# Million Dollar Mansions **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 2, 2021, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393 "2021-06-02T04:14:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/41 "2021-06-02T23:33:08Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > For example, a typical “million dollar mansion” in Portland, Oregon looks like this: > [Portland, OR Real Estate - Portland Houses for Sale | realtor.com®](https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5325-NW-137th-Ave_Portland_OR_97229_M29631-87893) > 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and just a smidgen over 2,000 square feet of living space. Maybe this is why those tv shows never go to Portland to shoot an episode? It’s assessed at a bit over $200k. Speculation, greed, and a very tight market has it way over-valued. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/42 "2021-06-02T23:37:39Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > It’s assessed at a bit over $200k. Speculation, greed, and a very tight market has it way over-valued.   Around here – and probably everywhere AFAIK – municipal assessments have absolutely zero relationship to market value. They’re basically a fiction used for calculating property taxes. Market value is the real money you get on a sale. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/43 "2021-06-02T23:50:47Z")
Also in flyover country: [$969,000](https://www.sunflowerrealtors.com/index.php?src=directory&view=rets_re_1&submenu=rets_re_1&query=misc3.ge.500000.and.misc3.le.1200000&srctype=detail&back=rets_re_1&refno=21781&hurl=n&sortorder=DESC&row=1) will buy you a 7 bedroom/5 full bath (+2 half bath) McMansion with 9000 sq ft in Topeka, Kansas. [For $750K](https://www.sunflowerrealtors.com/index.php?src=directory&view=rets_re_1&submenu=rets_re_1&query=misc3.ge.500000.and.misc3.le.1200000&srctype=detail&back=rets_re_1&refno=937&hurl=n&sortorder=DESC&row=5), you can have a real mansion: built in 1926 (with a later addition), the [Fleming Mansion](https://www.cjonline.com/entertainmentlife/20180427/landmark-homes-fleming-mansion) has 5 bedrooms and 10,000 square feet and (currently) sits on six acres. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/44 "2021-06-02T23:57:01Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > A few decades ago it was pretty run-down and has in recent years started to become gentrified, but not really my idea of a great neighbourhood. To be fair, I’m not really that familiar with it aside from having driven through it at times. I would say recent decades @wolfpup, rather than recent years. Three houses within 200m of that townhouse sold in the last two weeks, 2 for $3.5M and one for $4M. It’s a funny pocket with fully detached, semis, and townhouses. Further west and south is more in the “gentrifying” category. We’ve been in the neighbourhood for 20 years. Our first house was $400K and is probably worth 4 times that now. We bought our current house in 2007 and bought at the right time! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/45 "2021-06-03T00:07:38Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > We’ve been in the neighbourhood for 20 years. Our first house was $400K and is probably worth 4 times that now. We bought our current house in 2007 and bought at the right time! My apologies if I seemed to be disparaging that area, and thanks for educating me. I know that some 30-odd years ago or so (maybe more!) a respected real estate agent was recommending the St. Clair W area as up-and-coming and a great potential neighbourhood in which to invest in a home! And I guess he was right. Part of my issue, TBH, is that I’m not really an urban type at heart. My brother loves his Manhattan condo and if he comes back to Toronto will undoubtedly buy a downtown condo. His grown kids all have houses in urban Toronto. Me, I’d be happiest in a country cottage by a lake, and as a compromise live in a distant suburb far from the madding crowds. But that’s just me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/46 "2021-06-03T00:32:36Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > My apologies if I seemed to be disparaging that area, and thanks for educating me. I know that some 30-odd years ago or so (maybe more!) a respected real estate agent was recommending the St. Clair W area as up-and-coming and a great potential neighbourhood in which to invest in a home! And I guess he was right. Oh, no apologies needed. It’s a funny area that not a lot of people know about. You can go 4 blocks and it changes, although the less desirable parts **are** gentrified or gentrifying. I personally love being able to walk to 50 different restaurants, from high end to hole in the wall regional ethnic places. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/47 "2021-06-03T00:47:54Z")
A million here and a million there and pretty soon you’re talking about real money. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/48 "2021-06-03T00:50:56Z")
I limited myself to my zip code and a 900K-1M range. Nothing found. Slightly outside that zip code area all I could find were condos. When I removed the minimum limit, I got some condos in my zip code. All under 1K sq ft. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/49 "2021-06-03T00:57:12Z")
_My_ area? Would never happen. Nobody would waste that kind of money out here. But I suppose if someone did, it would be pretty impressive. Now, my _other_ area, where I call ‘home’, 1M is probably about mid/low average. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/50 "2021-06-03T01:26:59Z")
[This](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/91-46-98th-St-Woodhaven-NY-11421/2071690739_zpid/?) is what you get in my neighborhood for a million dollars. The description claims it’s a three-family house, and it may have legally been converted to three-family house- but it was originally a one-family house and the only way that building has eight bedrooms is if at least two of them are in the basement. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/51 "2021-06-03T01:46:20Z")
[McMansionville](https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7578625,-73.6666435,102m/data=!3m1!1e3) of the local variety ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/52 "2021-06-03T01:47:02Z")
In suburban St. Louis, if you shop carefully you can find [this 5 br/5 ba., 5,800 sq. ft gem, built in 1991.](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2024-Hunters-Field-Rd-Saint-Louis-MO-63122/2805294_zpid/?mmlb=g,0) It’s on an odd-shaped lot because up until 1991, that area was considered too hilly and too densely wooded to be developed. You may still have some problems getting out when it’s snowy or icy. > [@doreen](#): > > the only way that building has eight bedrooms is if at least two of them are in the basement. We call that a “garden apartment.” ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/53 "2021-06-03T01:49:26Z")
In Memphis you can get a nice house overlooking the Mississippi: [River House](https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/481-Tennessee-St_Memphis_TN_38103_M77399-12817) Or something more sprawling in the heart of the city: [Chickasaw Gardens House](https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/212-E-Chickasaw-Pkwy_Memphis_TN_38111_M81932-25555) > [@slash2k](#): > > Also in flyover country: [$969,000](https://www.sunflowerrealtors.com/index.php?src=directory&view=rets_re_1&submenu=rets_re_1&query=misc3.ge.500000.and.misc3.le.1200000&srctype=detail&back=rets_re_1&refno=21781&hurl=n&sortorder=DESC&row=1) will buy you a 7 bedroom/5 full bath (+2 half bath) McMansion with 9000 sq ft in Topeka, Kansas. The woman who runs [McMansion Hell](https://mcmansionhell.com/) would love this house. Why is there a two-story entrance? What is with the little window next to the top of it? None of the windows match! There are at least seven rooflines. This house is a perfect example of a more-money-than-taste million dollar mansion. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/54 "2021-06-03T02:04:10Z")
Around $1 million in Hoboken, NJ typically gets you a 2 br apartment around 1,300 to 1,500 sq ft, depending on what part of town. 3 and 4 br are a bit more rare. Around $2 to $5 million you can get a townhouse. Surprisingly, Manhattan also seems to have a lot of 1-2 br listed on Zillow. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/55 "2021-06-03T02:11:16Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > The woman who runs [McMansion Hell](https://mcmansionhell.com/) would love this house. Why is there a two-story entrance? What is with the little window next to the top of it? None of the windows match! There are at least seven rooflines. This house is a perfect example of a more-money-than-taste million dollar mansion. I think McMansion Hell is hilarious. Apparently Zillow didn’t enjoy the joke, though. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/56 "2021-06-03T02:22:16Z")
Typical in my neighborhood is 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 4273 sq.ft. on 16.47 acres. They want 1.19 but that’s a little high and you can probably get it for 1 million clams on the nose even in the current sellers market. > **[51 Womantam Ln, Cumberland, RI 02864 | MLS #1283451 | Zillow](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/51-Womantam-Ln-Cumberland-RI-02864/96405984_zpid/)** > > 51 Womantam Ln, Cumberland RI, is a Single Family home that contains 4599 sq ft and was built in 2014.It contains 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.This home last sold for $1,050,000 in August 2021. > > The Zestimate for this Single Family is $1,207,100,... ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/57 "2021-06-03T02:36:54Z")
In the Boise ID (just got my tax assessment today, hottest real estate market in the country right now, Le Sigh 😞 ) and it’s very neighbourhood specific. A 5bed 5bath 6500 sqft house that would run above 7 million will only sell for just under 2 million only a mile or two away. Zillow didn’t turn up anything for less than 1.75 million on a quick search on one page of results ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/58 "2021-06-03T02:39:21Z")
New Hampshire here. Most of the $1 million plus homes in central New Hampshire are waterfront properties on Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Winnisquam, Squam Lake, and Newfound Lake. A lot of them are on small 1 to 2 acre lots and not as a big as you would think-just regular 3 to 5 bedroom homes that would be a third to half that price if they weren’t waterfront properties. (Well under normal circumstances --real estate prices have gone up and selling fast in the past few months) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/59 "2021-06-03T03:45:09Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > The woman who runs [McMansion Hell](https://mcmansionhell.com/) would love this house. Why is there a two-story entrance? What is with the little window next to the top of it? None of the windows match! There are at least seven rooflines. This house is a perfect example of a more-money-than-taste million dollar mansion. [Get a load of the four car garage!](https://www.zillow.com/homes/5908-SW-Clarion-Lakes-Way-Topeka,-KS,-66610_rb/77482416_zpid/) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/60 "2021-06-03T05:02:39Z")
BTW, the Business Section of the Sunday NY Times (non NY edition, at least) has a column each week with three houses from around the country at a certain price point. When we first read these they were impressive, now it is “we can buy 3 of those.” Some are a million, some are more, some are less. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393.md?page=4)