To build McMansions in older neighborhoods, or not to build…*

Many people in Millcreek say not to build.

It’s a pretty heated issue, and not just in the Millcreek area. Neighborhoods that once were filled with strictly one-story and modest sized two story homes are now peppered with large, seemingly out of place McMansions.

It’s not surprising, and it was only a matter of time. Still, many Millcreek residents have taken a stand. They say the mansions aren’t consistent with the identity of the area. They also obstruct the views of the neighbors and are less than attractive. Another complaint is how these huge homes are being crammed onto lots that barley fit them. This is only following the trend of every other new development in Northern Utah, but these older neighborhoods don’t like it.

I hate to say it, but I think this is another one of those things that is here to stay. Like what is happening in Sugarhouse, the McMansions will probably continue to park themselves in these neighborhoods, permanently changing the dynamic that the older residents liked so well. People don’t have to like it, but I just don’t know how they will stop it. I hope I’m proved wrong.

*My service doesn’t stop here! In addition to maintaining The Salt Lake City Utah Real Estate Blog, I also help people buy and sell homes in Utah. When you need help with either of these, contact me!

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I recommend “The Not So Big House”

I wrote a post a while back about my thoughts on the American McMansion. I received a few responses from people who felt the same way about them, but one response in particular intrigued me. David Helm told me about a book called “The Not So Big House“, and that it might interest me since I was writing an anti-McMansion blog post.Well I think the word about this book should be spread. The book is written by Sarah Susanka, an architect. That alone should tell you that economic considerations are not the focal point of this book. Rather, The Not So Big House is about quality over quantity. Anybody who has paid attention knows that quantity, in the form of McMansion housing, has all but taken over home building in America. Unused, impractical space in a home is ridiculously common in builder’s floor plans these days, but that is where Susanka’s book comes in.

The gist of the book is not that you should live in a small house. It’s that you should utilize space wisely, create more livable space, and do so on a scale more fit for your family as opposed to a small village. You do not have to sacrifice style or comfort either. What you will find are spaces that you might call ‘cozy’, or ‘warm’, rather that ‘vastly spacious’, or ‘magnificently scaled’. If you prefer the latter terms, this book probably is not for you.

You do not have to have deep pockets to follow Susanka’s advice. Some of the book covers people who obviously spent a lot of money, but that’s not the rule. Anyone can apply these principles in building their own home. If you’ve already built, read it still and I’m sure you’ll get some good ideas on how to modify your space.

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2005 HGTV Dream Homes is up for sale

Do you remember the name Don Cruz? If you watch HGTV, you probably do. Don and his family were the winners of the 2005 HGTV Dream Home Contest, which gave them ownership of a gorgeous estate in Tyler, Texas, just east of Dallas. You probably also know that since his winning, Don’s story unfolded not like the fairytale he had hoped, but rather a nightmare he never expected. I’ll let you read the story for yourself, but in a few words, Don’s family found themselves swamped with taxes, unable to afford the expenses of a multi-million dollar mansion.

Fast forward to today and Don’s mansion is up for sale, but not in the usual way. Actually a company based right here in American Fork, Utah, named Grandshare, is marketing the property as fractional real estate. Fractional real estate is where the property is divided into fractions and buyers can buy those fractions at a cost well below the home’s selling price. In this case, the Tyler Texas mansion’s price tag is about $2.5 million, so buyers are being offered quarter ownership at about $600,000. That translates into each buyer being able to occupy the home about every fourth week of the year, so you won’t be able to live in it as your primary residence. It’s meant to be a second or vacation home. And since it is a vacation home, Grandshare takes care of the scheduling and the management.

Judging by the pictures I’ve seen, the place looks beautiful; an ideal vacation home. The picture up in the corner of this post is the main exterior of the property, and below are a few others.

If you’re interested in this opportunity, or you know someone who might be, give me a call.

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