some strange definitions of a McMansion here. Probably because so many of you live in McMansions. And 8 bedroom 16,000 sq ft house is an actual mansion. A 4500 sq ft house with 4 bedrooms built on a postage stamp lot within spitting distance of your neighbor is a McMansion. Often times a McMansion will have a couple of cavern sized rooms that are absurdly large. A friend of mine has a family room that's so big, the 60" TV hanging on the wall looks tiny from the couch 20 feet away. It's way more room than a family of 4 needs.

The weird thing is that so many of you who live in shitshacks don't seem to mind the "actual mansions," but the thought that someone you actually know lives in a bigger house than you do sends you off into such a frenzy (cue the "we could easily afford to live in a 6000 sq ft house, but we chose a house with craftsmanship.(sic)").

The old "shitshacks" as you call them are worth way more than the new developments. I guess you can afford one

The land underneath the shitshacks may be worth something. The houses themselves, not so much.

Who, pray tell, do you think will want to live in your mass produced, medium sized, tasteless little shack out in Loudon anyway? The fact that these structures are so easy and cheap to build will tell you everything about their construction and quality.

I will take my beautiful Chevy Chase mansion (by your standards, which are ludicrously small) any day.

[Anonymous]

around 2000 or 2001, Parade magazine -- a nationwide publication -- did a feature on McMansions. The poster child was a house in Oakton at the corner of Vale and Hunter mill. It is not a west coast phenom.

3000 SQ Ft is not a McMansion...5000+, but mass produced...designed to look fancy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:around 2000 or 2001, Parade magazine -- a nationwide publication -- did a feature on McMansions. The poster child was a house in Oakton at the corner of Vale and Hunter mill. It is not a west coast phenom.

3000 SQ Ft is not a McMansion...5000+, but mass produced...designed to look fancy.

On three levels though, right? There are very few tract homes or mass built homes with 5000+ sqft on two levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow some strange definitions of a McMansion here. Probably because so many of you live in McMansions. And 8 bedroom 16,000 sq ft house is an actual mansion. A 4500 sq ft house with 4 bedrooms built on a postage stamp lot within spitting distance of your neighbor is a McMansion. Often times a McMansion will have a couple of cavern sized rooms that are absurdly large. A friend of mine has a family room that's so big, the 60" TV hanging on the wall looks tiny from the couch 20 feet away. It's way more room than a family of 4 needs.

The weird thing is that so many of you who live in shitshacks don't seem to mind the "actual mansions," but the thought that someone you actually know lives in a bigger house than you do sends you off into such a frenzy (cue the "we could easily afford to live in a 6000 sq ft house, but we chose a house with craftsmanship.(sic)").

The old "shitshacks" as you call them are worth way more than the new developments. I guess you can afford one

The land underneath the shitshacks may be worth something. The houses themselves, not so much.

Who, pray tell, do you think will want to live in your mass produced, medium sized, tasteless little shack out in Loudon anyway? The fact that these structures are so easy and cheap to build will tell you everything about their construction and quality.

I will take my beautiful Chevy Chase mansion (by your standards, which are ludicrously small) any day.

If I lived in a "beautiful Chevy Chase mansion," about the last thing I'd worry about would be the quality of home construction 40 miles away in Loudoun County. Sounds like you're off in your own fantasy world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow some strange definitions of a McMansion here. Probably because so many of you live in McMansions. And 8 bedroom 16,000 sq ft house is an actual mansion. A 4500 sq ft house with 4 bedrooms built on a postage stamp lot within spitting distance of your neighbor is a McMansion. Often times a McMansion will have a couple of cavern sized rooms that are absurdly large. A friend of mine has a family room that's so big, the 60" TV hanging on the wall looks tiny from the couch 20 feet away. It's way more room than a family of 4 needs.

The weird thing is that so many of you who live in shitshacks don't seem to mind the "actual mansions," but the thought that someone you actually know lives in a bigger house than you do sends you off into such a frenzy (cue the "we could easily afford to live in a 6000 sq ft house, but we chose a house with craftsmanship.(sic)").

The old "shitshacks" as you call them are worth way more than the new developments. I guess you can afford one

The land underneath the shitshacks may be worth something. The houses themselves, not so much.

Who, pray tell, do you think will want to live in your mass produced, medium sized, tasteless little shack out in Loudon anyway? The fact that these structures are so easy and cheap to build will tell you everything about their construction and quality.

I will take my beautiful Chevy Chase mansion (by your standards, which are ludicrously small) any day.

If I lived in a "beautiful Chevy Chase mansion," about the last thing I'd worry about would be the quality of home construction 40 miles away in Loudoun County. Sounds like you're off in your own fantasy world.

Seriously. That was one of the most derisive comments I've seen. For someone to be upset for having their house called a mansion (not even a McMansion) to prompt an attack on someone else that isn't a 1%'er tells you a lot about that person. The comment about the mansion was basically an aside and somehow it was taken as an insult. Since when is living in a mansion in Chevy Chase a bad or insulting thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow some strange definitions of a McMansion here. Probably because so many of you live in McMansions. And 8 bedroom 16,000 sq ft house is an actual mansion. A 4500 sq ft house with 4 bedrooms built on a postage stamp lot within spitting distance of your neighbor is a McMansion. Often times a McMansion will have a couple of cavern sized rooms that are absurdly large. A friend of mine has a family room that's so big, the 60" TV hanging on the wall looks tiny from the couch 20 feet away. It's way more room than a family of 4 needs.

The weird thing is that so many of you who live in shitshacks don't seem to mind the "actual mansions," but the thought that someone you actually know lives in a bigger house than you do sends you off into such a frenzy (cue the "we could easily afford to live in a 6000 sq ft house, but we chose a house with craftsmanship.(sic)").

The old "shitshacks" as you call them are worth way more than the new developments. I guess you can afford one

The land underneath the shitshacks may be worth something. The houses themselves, not so much.

Who, pray tell, do you think will want to live in your mass produced, medium sized, tasteless little shack out in Loudon anyway? The fact that these structures are so easy and cheap to build will tell you everything about their construction and quality.

I will take my beautiful Chevy Chase mansion (by your standards, which are ludicrously small) any day.

I don't understand how you can call your house a mansion and it be small.

[Anonymous]

Here are some pictures of IMO McMansions

A neighborhood of McMansions - looks like this is more of a west coast style of house. They are large (though maybe not as large as some McM's) and close together with small yards.


This is a McMansion IMO


McMansion stock photos - true McM's would have the neighbors' houses clearly visible due to small lot sizes.



Old school/original McMansion. Would probably be considered a regular size house now, though. But it has the classic brick front and siding on the sides, and a front load 3 car garage. And you can see the neighbors' houses behind it so you know the lot is small.


Large McMansion, but still a McM!


Not McMansions, IMO - rather large homes or actual mansions

[Anonymous]

It's too cold to go outside today. My 2yo is scootering around inside the house. He's doing laps thru the kitchen, family room, dining room and butler pantry. I love my McMansion!

[Anonymous]

A cheaply constructed monstrosity distinguished by tacky faux French Provincial architecture all wedged onto lot 50% too small for the house size.

[Anonymous]

Some of you people are too judgemental for your own good.. These houses are all beautiful. Beauty comes in many forms 500 sq. feet or 5000. Many people in this country would feel very fortunate and happy for others to live in a home like this. Entitled, pretentious, snooty attitudes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's too cold to go outside today. My 2yo is scootering around inside the house. He's doing laps thru the kitchen, family room, dining room and butler pantry. I love my McMansion!

This happens at our house too. The scooter riding inside is awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's too cold to go outside today. My 2yo is scootering around inside the house. He's doing laps thru the kitchen, family room, dining room and butler pantry. I love my McMansion!

This happens at our house too. The scooter riding inside is awesome.

+1 we have the same thing too the kids love it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A cheaply constructed monstrosity distinguished by tacky faux French Provincial architecture all wedged onto lot 50% too small for the house size.

THIS! No truly wealthy person I've known has ever lived in one. Both here and in Texas. And I've know a lot of them.