McMansion

Filed Under »
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'McMansion'

A slang term that describes a large, opulent house that may be generic in style and represents a good value for a homebuyer in terms of its size. This type of home is built to provide middle and/or upper middle class homeowners with the luxurious housing experience that was previously only available to high-net-worth individuals.

The McMansion term is meant as a play on McDonald's fast food restaurants, as these homes also represent the pervasiveness and excessive consumption that critics often associate with Mcdonald's.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'McMansion'

McMansions are often considered a status symbol because their size (often in excess of 3,000 square feet) may exceed the amount of space that shrinking modern families actually need or can afford to maintain.

Many McMansion homeowners live beyond their means as mortgages on these monstrous properties may be 100% mortgages, interest-only mortgages and/or amortized over 40 or more years. The cost of utilities and maintenance in a larger home are also more significant, as is the cost of commuting from the distant suburban settings in which these homes are often located.

Articles Of Interest

  1. Stop Keeping Up With The Joneses - They're Broke

    Conspicuous consumption could be robbing you of future wealth.
  2. Avoid The Generation Debt Trap

    There is a worldwide generation of young, educated individuals mired in unmanageable debt. Find out why.
  3. Mortgages: How Much Can You Afford?

    Answering this means number-crunching as well as factoring in other considerations and expenses.
  4. The Benefits Of Mortgage Repayment

    Buying a home may be the biggest debt you'll ever incur. Learn why you should retire it sooner, rather than later.
  5. The Truth About Real Estate Prices

    Historical housing price data suggests ongoing increases in housing prices, but these numbers don't tell the whole truth.
  6. To Rent Or Buy? There's More To It Than Money

    Your lifestyle, level of commitment and the trade-offs need to be carefully weighed.
  7. To Rent Or Buy? The Financial Issues

    Thinking of buying a home? We look at the initial and ongoing costs as well as the so-called benefits.
  8. How Does The Economy Affect House Size?

    The better the economy, the bigger the house. But beware - everything that glitters isn't gold.
  9. Downsize Your Home To Downsize Expenses

    Learn how to cut your mortgage, tax, gas and utilities bills.
  10. McMansion: A Closer Look At The Big House Trend

    The average home size is now 2,500 square feet - how big should you go?
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions
  1. Yield Elbow

    The point on the yield curve indicating the year in which the economy's highest interest rates occur. The yield elbow is the peak of the yield curve, signifying where the highest interest rates occurred.
  2. Xenocurrency

    A currency that trades in markets outside of its domestic borders.
  3. Wanton Disregard

    A standard of severe negligence. Wanton disregard is a very serious accusation that indicates that a person behaved extremely recklessly.
  4. Ultra ETF

    A class of exchange-traded funds (ETF) that employs leverage in an effort to achieve double the return of a set benchmark.
  5. Toehold Purchase

    A purchase of less than 5% of a target company's outstanding stockmade by an acquiring company. A toehold purchase of just under 5%, while not a significant stake in a firm, allows the shareholders a "toe-holds" grip on the company and its decision making.
  6. Samurai Bond

    A yen-denominated bond issued in Tokyo by a non-Japanese company and subject to Japanese regulations.
Trading Center
http://sp.fastclick.net/ad/tr/10858-64082-15546-0?mpt=7f9603b2191b3fa290bec9bcd11efd54