construction structures

The McMansion
New Homes, New Construction, New Construction Costs
New luxury homes, dubbed McMansions, have changed the face of new home building and architecture. While some may find this beneficial, many more find it detrimental.
   
Large homes often taking up more of the lot they are built on than the yards. Inside out styled architecture leading to mismatched windows and roofs. Houses that have taken so much money to construct or purchase, that families are unable to furnish them. These are some of the characteristics of the housing style designated the McMansion. Often criticized by neighbors, architects and journalists alike, are McMansions truly worth their price?

The Term “McMansion”

The word McMansion was first used in journalism in 1990, to describe a style of house larger than a median style home, built in a large subdivision, or on the lot of an existing smaller home. A typical McMansion is generally over 3,000 square feet in size, and is often built on a lot too small for its size, meaning that it has more house than yard.

The term McMansion was coined due to the rapid production of these houses, as well as their sudden ubiquitous appearance, reminiscent of McDonald’s food production and omnipresence.

Criticisms and Drawbacks to the McMansion
McMansions have long been criticized for being too large for the lot they are built on, in some cases encroaching upon neighboring houses and the streets they are placed on. Houses built on existing lots, which are significantly taller than the surrounding homes, have led to neighborhoods being classified negatively. Neighboring homeowners are quick to point out incongruity of such a large house on a traditionally sized parcel of land.
Additionally, the manner in which these new homes are constructed puts more emphasis on the interior of the house, than the exterior. Meaning, that rooms, windows and roof lines are built according to how they will best be used and viewed from the inside. This leads to multiple roof lines and levels, windows and doors that do not line up properly with one another and garages that are often prominently placed in the front of the home.

Many McMansions have such high new construction costs and price tags that there are often families purchasing these homes that cannot afford to furnish them. As the size of the American family becomes smaller, more areas of these Super Sized homes are going unused, leading to empty living and drawing rooms.

Additionally, many subdivisions of McMansions have offered special financing, making them attractive to buyers, which means that many McMansion owners have 100% or non-traditional mortgages, making them an unwise investment in this real estate market.

Advantages to New Luxury Homes
New home building techniques are able to make these larger homes more affordable to families than ever before. The larger home is still seen as a status symbol in many countries making it a desirable commodity.

As new housing trends begin to take families into smaller, more manageable homes, the fate of the McMansion is unknown. Larger homes on the market today are being forced into lower and lower pricing structures to try to create demand. It may be that the end of the McMansion is here, but with the focus on high quality, it may be that the return of the larger home is just around the corner, with the emphasis on style rather than size.