McMansion Watch: Foreclosed McMansion

This lovely foreclosed "rehab only" home, located in Springfield, Virginia, can be yours for only $425,000. Car not included.

Also, this former McMansion Watch beauty is still for sale a month-and-a-half later, despite the free Bubble Meter advertising. It's a better deal now, since the price has been dropped by $45,000.

McMansion Watch

Here's another McMansion from Fairfax Station, Virginia. I'll admit that I do like some McMansions, but this one to me is butt ugly.

McMansion Watch: Near Me McMansion

You can't see it in the photo, but it's got vinyl siding on three sides.


Two years ago, when I was kicked out of my old apartment when it almost went condo, I moved to my current apartment in Centreville, Virginia. Since then I've been tracking the prices on a local McMansion community in the area, the homes of which were valued in the $850,000-$950,000 range at the time. As recently as a few months ago, they were valued by Zillow in the $650,000-$750,000 range and Zillow shows two recent sales (before the Lehman Brothers collapse) in that price range.

So, now I am shocked to see this. A house in the neighborhood, which is a good representation of the norm—in fact, it may be slightly on the large size—is now valued by Zillow at $667,500. But that's not all. It is listed for sale at $549,900! (It is being sold "AS-IS". A bank-owned home, perhaps?)

Zillow says it was worth $968,000 at its peak in 2005. That means this former almost-million-dollar home has fallen by roughly $400,000 in three years.

Also, this townhouse in the same general area sold for $514,855 four years ago. It is now listed for sale at $333,000.

The Prince William County housing implosion is slowly moving inward toward D.C.

May you live in interesting times.

McMansion Watch: For Sale McMansion

I'm not sure if this qualifies as a McMansion, but it sure is ugly. This unlovely home, with a pavement and dirt lawn, can be yours for only $879,320. It is located in Warren County, Virginia.

McMansion Watch: Model Home McMansion

I've seen this McMansion on the national TV news at least once. Since it's in the DC area (where a lot of the national press is located) and easily visible from a very busy road, it's an ideal candidate for news stories about housing. Notice the luxurious vinyl siding. You can't tell from the photo, but it's got a great view of traffic! This is a great house for someone who wants other people to see where they live, because lots of cars drive by every day and it really stands out from the road.

Like Monday's under-construction McMansion, this house is located on Pohick Crest Drive in Fairfax Station, Virginia. It is a model home for the builder, Calvert Luxury Homes.

McMansion Watch: Under Construction McMansion

I took this photo yesterday. This house is being built right by several other newly-constructed McMansions on Pohick Crest Drive in Fairfax Station, Virginia. It is visible from Fairfax County Parkway. The builder is Calvert Luxury Homes.

I took several other photos of McMansions right near this one, so I'll share other photos over time.

McMansion Watch: Bank-owned McMansion

14159 Natalma Ct., Leesburg, VA 20176

4 beds, 4 baths, 4310 square feet.
Price: $644,900

Zillow.com shows four sales transactions since being built in 2005.

McMansion Watch: N.W. Loudoun County, Virginia

I've decided to start a new periodic series of posts called "McMansion Watch." Here's the first one:


42030 Panorama Place, Leesburg, VA 20176

Bought 05/12/2005: $868,038

For sale now: $799,000

Hey, at least it's got brick on the sides. Most McMansions only have a brick façade, with three sides of vinyl siding. Apparently, this "3-sided brick home" only has vinyl siding on the back.