McMansions

Betty Jung

RE/MAX equity group

503-804-9685

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

Portland Real Estate Recycling Those McMansions

April 19, 2011 in McMansions by Betty Jung | No comments

The other day I read this story where a builder/developer is tearing down McMansions and producing multiple small homes using the recycled construction material to build them.

Portland Real Estate Recycling Those McMansions

That’s putting the slogan “reuse, redo and recycle” to good use I think. It got me thinking about all the zillions of other McMansions that are on the market for sale, sitting vacant, in foreclosure, etc. Who will buy them?

An Australian architect said he wants to tear down a large home and use the resulting materials to build multiple smaller, more environmentally friendly and cost-effective homes.

City Of Lake Oswego Recycles Building Materials

Our City of Lake Oswego does the same thing although not from McMansions. If they become owners of any torn down buildings, the City recycles the materials.

The City contracts with private firms who provide deconstruction services. They may disassemble the house on site, or push it over and truck it to a sorting warehouse. In either process, usable items such as fixtures, appliances, and windows are removed. Some items can be sold, others are donated. Even plants can sometimes be transplanted and “reused” in a new landscape. After the reusable items are salvaged, remaining materials are sorted for recycling. Wood, brick, glass, ceramic, metal and carpet can all be given new life.

In addition to recycling building materials, the City buys recycled goods for its own buildings. The City uses refurbished furniture instead of buying new whenever possible. For example, the City refinished City Hall lobby furniture instead of replacing it. In addition, the City constructs employee cubicles with re-covered panels rather than buying new ones.

What’s the coolest thing the City of Lake Oswego has ever recycled? Carpets from the Lake Oswego Library were removed by a carpet vendor, washed, restamped and sold for reinstallation at a public housing project. For similar residential recycling services, it has actually become cheaper than the cost to dispose of the material at a landfill.

Hopefully we’ll be seeing more of this in an effort to keep debris out of our landfills. Do you think this is a good idea? Are you aware of any buildings in your town that have used recycled materials? Have pictures? I’d love to post them here if you send them to me.

Looking For A Portland Home?

If you’re in the market to downsize and purchase a home anywhere in metro Portland, give me a call at 503-804-9685.

How Can A SRES® (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) Help You?

Betty Jung

RE/MAX equity group

503-804-9685

How Can A SRES® (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) Help You?

Portland Real Estate No More McMansions

September 18, 2010 in McMansions by Betty Jung | No comments

I’ve been complaining about builders and the “McMansions”. My complaints actually go back to 1988, just after another recession we had, and when builders just weren’t listening. Now, however, I can finally get off my soap box.

Portland Real Estate No More McMansions

A recent article says McMansions are out!! They’re out not only in cities across the U.S., but in many of the resort communities as well.

They’re out as in no longer popular and builders are finally listening. Unfortunately it took a serious recession and near-financial collapse for builders to “get it”.

Portland Real Estate Street Of Dreams

Our last Street of Dreams here in Portland also showcased smaller houses, at least somewhat smaller than they had built in past years. It will be interesting to see what’s planned for the 2011 Street of Dreams as far as size, amenities, etc.

McMansion Craze

Even cities are starting to see that the McMansion craze affected quality of life. Lake Oswego for one is taking a hard look at what changes in development will need to be made locally. Seniors want to stay in their homes. Housing needs to accommodate them and the couples who are opting to have children later or none at all. In addition, there are many more single households than in the past.

The other day I was called by a local newspaper asking if I’ve noticed some changes in what people are looking for. In fact, I have. Many of my long-time clients are calling me (some who’ve been in their homes since 1975) are no longer wanting their big homes or stairs. The turn-over of boomers wanting those smaller homes is picking up steam.

Since we’ve been hit hard with foreclosures, unemployment, etc., houses need to be affordable and have less sq. ft. than during our peak housing market. The time has finally come and I’m ready to get off my soapbox!

Looking for a small home?

Give me a call at 503-804-9685 and we can start your search.

Betty Jung

RE/MAX equity group

503-804-9685

How Can A SRES® (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) Help You?

Portland Real Estate A Need For Smaller Houses

September 16, 2009 in McMansions by Betty Jung | No comments

I’ve been on a personal crusade against builders constructing McMansions. I’ve written numerous posts about smaller, affordable yet quality homes that are sorely lacking in our marketplace.

Portland Real Estate A Need For Smaller Houses

My personal opinion is that the large homes will become obsolete, we’ll have a glut of inventory on the market once the baby boomers downsize and that younger buyers won’t want them.

Couples are having children later and smaller families, boomers don’t want that sq. ft. or number of bedrooms, and due to the economy the move-up buyers are smaller in number. Further, people just can’t afford them nor will they want to after this recession.

Builders Still Building McMansions

Do builders not know that 77+ million baby boomers will need smaller, affordable houses let alone the first-time buyers? Since the 1980s I’ve been complaining about this and now comes this article in the Builder magazine urging builders to build smaller and affordable homes. Here is what builders need to know: build smaller, more affordable homes, even as the economy recovers, because that’s what people will be most likely buy.

Hammered by “heavy employment losses,” not to mention pay cuts and furloughs, “estimates of consumer incomes are running much lower” than previously projected, according to Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist for IHS Global Insight.

“The new revised figures have taken some $200 billion out of labor compensation estimates—that’s almost 4 percent off consumer income,” Gault explained last week during a Web presentation on the likely recovery for the U.S. economy. “It leaves consumers in worse shape than thought in terms of spending.”

For that reason, smart builders will want to concentrate on lower-priced homes that these economically-battered buyers can actually afford. “Wages and incomes are extremely constrained,” Gault said about employment situation. Unemployment, for example, is expected to reach a peak of 10% next year. That’s because employment growth—i.e., companies adding or replacing jobs—tends to lag behind other economic indicators as wary firms remain hesitant about hiring people.

Building less pricey homes also should offer some protection against additional home value drops. “We are not convinced yet that home prices have completely bottomed out,” Gault said. “… We suspect there’s probably a little further [for home prices] to go on the downside because foreclosure rates are still very heavy.”

Alison Rice is senior editor, online, at BUILDER magazine.

Boomers Will Help Housing And Recession

In a post I wrote “Boomers Impact Future of Housing”, I noted how important boomers would be to housing trends in the future. Now there’s an article that says boomers will be the ones to bring us out of this recession. It’s time builders started listening. Do you agree that the boomers will bring us out of this recession?

Betty Jung

RE/MAX equity group

503-804-9685

How Can A SRES® (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) Help You?

Portland Real Estate Mansionization

February 11, 2009 in McMansions by Betty Jung | No comments

What? Mansionization, what’s that? There’s a new “buzz” word…mansionization. Now from Los Angeles, comes the Mansionization Ordinance.

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to enact the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance:

“…the maximum residential floor area contained in all buildings and accessory buildings shall not exceed 25 percent of the lot area, except that when the lot is 20,000 square feet or greater, then the residential floor area shall not exceed 20 percent of the lot area or 5,000 square feet, whichever is greater.”

Portland Real Estate Mansionization

Will that work in Portland? Is all my griping finally paying off? I’d like to think I had a hand in it. If you’ve been following my blog, you know I’ve been on a “crusade” of sorts to get builders to build smaller quality, affordable houses. Actually, I’ve been trying to get builders to do that since the 1980s when I represented 5 builders. Now, there’s a recent article on RIS Media stating that builders are getting it, finally. The economy and Baby Boomers are now forcing builders to rethink new construction.

Small Is In

At the 2009 International Builders’ Show in January builders were talking “small” as housing prices tumble and the economy continues to weaken. I think it’s ironic that during our housing bubble, the houses got bigger and bigger. Now that the economy and people’s wallets are shrinking, so too are house sizes. Whoever thought a McMansion would suit the masses anyway?

Some other consumer housing trends builders will be incorporating into these newer, smaller houses are:

Fewer luxuries. Consumers say they need fewer luxuries. Twenty percent viewed upgraded landscaping, upgraded finishes such as granite counter tops, and luxurious master suites as less important. High ceilings in main living areas were less important to 35%. There are also fewer fireplaces in new homes: While 62% of new homes completed in 1991 had at least one fireplace in it, 51% had a fireplace in 2007.

Green elements. Ninety percent they want energy-efficient heating and cooling systems and 31% plan to have geo-thermal heat. There has also been increased interest in home gardens, with more people wanting to know where their food is grown. The green theme touches everything in the home, from the food we consume, our health concerns, green building and even our furnishings.

Getting organized. With smaller spaces, organization systems are continuing their popularity. More entryways are being outfitted for storage, and homeowners want more functional use of wall space. Sixty-nine percent want a no-space-wasted design and ample storage will take on more importance.

Practical appliances. Although sales of appliances have been down, freezer sales have been up. The reason: More people are shopping for bargains and freezing what they won’t use right away. Appliance sales have taken a hit … except the freezer. Which is really all about going back to basics, a very practical kind of living.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, 88% of builders surveyed in January said they are building or planning to build a larger share of smaller homes. Eighty-nine percent said they’re planning on building more lower-priced models.

Portland Real Estate And Small Houses

As homes get smaller, homeowners are looking to economize the space they have. There is more interest in “Wii-sized spaces”, family rooms that are flexible enough to accommodate a variety of activities from video games to fitness systems. Outdoor spaces aren’t being wasted either, and outdoor kitchens and entertaining areas continue to rise in popularity.

Looking For A Smaller Home?

Give me a call at 503-804-9685

Betty Jung

RE/MAX equity group

503-804-9685