Modern Mansions: What They Are, Characteristics And Pros And Cons

When we think of what a mansion is, most of us immediately conjure a vast, stately, old house – with an emphasis on “old.” We picture a place much like Highclere Castle in England, where much of the hit television series “Downton Abbey” was filmed. In the U.S. we think of the Vanderbilts’ Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, or the Long Island party palace of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Jay Gatsby.

That Gatsby was a fictional literary character is kind of the point – in fact, real people no longer live in many of America’s most storied mansions. They are simply too grand, drafty and difficult to maintain as private residences without the army of servants that was required to run them in their heyday. Many now exist solely as museums and event venues, harbingers of times past.

But that doesn’t mean that the mansion does not exist in the 21^st century. There are now more uber-wealthy individuals living in massive and luxurious homes than ever before. But today’s modern mansion is different from those of stories and old movies. They come in a wider array of architectural styles, some of them quite dramatic. They are airier, with open floor plans and floor-to-ceiling windows. They are smart, too, with the latest in technology making the lives of residents thoroughly modern.

Let’s take a look at what qualifies as a modern mansion in some of America’s poshest neighborhoods, and what kinds of luxuries and playthings the very wealthy now enjoy at home.

What Makes A House A Mansion?

Generally speaking, most REALTORS^® seem to agree that a contemporary house of 8,000 square feet is a mansion. It will have elegant or dramatic architecture, expensive and/or rare building materials, large bedrooms with en suite baths, a full chef’s kitchen with catering facilities, and dedicated recreational spaces such as a home movie theater, basketball court or bowling alley.

The grounds will be ample, too (though some real estate professionals might identify a large acreage property as an “estate”). A mansion will have plenty of room for sprawling gardens, a swimming pool, tennis courts, riding stables and servant’s quarters.      

What Is Considered A Modern Mansion?

First, let’s clarify what we mean by modern, because it’s a vague term with more than one meaning. There is a specific design aesthetic categorized as “modern.” It came to prominence in the middle decades of the 20^th century and emphasized clean lines, simple geometric shapes and intentional asymmetry. It had nothing to do with a home’s size, and in fact most modernist houses were of near average square footage.

For this article, however, we’ll consider the term modern to mean of these times, or contemporary. This can cover a broader or narrower time frame, depending on how you define it, but in discussing modern mansions we’ll consider contemporary homes built in the last three or four decades. This time period has seen a dramatic uptick in the number of multimillionaires and billionaires, due in great part to America’s economic boom from the technology revolution, and these wealthy people are building the castles of today.

Modern Mansion Floor Plans

The modern mansion comes in many shapes, sizes and architectural styles – from more traditional layouts and exterior elements to dramatic, avant-garde imaginings from some of the world’s great architects. These grand houses provide a sprawling, elegant, luxurious living space for individuals and families of great wealth. No two are alike, and yet they all possess the same basic functional rooms that all houses require.

Luxury Bedrooms And Bathrooms

In a modern mansion, no occupants or guests will share a bathroom with anyone else. Each bedroom has its own en suite bath.

The master bedroom will have a large, dramatic bed with high thread count sheets, of course. Other elements of the room may include a dramatic ceiling and lighting fixture, large windows with the best view of the surrounding property, a sitting area with desk, a wet bar, fireplace, and, of course, huge his-and-hers walk-in closets. The room will also have a sliding glass door that walks out to a terrace, courtyard or swimming pool. Many modern mansions have a “secret room” behind a movable wall which can be used to keep valuable possessions and also serve as a lockable panic room.

Moving to the bathroom you’ll find a large space with heated floors, multiple mirrors and expensive imported tiles and marble. The room may include features like a multijet double shower, jacuzzi tub, dry sauna, steam room, voice-response sound system, bidet and adjustable mood lighting.

The number of bedrooms and bathrooms will depend on the owner’s preference, family size and whether they plan to have lots of overnight guests. The trend, however, is for fewer rooms that are larger and have more amenities.

Spacious Areas For Entertaining

With the amount of care and resources that go into building an awe-inspiring mansion, it’s likely that the owners will want to show it off to house and party guests. They want people to have a fantastic experience in their home and to speak far and wide of their hosts’ wealth, vision and generosity.

To that end, the modern mansion can be a house of wonder and play, featuring things like a custom aquarium and water feature, luxury movie theater, bowling alley, squash/handball court, fully equipped home gym, indoor lap pool, temperature-controlled custom wine cellar, custom speakeasy pub and high-tech game room. The only limit is the imagination – and money, of course.

Grand Outdoor Areas

It’s almost mandatory for the modern mansion to have opulent and spacious grounds that include a sweeping terrace with swimming pool and pool house, fully equipped outdoor kitchen, woven gardens and pristine lawns.

But further customizations of the grounds are limited only by the space available and can include clay or grass tennis courts, Olympic size hockey rink complete with Zamboni, horse stables and manicured golf putting and pitching green.

Luxury Modern Mansions For Extravagant Living

When a large and stately house goes up for sale today, it is often without a lot of fanfare. You may not find the listing online. REALTORS^® and owners like to keep showings limited to serious buyers only, so potential buyers will have to show they have the cash or financing to meet a huge asking price.

The Pros And Cons Of Buying A Modern Mansion

Pros

• Architectural vision: Many high-end mansions have been designed with great skill by an experienced architect. Careful thought has been given to the energy, flow and functionality of the home.
• High-end materials: High quality materials, such as imported hardwood, marble, stone and glazing ensure that the house is solidly constructed and exudes a feeling of solidity and wealth.
• Event space: A mansion has the kind of grand interior halls and sweeping outdoor terraces that lend themselves to large parties and other important gatherings.
• Activity spaces: Things like swimming pools, squash and tennis courts, saunas and home gyms make it easy to stay active and healthy.
• Smart investment: If you invest wisely in a modern mansion, you should have a property that appreciates in value over time.
• It’s impressive: Let’s face it: A massive, impressive house announces to your friends, family and business associates that you are a wealthy and accomplished individual.

Cons

• Higher property taxes: Since your annual property taxes are tied to the market value of your principal home, they will be substantial for the owner of a modern mansion.
• Higher monthly utility costs: The monthly energy costs on heating, cooling and lighting an 8,000+ square foot home are substantial, especially in high-rate states like California. A home with ornate gardens and large irrigated lawns can have expensive water bills, as well.
• More to maintain: A large house necessarily has higher maintenance Just keeping the home clean and running smoothly often requires daily service if not full-time personnel. Some custom-built homes can only be properly maintained by specialty or artisan craftsmen who charge more for their services. Maintaining the lawns and gardens also require special care.
• Security: Because it’s difficult to keep an eye on every corner of a large property, electronic security in the form of alarms, cameras and motion sensors are a necessity. Because grand homes draw the curiosity, if not outright intrusion, of curious passersby, invasions of privacy can be a problem, too.

How To Buy A Modern Mansion

While buying a mansion may be similar in concept to buying a house, you can expect the process to be a little different than purchasing a 1,600 square foot bungalow in a charming neighborhood. When purchasing such a large property, you may not be dealing with a typical real estate agent or average home sellers. It’s likely that you’ll have to buy from a pocket listing, which is an exclusive and off-market listing to protect the home seller’s privacy. 

FAQs About Modern Mansions

What is a mansion vs. a house?

It’s all relative, isn’t it? An immigrant family with modest means may look at your 2,000 square foot center colonial as a mansion. But when asked to quantify, most REALTORS^® today consider a house to be a mansion when it gets larger than 8,000 square feet. But despite all the wow factor, a mansion is still a house people live, sleep and eat in.

What is a McMansion?

Since its name suggests a mass-produced product similar to a fast food hamburger, the term McMansion is often derogatory. It is a larger-than-average suburban house that travels in herds, often in former farmland on the far outskirts of a metro area. Since it tries to appear to be a mansion while displaying poor construction and repetitive design, the McMansion is sometimes seen to be the home of the wannabe wealthy.

Is it cheaper to buy a mansion or build it?

The only way to answer this question is to calculate the cost per square foot of an existing mansion that is on the market in the neighborhood you would like to live in. Next, find a builder with experience in building this kind of grand house (many builders are not up to the task of building a large custom home) and get a quote on cost per square foot to build a similar house. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll also need to add the cost of the land, site work, permits and landscaping to this number. Explore more on whether it’s better to buy or build a house.

The Bottom Line: Live An Extravagant Lifestyle In A Modern Mansion

If you have the means to buy one of today’s extravagant modern mansions, congratulations! Along with providing a sprawling, wonderful place to live, these homes project to the world that you are successful. To get started on the search for your very own palace, connect with a Verified Partner Agent from Rocket Homes^SM today to find a modern mansion that matches your lifestyle.