The Impact Of McMansions On The Value of Neighboring Homes

A Wall Street Journal writer shares her family's experience in a neighborhood quickly being dominated by McMansions.

1 minute read

July 29, 2007, 5:00 AM PDT

"Our three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath, 2,400-sq.-ft. home, once among the largest in the neighborhood, will soon be among the smallest.... So we've made our peace with living within our home's boundaries. But we wondered: Would not keeping up with the Joneses hurt the home's resale value?

...People who are shopping for homes in a certain neighborhood expect certain amenities in those homes, says Kermit Baker, director of the remodeling futures program at Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. 'If you're not keeping up with other homes in the neighborhood, you may have home buyers walk away from it,' he says."

FULL STORY: How Do New McMansions Affect The Value of Neighboring Homes?

Friday, July 27, 2007 in The Wall Street Journal

Housing Land Use New Jersey

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.