McMansions Are Back And They're Bigger Than Ever

Zero Hedge ^ | 02 June 2016 | Tyler Durden

[Lorianne]

There was a small ray of hope just after the Lehman collapse that one of the most lamentable characteristics of US society - the relentless urge to build massive McMansions (funding questions aside) - was fading. Alas, as the Census Bureau confirmed this week, that normalization in the innate American desire for bigger, bigger, bigger not only did not go away but is now back with a bang.

According to just released data, both the median and average size of a new single-family home built in 2015 hit new all time highs of 2,467 and 2,687 square feet, respectively.

And while it is known that in absolute number terms the total number of new home sales is still a fraction of what it was before the crisis, the one strata of new home sales which appears to not only not have been impacted but is openly flourishing once more, are the same McMansions which cater to the New Normal uberwealthy (which incidentally are the same as the Old Normal uberwealthy, only wealthier) and which for many symbolize America's unbridled greed for mega housing no matter the cost.

Not surprisingly, as size has increased so has price: as we reported recently, the median price for sold new single-family homes just hit record a high of $321,100.

[bgill]

I’m not the one paying for them or paying the property taxes every year.

Yes, you are paying for them when they default on their loans because they were so stupid to buy way more than they need or afford. Also, the minute a mcmansion goes up in your neighborhood, the tax appraisal district jumps all over it and raises your property tax.

[trisham]

I like large square rooms with lots of windows. Claustrophobia is my middle name.

[henkster]

These kulaks are exceeding their resource ration. They must be repressed.

[Covenantor]

Always got a kick out of that song. Avowed leftists promising affordable houses for the working class mocking the capitalists who made home ownership possible for the working man and his family.

Catchy tune usually sung in that nasal faux just plainfolks fashion. FU Pete Seeger and Alvina whoever

[Tax-chick]

The Wall Street Journal had an article recently saying that few blacks and Hispanics were taking out super-sized mortgages. I think that’s supposed to be “bad,” but I don’t see why. I have no desire for a huge house (and massive debt), and I have 12 in my family.

[bgill]

Tiny houses are ridiculous. Ok, fine, some people don’t need more than a few hundred sq ft of living space but the first time they twist an ankle, they’ll be wishing for a nice little single story ranch. Besides, those tiny things are waaay to expensive. Buy a camper for less.

[Vigilanteman]

Depends on what you want. But even if true, $25K buys you a pretty decent house near the burgh, eh?

[dragnet2]

They built millions of those 2 story 3k and 4k sq ft homes inland in CA with illegal alien labor. The poor slobs who bought them in the mid 90s etc didn’t figure out it was going to cost them 600++ per month just for electricity in the hot months just to make the habitable.

[bgill]

Please, share your recipe.

[Flick Lives]

Little Boxes

Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There’s a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they’re all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there’s doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they’re all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry,
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.

And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
There’s a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they’re all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

(words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1962 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1990)

[Publius]

Malvina Reynolds: "Little Boxes"

The theme from Showtime's "Weeds."

[PA Engineer]

BS, no one in Middle America can afford or wants to spend outrageous expenses to heat and cool these monstrosities.

If the homes are built properly the cost of heating and cooling is lower than existing stock.

The homeowner has to understand site orientation, insulation and HVAC. If you let the contractor make those decisions, then you will pay.

My home including basement, greenhouse and garage is 5100 SQ.FT. on 6 wooden acres. I also have a large barn. My HVAC costs are less than my mothers 1200 SQ.FT. home built in the late 50s. Our home's main HVAC is 85,000 BTU NG furnace at 97% efficiency. Our AC is 3 Ton with a SEER rating of 21. Home orientation with greenhouse is SSE with R60 attic and R40 wall insulation. House is completely wrapped with fiber cement board as the siding. Even during the worst blizzards, there are no drafts or noise.

I can also heat the home with 3.5 chords of wood. Less if we have a particularly sunny winter. That is with a heating load of 6000+ heating degree days (HDD). I expect it to get much higher during the coming years.

You pay up front to do it right else you pay a recurring HVAC tax. I know many of middle America who love our retreat in the woods and would be grateful owners if they could do it all over again.

[Lorianne]

But zoning officials also claim no one should have a small house ... which is the same thing is it not?

[buckalfa]

"BS, no one in Middle America can afford or wants to spend outrageous expenses to heat and cool these monstrosities."

Utilities in the age green are only going to go up. Smaller houses under $150K make sense. Yet, try to get conventional financing on something small and the banks treat it as substandard housing.

[Larry Lucido]

I was looking up that “ticky tacky” song (Little Boxes) and saw that singer/satirist Tom Lehrer once called it the most sanctimonious song ever. Got to agree.

[Larry Lucido]

See #55. :-)

[Rockpile]

The mere sight of an apartment block sickens me. I have to fight the urge to vomit when seeing one of these monstrosities infested with swarming hordes of apartment garbage.

[dfwgator]

I was looking up that “ticky tacky” song (Little Boxes) and saw that singer/satirist Tom Lehrer once called it the most sanctimonious song ever. Got to agree.

And when a big-time Lefty like Lehrer says it, that is saying something.

[DUMBGRUNT]

If you have time, go for the Naperville Riverwalk!
The Veterans memorial is nice, and the 911 memorial, the Carillon...

[sparklite2]

I’ve seen those little houses on the hills of San Francisco.
As for the song, I more associate it with “Weeds,” the TV series, where the cookie-cutters begin to break out and start dealing grass. It was a great series.