Those McMansions

For the last eight years or so our area in Central Florida seemed to change daily. Those huge developments, all named to memorialize the stuff they wrecked, ( Eagle Trace, Seven Oaks, Panther Run, etc.) crept relentlessly over the hills and wetlands and into our suburban neighborhoods. We objected and went to hearings and signed petitions. We weren't really thinking about the houses, though. We were focused on NIMBY. Yes, occasionally we wondered at who could possibly afford to live in that really huge one with the five car garage, or that other one with massive gables, squinched in close to the next huge house. And we just marveled at how many people could afford them. This was Bubble America when anyone could have anything they wanted. No down payments, put it on the plastic.
We weren't thinking straight. The secret was that hardly anyone really could afford them. I remember when we bought our first house in 1968, a run down row house in downtown Washington, D.C. The price was $17,000. We scraped together the 25% required down payment from a couple of thousand our parents gave us and our savings. We fixed it up mostly with our sweat. Our friends were doing the same. We dug the dead rats out of the walls, steamed off the old wallpaper and became members of the million gallon paint club. And, as we lived there and raised kids, we were very happy with this house of ours. It was affordable, close to work and schools. It didn't have granite counters or even a garage. We had the habit of living within our means, and as we moved on, this didn't change.
Somehow a lot of us got off track thinking we could have everything, no effort required. We gave our children too much in a material sense. We didn't save anything because we couldn't, and besides, there is always the credit card and tomorrow. We didn't show our kids how to save. Everyone wants to have a house, a home.
And now, the chickens have come home to roost. America is in deep housing trouble. Just keeping on bailing out mortgage companies seems to me an avoidance of the real problem. If a family bought a house that was wildly NOT affordable, or maybe just within reach if both spouses worked full tilt and then some, and please, god, don't let me lose my job, how is restructuring their mortgage payments a little bit going to help right now? These people are in a mess! They are dispirited. We are in deep recession and if one of those family members loses her job, she is not going to be inclined to figure out all the governmental paperwork, stand in lines, spend time on hold. Better just to walk away from that insanely wonderful house that is now in need of major maintenance anyway and go live with the in-laws.
But Americans are resilient and 'can do'. What we need is a lot more affordable housing. Imagine converting "Panther Trace" into affordable housing. Lots of it is already built. Those huge garages could be modified for living. Those huge gourmet kitchens could be halved. People could enjoy living in more of a town house situation, close to their neighbors, kind to the land. Architects and builders, the most creative of American artisans, could be put to work and ripples would spread. This affordable housing could be for sale or rent.
We already have a glut of housing stock (but mostly it is in these out-of-control developments). Let's use what we have. A new day is here and we must think creatively!
What do you think?