# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/81 "2021-06-06T13:59:05Z")
> [@chela](#): > > The door chimes/tubular bells are operated by a built in organ located somewhere in another hall Nope, sorry. Count the number of bells (20). Now look at how many keys and pedals are on that organ, many times that number. And that row of switches at the top of the keyboard are voicings. Bells have one voice. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/82 "2021-06-06T14:35:32Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > I think Zillow over-estimates what homes are worth. I like to also look at Trulia, Realtor, and Redfin and average out all their estimates Agree. Zestimate® is pretty useless. I think they all are more useful for viewing trends over time than getting a sense of the worth of your property. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/83 "2021-06-06T16:21:47Z")
[This](https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5110-Alfred-Rd_Golden-Valley_MN_55422_M74344-66876)is the closest to a million somewhat near me. Obviously recently renovated, yet the basement kitchen is straight out of the 80’s. Going the opposite direction, you have [this](https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6633-Eagle-Lake-Dr_Maple-Grove_MN_55369_M86921-28573) log cabin. At least the view is nice. ---
**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 6, 2021, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/84 "2021-06-06T16:33:27Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Carpet is _relatively_ cheap to replace, so the red/teal carpet doesn’t bother me so much as a buyer. With a house of that quality, I’d be willing to bet there’s hardwood under those carpets. Hopefully, in good condition! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/85 "2021-06-06T16:37:09Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > With a house of that quality, I’d be willing to bet there’s hardwood under those carpets. Hopefully, in good condition! Yeah, I was wondering the same especially about the entry hall. Seriously, carpet at the entryway in a place that has winter? There is a tiled ‘foyer’ that is large enough for one person to stand maybe, which is completely inadequate. There’s a mud room, but guests come to the front door, not the kitchen door. I’d totally want to figure an attractive way to tile that area. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/86 "2021-06-06T17:50:56Z")
Zillow doesn’t show any in our zip code; part of that is that the houses in this part of the county tend to not be very big. Go a few miles west and they’re probably fairly numerous; south into DC would be the same situation. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/87 "2021-06-06T17:51:11Z")
It has its eccentricities, I could see some walls coming down. > [@nearwildheaven](#): > > See if this works for you. Works for me! Must be the scale but that barndominium looked furnished for little people. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/88 "2021-06-06T18:06:56Z")
I’ve worked in large estate homes with really big laundry rooms, and no one is hanging wet laundry in them. In addition to multiple washers and driers, they usually contain racks for freshly cleaned clothes that haven’t been distributed to their owners yet, a large table or two for folding, and specialty equipment like steamers and [rotary irons](https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/miele-rotary-iron/?pkey=chomekeeping-irons). There’s not a lot of wasted space. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/89 "2021-06-06T18:31:25Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I’ve worked in large estate homes with really big laundry rooms, and no one is hanging wet laundry in them. In addition to multiple washers and driers, they usually contain racks for freshly cleaned clothes that haven’t been distributed to their owners yet, a large table or two for folding, and specialty equipment like steamers and [rotary irons](https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/miele-rotary-iron/?pkey=chomekeeping-irons). There’s not a lot of wasted space. I wasn’t sure how automated washing was in 1940 when the house was built. The electric clothes dryer was only invented in [1937](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothes_dryer#History), though perhaps there were other methods than air drying before that; I have no idea what an apparently wealthy family had access to at that time. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/90 "2021-06-06T20:06:38Z")
Huh, when I was house-hunting recently, Redfin’s estimates on any given house were usually higher than Zillow’s. A curious thing that’s been happening lately here is that houses are being listed for at least $100k less than their estimated value. But when I’ve checked back after they’ve sold, the estimated values have turned out to be closer to the sale price than the sale price was to the listing price. Lots of houses being listed in the $700-800k range, estimated $850-900k, sold recently for at least $900k in our area. So the higher estimates tend to be more accurate anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Deanna\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Deanna\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deanna_D)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/91 "2021-06-06T22:17:58Z")
[This](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/117-Maxie-Rd-Lexington-SC-29072/11203652_zpid/?) one was for sale for a while, starting just under $900,000 with a couple of price changes along the way. Looks like it finally sold. I’ve driven by it many times, and have always thought it was spectacular. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/92 "2021-06-07T02:01:45Z")
> [@Deanna\_D](#): > > I’ve driven by it many times, and have always thought it was spectacular. Wow! Too bad there are only 20 parking spaces. [/S] ---
**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 7, 2021, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/93 "2021-06-07T02:25:50Z")
> [@Deanna\_D](#): > > [This](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/117-Maxie-Rd-Lexington-SC-29072/11203652_zpid/?) one was for sale for a while, starting just under $900,000 with a couple of price changes along the way. Looks like it finally sold. I’ve driven by it many times, and have always thought it was spectacular. It’s a very practical architecture for having your knights shoot longbows and crossbows at invading hordes. The tower over the main entrance is ideal for pouring boiling oil over the county sheriff when he shows up to serve the foreclosure notice from the city tax department. I assume there is also a drawbridge and moat, though it’s not clear from the picture. **[And a cow catapult](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSUQNv78VQA)**. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/94 "2021-06-07T04:09:41Z")
A friend inherited the family house when his father died – A very ordinary 1920s house om a typical cramped building lot in Montreal’s TMR. A buyer paid CAD950,000 (700k, USD), and immediately demolished the house – he just wanted the building lot. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/95 "2021-06-07T13:07:27Z")
If you want the full-on medieval castle experience, this is the place for you. > **[230 Pisgah Pike, Versailles, KY 40383 | LoopNet](https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/230-Pisgah-Pike-Versailles-KY/18124861/)** > > 230 Pisgah Pike, Versailles, KY 40383. This Hospitality property can be viewed on LoopNet. Nestled between majestic horse farms and sprawling bourbon d No reason why it couldn’t be turned back into a private residence, but you’d probably have to shell out more than $1 million. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/96 "2021-06-07T15:40:09Z")
Huh. As of this morning, Zillow has upped our theoretical house price to over a million dollars. I hope no long-lost bankrupt relatives use Zillow to track down relations they assume to be rich. We couldn’t even afford to buy our own home now. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/97 "2021-06-07T15:54:38Z")
Going the other way, I’m reminded of this story: When I was in graduate school I had a housemate who got sick of the whole academic world and of the SF Bay Area. He systematically calculated for every metropolitan area the ratio of average income to average house price, determined to move to wherever that was highest. He ended up in Youngstown, Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/98 "2021-06-07T16:44:14Z")
There’s certainly cheap housing to be had in Youngstown, though $1 million mansions are a rarity. This home would probably cost 10X as much in, say, San Francisco. > **[246 Hollywood Ave, Youngstown, OH 44512 | MLS #4275680 | Zillow](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/246-Hollywood-Ave-Youngstown-OH-44512/34866464_zpid/)** > > 246 Hollywood Ave, Youngstown OH, is a Single Family home that contains 1179 sq ft and was built in 1940.It contains 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.This home last sold for $85,000 in July 2021. > > The Zestimate for this Single Family is $96,200, which has... ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/99 "2021-06-07T16:57:46Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There’s certainly cheap housing to be had in Youngstown, though $1 million mansions are a rarity. If you extend the boundaries out to Leetonia, there is a magnificent gentleman’s farm: [38298 Butcher Rd, Leetonia, OH 44431 | MLS #4254189 | Zillow](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/38298-Butcher-Rd-Leetonia-OH-44431/2075168607_zpid/) ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393/100 "2021-06-07T23:11:19Z")
It would buy you my next door neighbour’s flat, which is currently up for sale - obvs I’m not going to include a link! Well, it would be almost enough because it’s up for £750,000 and that’s in line with other recent sales. 3 bedrooms (the third is extremely tiny), one bathroom with a shower, a very nice kitchen-diner-living-room, a 40 foot long garden. Probably around 555 square feet for the flat excepting the garden. Very well-kept 1830s building on a quiet road in a conservation area in London zone two, fashionable neighbourhood, 200m to the tube and about 1km from the square mile in the city. My flat is sort of the same, but without the side-return extension that adds about 30 square feet, and theirs is far, far better laid out (mine is two bedrooms). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/million-dollar-mansions/943393.md?page=6)