The McMansion Comeback
For years after the Great Recession, McMansions — the oversized, often architecturally awkward homes dotting suburban landscapes — were the real estate world’s favorite punching bag. Critics derided them as tasteless status symbols: unnecessarily large, loaded with amenities no one needed, and built with materials that didn’t age well. On top of that, many McMansions were poor investments. As the housing bubble burst, buyers found themselves stuck with bloated mortgages for homes that lost value faster than their granite countertops could go out of style.
But fast-forward to 2020, and the pandemic flipped the script.
Suddenly, space wasn’t just a luxury — it was a necessity. Remote work, remote school, multigenerational living, and the simple desire for private outdoor space sent waves of urban dwellers into the suburbs. The same homes once mocked for their excess started to look, well, practical. A home office? A gym? A finished basement? A spare bedroom and a media room? Yes, please.
By 2025, a new set of economic factors is further reshaping the housing market — and McMansions, once again, are in the spotlight. Tariffs on construction materials and immigration crackdowns have combined to drive up the cost of building new homes. Labor shortages, coupled with more expensive materials, mean that constructing a brand-new house is significantly more expensive than it was just a few years ago. This dynamic is breathing new life into the McMansions of the early 2000s.
The Inventory Advantage
Unlike today’s boutique new builds, many McMansions already exist in established suburban neighborhoods — with roads, schools, and infrastructure in place. They’re move-in ready, with square footage that newer homes struggle to match without a high price tag. And while tastes have shifted, many buyers are willing to overlook (or renovate) quirks in design if it means gaining more space for less than a custom home would cost.
But Not All McMansions Are Created Equal
Still, prospective buyers beware: the McMansion renaissance isn’t universal. Many of these homes were built at breakneck speed in the early 2000s, often with cost-cutting in mind. Poor craftsmanship, cheap materials, and energy inefficiency can quickly turn a bargain into a money pit. Others have oddly shaped layouts, clashing architectural styles, or are located in sprawling subdivisions far from public transportation and walkable amenities — factors that today’s buyers increasingly value.
“Some of these homes were never built to last,” says Erin Marks, a residential architect in New Jersey. “You can walk into one house and feel like it’s a fortress, and then go down the street and find one where the floors bounce and the siding’s already warped.”
Buyers today are also more sustainability-minded. With rising energy costs and climate concerns, hulking square footage isn’t always a plus unless it’s paired with energy-efficient upgrades — something many McMansions still lack.
A Second Act — with Caveats
The revival of the McMansion isn’t so much a return to early-2000s excess as it is a reflection of new priorities shaped by the past five years. Space, privacy, and flexibility have become top priorities — and older homes that meet those needs, even imperfectly, are being re-evaluated in a new light.
Real estate agents report that demand for spacious suburban homes remains high, especially in metro areas where new construction is lagging due to cost. For buyers priced out of custom builds or city condos, a McMansion with good bones and room to grow may be the most practical option on the market.
As the housing market continues to adjust to economic and demographic shifts, the McMansion may not just be back — it may be here to stay.
