What Is A McMansion? Definition And Key Features

In most financial transactions, people want to maximize value while also minimizing cost. This is simple enough with some products. Buyers can save money on groceries by clipping coupons, buying in bulk and scouting for sales. With larger financial investments like buying a home, however, cutting corners isn’t as simple.

Fortunately, it’s possible to afford a more luxurious-feeling, spacious home without spending as much as you would on a large new build or a modern mansion. One option is a unique style of home called a McMansion. But its affordability comes with drawbacks as well.

What Is A McMansion?

A McMansion is an oversized, mass-produced house built to convey wealth without the structural quality of a traditional American home. McMansions are often described as opulent and over the top. But they’re generally criticized for being poorly designed and lacking true craftsmanship.

Historically, traditional mansions were typically bought by the wealthy, designed by experienced architects and built on substantial amounts of land. McMansions, on the other hand, allowed upper-middle-class Americans to cut corners and build a house that was often a misrepresentation of their economic status. These mansions were frequently built on smaller lots surrounded by more modest homes, making them look unnatural in the neighborhood.

Since these types of homes are generic, mass-produced and made with low-quality materials but still popular, McMansions have been called the architectural equivalent of fast food. For this reason, McMansions are nicknamed after the fast-food chain McDonald’s.

McMansion Vs. Mansion

So, how do you spot the difference between a traditional mansion and a McMansion? Examine the general features of each home type.

Key Characteristics Of McMansions

Now that we understand the differences between a traditional mansion and a McMansion, let’s take a closer look at the key features of a McMansion.

House Size

Most McMansions range between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet. Owning any home of that size isn’t cheap. These homeowners often face extremely high utility bills and expensive landscaping costs.

These supersized houses also have a sizable impact on the environment. McMansions require a significant amount of energy to support their amenities. Couple this with the materials used during construction, and you have a property that’s very energy inefficient. Critics say this contributes to the negative carbon footprint of modern society.

Quality Of Building Materials

McMansions cut the cost of building a traditional mansion by using cheaper, low-quality materials during construction. For example, it’s extremely common for McMansions to feature expensive brick or stucco on the front of the house, while cheaper vinyl siding covers the sides and back. This makes the home appear more elegant from the street while keeping building costs lower.

Architectural Design

A McMansion is intended to be a cost-efficient display of grandiosity. To make this impression at a lesser cost, many long-standing architectural design principles – such as proportion, balance and utility – are ignored.

This poor design often includes an eclectic and bizarre blend of architectural styles. It also often includes an unorthodox placement of details like columns, terraces, multicar garages and even windows and doors. Even the interior style may feature odd layouts that create wasted space.

Interior Features

You can also identify a McMansion by its interior design features, which can be random and mismatched from its exterior features. Once you walk inside a McMansion, you’ll likely see towering ceilings with huge chandeliers, Palladian windows, double-storied “great rooms” and other clashing features.

McMansion Pros And Cons

If you’re considering a McMansion for your future home, keep this list of pros and cons handy to help you decide.

Pros

• Affordability compared to modern mansions due to cheaper building materials
• More square feet of living space
• Upscale amenities and home features

Cons

• Higher upfront sale price and maintenance costs
• Lack custom features on the exterior
• Often look out of place and stand out amongst homes of other architectural styles
• Waste of materials and land
• Cheaper quality can make Mcmansions harder to sell later

McMansion FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about McMansions.

Why are they called McMansions?

McMansions are nicknamed after the fast-food restaurant McDonald’s. But, in general, they’re named to describe a type of home that resembles the quality of fast food – mass-produced and cheaply made, yet popular.

Where are McMansion-style houses built?

McMansion-style homes can be found all over the United States, most often in suburban areas occupied by middle-to-upper-middle-class families.

How do you tell if a house is a McMansion?

On the outside, you might be able to identify a McMansion because it looks larger than other houses around it. It may also be a completely different architectural style than surrounding homes. On the inside, you might notice large rooms, lots of space, high ceilings and often mismatched design styles. Your real estate agent can also help you identify a McMansion.

What are the problems with McMansions?

McMansions are considered problematic because of their architectural dysfunction and lack of sustainability. While they appear lavish from the exterior, the interior design features often don’t live up to the high standards of a traditional mansion.

Is it worth it to buy a McMansion?

Whether it’s worth it or not to buy a McMansion depends on each home buyer’s unique situation. It’s important to evaluate the potential benefits and risks. Once you assess the risks and decide you can afford the home, the best property for you is the one that meets your needs. However, keep in mind your ability to resell the home in the future if that’s a goal you have.

The Bottom Line

When you’re buying a home, it’s important to think long term. Of course, the most important factor in choosing a home is finding a property that reflects your goals and personal taste. But as many hope to someday resell, it’s equally important to choose a home that will set you up for long-term financial success.

Although McMansions offer plenty of space and grand facades, their shortcomings in design, functionality and sustainability have made them increasingly difficult to sell in the years since they were all the rage, making them a possibly risky investment.

Are you ready to start the house hunt? Work with a Verified Partner Agent from Rocket Homes^SM. Their expertise can point you toward – or away from – home styles like McMansions, depending on your needs and goals.