McMansions versus AverageHouse (compare bills here)

[bleedingheart]

Okay, I own a 1200 sq ft house built in '66.
3 bedrooms
2 baths
1 car garage

My monthly gas bill (I pay a budget amount is $90-100/month) I do this to lessen the impact that the winter bills have on my budget. I have a gas furnace (20 years old) and a new water heater, gas stove.

My electric bill is $70/month in the winter and $150/month in the summer. I have a pool filter and air conditioning running in the summer and all of the time I am running a 3 computers, two refrigerators, and a freezer (big electric items)

My taxes are $1800/per year on my home (this is the property tax used for the school districts here in Pennsylvania).

Now my husband's buddy owns a McMansion (greater than 2400 sq ft) and his electric bill is $70/month (he owns no pool but has air conditioning. and his gas bill isn't much higher than ours...which is probably due to the fact that his newer home is better insulated than my older home...although we did insulate the attic very well which has saved us money.

BUT...his taxes are $4000 a year.


What is the biggest gripe of most McMansion owners I know...TAXES...cuz they buy a bigger house but expect to have small house taxes...and that isn't going to happen. I don't have much sympathy for people who knowingly purchase a house without looking at all the additional costs...

[Midlodemocrat]

1. My house is hardly a McMansion, but it is a bit bigger than 2400

square feet.

I thought McMansions were those 4000 sq foot + monsters going up everywhere?

[bleedingheart]

4. I guess that is the first good point to settle...what is a McMansion

in our area they are the 2400+ sq foot houses. The average older house here is around 1200-1800 sq ft.

[Midlodemocrat]

18. Around here, my house

before we added on, was 2500 square feet and considered a 'starter home'.

Now, with the addition of a third floor office and bedroom and good sized rec room, it is probably about 3500 square feet.

I pay about $300 per month in the summer for A/C. $100 in winter.

Water is about $40 per month. Gas for water heater, fireplace and heat is $20 in the summer, God knows what it will be this winter....usually about $300 in the coldest months.

Taxes are $2000 per year.

[northzax]

19. my definition of a mcmansion

is an unattached house that has a footprint of more than 80% of the lot space. It's a big house, on a small lot.

[bleedingheart]

21. that would eliminate a lot of new homes in my area

that are huge but on 1/2 acre lots. They still have fairly large lots left...

[northzax]

27. it's a tough call, but yes, I think I would

I also prefer to think of McMansions as build ins, replacing smaller houses in preexisting neighborhoods without maintaining architectural integrity with the surrounding properties.

Big new houses on larger lots, in subdivisions are just that, subdivisions and sprawl. They're just really big levitowns.

[bleedingheart]

28. but I also see it as the suburbanization of farmland

in my area large dairy and wheat farms have been replaced by upscale housing...mostly people who left the city of Pittsburgh and surrounding area because they liked our low taxes and school district...now they are draining our public resources ...which is raising taxes.

It is really sad ...huge beautiful farms...turned into developments...

Meanwhile there are tons of places in Pittsburgh that could be torn down, or rehabbed....but they are just neglected...

[northzax]

30. it's the New Hampshire Paradox

people moved from the suburbs of Boston to New Hampshire, one of the reasons was lower taxes. But then they want the same schools, police, firefighters and roads they left behind. Where did you think those taxes were going, doofuses?

We're seeing it in the Northern Virginia ex-urbs, people move out for lower taxes and cheaper land. When they get there, they are often schocked to learn that Loudoun County has a volunteer fire department only.

you can't have both, kids.

[Gormy Cuss]

31. This is the best informal definition of Mc Mansion I've ever seen.

The big houses on big lots out in the new burbs do seem like a different animal than some of the shoehorned oversize beasts in older neighborhoods. I've seen old houses replaced or rebuilt to twice the size of the former house without sticking out like sore thumbs. The odd looking ones around here are two and a half storey stucco finished, faux tile roof, multi-turreted numbers built adjacent to 1950s style California ranches (wood shingled, usually with deep front porches and shingled roofs.) There are many expanded ranches that fit in seamlessly so it's not as if it would be difficult to maintain some visual integrity. I find it curious.

[northzax]

33. not that curious

it's called lazy architects. or, god forbid, no architect. It's remarkable what a good architect can do for your house (no, I'm not an architect) :)

[Gormy Cuss]

34. I have an architect friend

I keep track of the newest curiosities in my area and take him for a tour when he visits... his comments are priceless.:D

[CitrusLib]

32. That's the majority of homes in Florida.

Have you seen the lot sizes here? Postage stamp! When I first moved here, I lived in a 1500 sq ft house that would hardly be considered a McMansion and could reach out a side window to touch my neighbor's house. The easements aren't that big.

[northzax]

35. that's where the build-in comes into play

as well as the comparative size of lots.

and hey, you mean those lots Eric Estrada is shilling in Port Charlotte are tiny? really? but they look so big on the TeeVee?

[CitrusLib]

36. Other coast.

:-)

[BamaGirl]

26. Here too

The older houses seem to be mostly under 1500 sq ft, and there is a huge difference in the sizes of the new housing. You can't find anything between say 1600 sq ft and 2500 sq ft. It's a pita, because we really need say somewhere between 1600-1800. At this point we've about decided to just convert the garage to get another 400 sq ft or so. It'll cost a heck of a lot less than building!

[GOPisEvil]

2. Hmmm, ok, I have a 1100 sf house, built in 1983.

Gas - about $25 per month, more in winter, but not a whole lot more.
Electric/Sewer/Water/Trash - Anywhere from $70 in winter to $185 in summer.
Taxes - About $2400 a year. :(

[XNASA]

3. Besides sheer size another reason that McMansion owners pay....

High taxes is......

Typically, they are all in new sub-divisions. New sub-divisions mean new roads, new sewers, new water supply lines, new power lines and yes.....new schools. IOW new infrastructure.

And that's why their taxes are so high.

[bleedingheart]

6. Good point!

a lot of new subdivisions in our area have actually raised the costs of keeping roads snow-free in the winter. In fact they had to pay a lot of over time to compensate for the number of new roads added.

[Shell Beau]

5. I don't know the square footage of my home,

around 2000 square feet. I have 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 car garage, dining room, kitchen. House note is $1100/month, elec. is $160-$200/month (average, I'm on budget billing where it keeps it around the same price year round), water $45/month, gas averages $30/month (only water and fireplace use gas)

[lostnfound]

7. Property taxes: $14,000

No swimming pool, almost no backyard. It's large, but it's fairly old. Bought it because it saves me 40 minutes per day in driving time compared to the suburbs -- thus more time to spend with my little boy. Decent houses in a safe neighborhood inside the city can be very expensive.

Not complaining,exactly -- happy to have a job and a roof, unlike so many others -- but property taxes do seem a little ridiculous.

[Debi]

8. I've got 200 sq ft on you but our expenses are pretty equal

Interesting enough, my property value (and of course taxes) keep going up because the wealthy have found that I live in a pretty nice part of the county (quiet, wildlife, outside city limits) so they've been building HUGE mansions near my home (my house could fit in their garages!).

So, thanks buddy for raising my taxes so that YOU could then go and bitch about yours :grr:

[MissB]

9. I'm under the 2400 sq ft size

We're at about 2200 sq ft.

3 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
1 car garage

Electric bill runs $45 all year
Natural gas $20 in summer, average throughout the year would be about $100

We don't have air conditioning.

Taxes are over $5k a year.

[spinbaby]

10. We have an older house

Around 1500 square feet, I think. It takes about 600 gallons of fuel oil to heat in the winter. This year that will cost about $1200. We're adding more insulation under the new siding. That's costing us another $1200 or so in extra materials and labor on the siding job. We're hoping to get our heating oil use down to 500 gallons for the winter.

[Not Me]

11. In Orlando... 1500 sf ranch with one car garage...

no basement (this is Florida) built in 1961. Added 12" insulation in ceiling five years ago, triple pane, gas filled windows.

All electric: ~180 a month (a little higher in the summer/lower in the winter.) Property taxes $1100 year. (Under homestead exemption.)

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

12. 3,082 sq. ft. house

4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths. Good-sized backyard (but no pool, darn it). It's brand new construction as of last November; I think our taxes will be in the $8-10K range. Monthly electric bill is approximately $250-300. Don't know about the bills, really; my husband has been living here since November and I just got here in May, so he's been paying the bills.

I agree with the OP about people expecting low taxes with a big house. There's no excuse for not looking into all the anticipated costs when one makes such a major investment.

[AlCzervik]

13. My house is 2100 sf

the electric bill from may to Sept. is about $175 a month, gas for the same period runs about $11 a month but in the winter that goes up to about $75 because of the gas fireplace. Water, trash and recycling runs $120 every 3 months, property taxes are $2900 a year and my mortgage pmt is $1129 a month.

[sinkingfeeling]

14. OK, I'll play. I have a huge, Victorian, built in 1858 that I have been

restoring for the last 10 years. All told, it is 4800+ sq. ft., but the 3rd. floor is all attic (1400 sq. ft.). Of course, it has newer electrical service, heating and cooling, insulation, etc.

My electric averages $140/month. 2 separate AC units.
Natural gas heat (up 4x in last 10 years) still averages about $230 a month.
Property taxes (house + 1.8 acres in downtown historic district) $1600 a year.

I could be more energy efficient if I had another $17K to replace all of the 52 windows with double panes. I'd be losing alot of 1860's rolled glass, but they are drafty.

I look at my 'mansion' as a trade-off. I use more energy, but I have saved a house that watched a Civil War battle take place on it's property. Great value to the city.

[bleedingheart]

17. my hubby and I love old home restoration

my sister restored a house built in 1910...had to take it down to the studs...reinsulated, new windows...and her bills declined...but she is lucky..her hubby is an architect and he got the materials through wholesalers and installed them himself.

[sinkingfeeling]

22. Yeah, mine had been in 5 apartments since 1946. We gutted it, but

I paid contractors and workers to do the major stuff. I've been stripping paint off of woodwork for 10 years now! I've done all the interior painting, staining, tile work, wall papering and wood floor refinishing. It's really slow going since I work full time. If I had another $75 to 100K, I could get it finished in 6 months!

[bleedingheart]

24. Kudos to you for restoring it!

so many have succumbed to wrecking balls and that is just a shame...

[sinkingfeeling]

23. Duplicate post deleted.

[LSK]

15. 2br townhouse in suburban Chicago, taxes = $2800

Location plays a large part in taxes. I live in an older established area. Where McMansions are being put on former farmland, taxes are really high ($7000+) because nothing is there yet.

Electricity ranges from $50 - 90 / month
Gas ranges from $25 - 180 / month

[kick-ass-bob]

16. I have a 1960 built house and it is 3000 sq ft.

I don't see how you can classify "McMansions" as 2400 sqft.

:shrug:

[bleedingheart]

20. see post #4

I think it would be a good idea to define a McMansion. In my area it is any home that is in excess of 2400 sq ft...(those are the minimum dimensions on the very large homes going up on my area of the country)

[yellowdogintexas]

44. I wouldn't call 3000 sq ft built in 1960 a McMansion

McMansions to me are all these multigabled roofline, faux columns that are really just bricks stacked tall, teeny yard, zero lot line monstrosities that all look alike.

I often think that FT W/D is McMansion Central.

NO OFFENSE intended toward anyone who has one, I just don't like them. The floor plans, however are really quite nice, I just don't care for the exterior design.

My 1961 surburban "modified ranch" is about 2200 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, kitchen/family room combo and a "formal room" which could be a dining room, formal living area or a combo room. It is officially the Christmas tree room in our house and is also where the china cabinet lives.
That's my downstairs, about 1750 sq ft.
Upstairs we have two large roughed in rooms, with the A/C vented up there. No closets so the square footage is not figured into the value of the home even though the space is quite useable. BONUS space.
Two car garage, washer dryer is out there. Covered, screened patio out back.

Big trees. Fenced Lot. Decent sized yard.

I live in Texas. I have the electric bill from hell. My electric bill is averaged and is around $250 a month. My heat is gas, and my highest gas bill ever in this house was about $70. My summer gas bills are between $15 and $25 max, which will change when I have a gas stove put in the kitchen.

House note is $899 mo currently, which includes my taxes and insurance; the taxes break out to about 3500 a year, with homestead exemption.

I also have a bad water bill, because in the MetroPlex you have to keep your foundation soaked regularly to reduce sinking of the foundation; also I have a couple of seriously thirsty flower beds, and I water the lawn too. Summer water bills are over $100 but it also includes trash pickup, sewer and recycling. Winter bills are not so bad because it rains in the winter here.

[BamaGirl]

25. 1300 sq ft built in 98

3 bed,2 bath, 1 car garage

We don't have gas. The electric is about $70 in the winter, $90 thru most of the summer, and up to $120 for the really hot middle months. (We only get like 2 months of winter here. There's 3 kinds of summer ;)) My property taxes are really low--$185/yr.

[mcar]

29. 1500 sq foot

3 BR, 2 Bath, built in 1992 in Florida so no gas.

Taxes: $1100
Electric: about $150/month May through Sept. $75/month Oct-April (can go a bit higher if we have a colder winter.

Water: $35

[LaurenG]

37. We own a very old home

Built in 1875 - old farm house with a small barn
a little over 2000 sq ft on a little over an acre

Property taxes 2265

monthly
Gas and electric 300 winter
100 summer
Water 40 year round

[WCGreen]

38. I had two houses at one time...

Both of comparable value, that is the way to truly compare property tax...

One was in one of the wealthiest suburbs but very modest in deed...

One was in the inner ring, was a double and nothing extrodianary...


I pair twice as much for one......


If you guess the inner ring suburb, you are correct.....

The reason taxes are so high in inner ring suburbs is that values have peaked and that servives are going up, ie more old folks, more fire, more hosiptal, more polics....

In the wealthier subuebs, the place is growing like crazy. New homes that are charged taxes for a year or so before the are occupied because of the change in valueof the property with no increased services....

[Lydia Leftcoast]

39. The complaints about taxes aren't nearly as silly as

the complaints from people who deliberately move 40 or 50 miles out of the city into former farmland and then complain about the commute!

The excuse is that they can only afford to buy a house in the cornfields, not closer in. But they build a 3-story house with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, walk-in closets, and a den and a finished basement for a family of four and then spend thousands of dollars per year maintaining their two or more cars, each of which is driven 80 miles per day.

You want to shake them by the shoulders, especially when they complain about never having any money, and say, "Yo! Get a house that's the same size as the one you grew up in, in a neighborhood like the one you grew up in, and one or both of you take the bus to work."

[jmowreader]

40. How I define a McMansion

It's too big for the land it's on

The materials it's made from are too cheap for the size of the house

Build quality is average or below

It's in a development of similar houses

[bliss_eternal]

42. The owners probably have never used their front door.

They merely drive the suv into the garage and enter the mcmansion from there. (Don't want to bother talking to those pesky neighbors now do we?)

They probably have no front yard, whatsoever as they have pushed the boundaries of the home as much as they could to make it bigger.

Probably little in the way of trees or landscaping on their property. Grass, trees and yard are easily removed and utilized as more home.

:eyes:

[jmowreader]

43. A 70x60 lot with a 65x50 house is a key tipoff

Thanks for pointing that out.

A very quick way to tell the difference between "big house" and "McMansion"--look at the windows. Every McMansion I've ever seen has vinyl windows--generally double-hungs everywhere except the room that passes for a living room, where they use either a twin-unit double-hung or a picture unit. Vinyl windows are less expensive than wood windows, and the whole point of McMansions is to build this huge house and charge relatively little for it.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

41. About 1300 sf

2/1/1. Built in 1926. Gas central heat and gas range: budget billing about $70/mo. Heat is supplemented with wood FP at about $120 per half cord (used 1.5 cords last year, mainly 'cause Mr. 'pede wants to fire up the FP anytime it gets below 70 :eyes:) Electric central air and WH: average about $70 per month. Taxes: about $2200. We put some good insulation in the attic after we moved in.