Anonymous wrote:I don't get it. I'd take one if I could afford it just like I'd take any bigger, open home if I could afford it!

I am the kind of person who would rather downsize the house and also have a good yard but I guess a lot of people prefer more house and little/ no yard and a deck instead. No idea why I'd be a hater for that?

This kind of hate is "rich people problems" for sure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwvlbJ0h35A

In many areas, it is illegal to tear down an existing single family home (or group of homes) and replace it with new townhomes or multifamily, to "preserve the neighborhood character" However it is perfectly legal to tear down an existing home and replace it with a new and vastly larger home. In areas with high land values, and demand for sq feet, this creates a massive bias towards lots of very large SFH's. Since such homes also change the character of the neighborhood, it is essentially a loophole, and one might even argue a hidden subsidy for large new SFHs.

It is interesting how many people claim a free market ideology, but have no problem with the zoning laws that ban TH's and multifamily, even in places close to metro stations.

I don't hate all new builds. Some are nice. However, much more often, they're built cheaply and not built to last. They are almost always built with lesser quality materials than older houses and often lack any charm and are unpleasing aesthetically.

It has nothing to do with cost. We could have spent less on a new build than what it cost to buy, renovate and add on to our old house. But we love the charm and character of our house and wouldn't trade it for most of the new homes built these days.

I dunno. I think I should consult the peasants in the sh*tshacks about how to spend my money. Clearly they know something that I don't.

People are threatened by new builds, OP. Especially when new builds become the majority in the neighborhood.

You know new builds raise property taxes, right?

Because many of them are tacky. Tacky finishes and fixtures. I've seen the tear down-rebuilds in my 1920s neighborhood (there aren't a lot of them, but when there is one, I like to go to the open house just out of curiosity). I'd rather live in an old home that is renovated and customized to my tastes. Of course, if I had an empty lot in a great location and the money to build my own new quality custom home, that would be great. But that's not what most people mean when they say "Secretly, everyone wants to live in a new home, they just can't afford one!".

Anonymous wrote:They have open floor plans, energy efficient features, and there's nothing to repair. Are "McMansions" all that bad?

There is nothing at all bad about one living where one wants to live.

There is nothing at all negative about living where one can afford to live.

People live in large, new houses BECAUSE THEY CAN.

There is nothing wrong with people making money, legally.

Nor is there anything wrong with being successful. This is America, after all.



It is clear why unsuccessful people have time on their hands to "address" how wealthy people live. How is that not irony?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have open floor plans, energy efficient features, and there's nothing to repair. Are "McMansions" all that bad?

Look around, OP. Have you ever (ever) seen someone who lives in a new house criticize another new house? No. Because that is not what successful people do. It is not at all difficult to see.

People live in new builds BECAUSE THEY CAN. But go ahead, claim you are the "millionaire next door". We all believe you, no really, we do - it's going to be alright, just breathe.

The guy next door has more than you, it's going to be alright.

LOL. Says the person with shit taste who spends 3 hours commuting every day.

LOL. You don't know to whom you speak. LOL. LOL. LOL.

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.

I don't get it. I'd take one if I could afford it just like I'd take any bigger, open home if I could afford it!

I am the kind of person who would rather downsize the house and also have a good yard but I guess a lot of people prefer more house and little/ no yard and a deck instead. No idea why I'd be a hater for that?

This kind of hate is "rich people problems" for sure.

I think it is a combination of jealousy and the reality that new builds tend to reflect what is most on trend at that moment so they will likely be out of style in a few years. Older homes that have been well maintained are usually pretty timeless - think colonials, craftsman, etc. Even older ranch style houses have their fans (not me!). The new McMansion craftsman homes just scream 2005-2015 to me.

I would argue that this area is saturated with 1950's-1960's ramblers and split levels that are also incredibly dated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have open floor plans, energy efficient features, and there's nothing to repair. Are "McMansions" all that bad?

Look around, OP. Have you ever (ever) seen someone who lives in a new house criticize another new house? No. Because that is not what successful people do. It is not at all difficult to see.

People live in new builds BECAUSE THEY CAN. But go ahead, claim you are the "millionaire next door". We all believe you, no really, we do - it's going to be alright, just breathe.

The guy next door has more than you, it's going to be alright.

LOL. Says the person with shit taste who spends 3 hours commuting every day.

Anonymous wrote:They have open floor plans, energy efficient features, and there's nothing to repair. Are "McMansions" all that bad?

Look around, OP. Have you ever (ever) seen someone who lives in a new house criticize another new house? No. Because that is not what successful people do. It is not at all difficult to see.

People live in new builds BECAUSE THEY CAN. But go ahead, claim you are the "millionaire next door". We all believe you, no really, we do - it's going to be alright, just breathe.

The guy next door has more than you, it's going to be alright.

Anonymous wrote:. Then we bought an older home and realized the many downsides (low ceilings, windows that won't open easily, lack of closets and storage generally, closed-off tiny kitchens, above-ground power lines).

I'm always surprised when posters say old houses have low ceilings and new houses have high ones. How old are you talking? Postwar ramblers tend to have 8' ceilings, but I don't think people who say they like the character of older houses are talking about that sort of house. The older houses I like have high ceilings (not lawyer-foyerish, but 9' or 10,' which was standard in the days before air conditioning, because you needed the circulation.

I admit I do like to be able to close off the kitchen because I love to cook, and I used to need to keep my little ones out from under foot. Now I like to be able to whirr and chop without bothering people elsewhere on the floor.

I think the term "Mcmansion" is obviously misused. I know people that own "Mcmansion" 6k sq foot homes (they're built in the 2000's, but are no better insulated than homes built 10+ yrs earlier), and people that own legit custom built homes. The legit custom built homes are not to be confused with the Mcmansions.

I think the fad of craftsman style homes is getting a bit played out (Vienna is oversaturated w/ them). A well built brick colonial I'd choose over a fad-style craftsman any day.