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House Lust: America's Obsession With Our Homes
A rich narrative that blends social commentary with incisive reporting, House Lust offers an astute, funny, and sometimes disturbing portrait of the behaviors that drove the greatest real estate boom in history—and its eventual bust.
Owning a home has long been considered the fulfillment of the American Dream. But in the last decade, as the real estate market boomed, Americans’ fascination with homes turned into a frenzy. Everywhere we turned, people were talking about, scheming over, envying, shopping for, refinancing, or just plain ogling houses—in the process, we’ve transformed shelter from a basic necessity into an all-consuming passion.
In House Lust, Newsweek’s Daniel McGinn travels the country to explore the roots of this mania. Even as the real estate boom has turned to bust, Americans remain obsessed with houses—many of us are still trading up, adding on, or doubling down to buy vacation property. But for others, this zeal for housing has carried a painful price, one that’s evident in the soaring foreclosure rates and mounting despair as millions of homeowners (and their lenders) realize they’ve stretched too far to buy the home of their dreams.
In a compelling narrative that takes us inside the homes—and psyches—of the House Lust–afflicted throughout the nation, McGinn examines the forces that turned housing into the talk of dinner parties. He explores the arms race for square footage and introduces readers to a menagerie of characters from the real estate world—from “renovation psychologists” who treat remodeling-addled clients to a guy who trades vacation time-shares the way kids trade baseball cards. McGinn also jumps into the fray himself by enrolling in real estate school and buying an investment property, sight unseen, over the Internet.
House Lust shows us just how contagious the ideal of owning the best home on the block can be. And as the real estate boom recedes into memory, McGinn offers cautionary tales to help us curb our lust when prices start rising again.
From the Hardcover edition.
Owning a home has long been considered the fulfillment of the American Dream. But in the last decade, as the real estate market boomed, Americans’ fascination with homes turned into a frenzy. Everywhere we turned, people were talking about, scheming over, envying, shopping for, refinancing, or just plain ogling houses—in the process, we’ve transformed shelter from a basic necessity into an all-consuming passion.
In House Lust, Newsweek’s Daniel McGinn travels the country to explore the roots of this mania. Even as the real estate boom has turned to bust, Americans remain obsessed with houses—many of us are still trading up, adding on, or doubling down to buy vacation property. But for others, this zeal for housing has carried a painful price, one that’s evident in the soaring foreclosure rates and mounting despair as millions of homeowners (and their lenders) realize they’ve stretched too far to buy the home of their dreams.
In a compelling narrative that takes us inside the homes—and psyches—of the House Lust–afflicted throughout the nation, McGinn examines the forces that turned housing into the talk of dinner parties. He explores the arms race for square footage and introduces readers to a menagerie of characters from the real estate world—from “renovation psychologists” who treat remodeling-addled clients to a guy who trades vacation time-shares the way kids trade baseball cards. McGinn also jumps into the fray himself by enrolling in real estate school and buying an investment property, sight unseen, over the Internet.
House Lust shows us just how contagious the ideal of owning the best home on the block can be. And as the real estate boom recedes into memory, McGinn offers cautionary tales to help us curb our lust when prices start rising again.
From the Hardcover edition.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
April 10, 2009
Written before the recent collapse in housing prices -- he does address the beginning of the slide -- this book examines in detail the mad lust for housing makeovers and insatiable desire for people to build better and more upscale with concomitant problems. Fueled by TV shows and channels devoted to peering inside the neighbor's house, it's all about size, number of bathrooms, having something visible that is better than the neighbors. Larger homes mean more space to fill up with stuff and rising equity meant more money to buy stuff -- as long as the value of the house climbs. When it falls....
Used homes became less and less desirable. People started building and then the fun really began (although Tracy Kidder in House describes in greater detail the travails and conflict involved in actually constructing a house.)
McGinn, himself was not immune to the fever and invested in a rental property through agents that turned out to be less fun and remunerative than he expected. He applied and got a real estate license, so we're treated to an inside view of the profession. The only ones who really enriched themselves were the banks with their fees and the agents who gained more and more commissions as homeowners increasingly saw their homes as investments rather than domiciles.
Therein lies the core of the problem from my perspective. It used to be that Americans bought and built homes to live in; now they buy them as an investment. That inevitably drives the prices up as people move up. It's the classic bubble. Whether this trend will have been brought to a screeching halt by the recent structural failure of the market remains to be seen. I read an article recently that proposed most people should rent rather than buy anyway. A house requires too much maintenance and other expenses to make it worthwhile, reducing flexibility as well.
Lots of fun to read (or listen to - good audiobook.)
Used homes became less and less desirable. People started building and then the fun really began (although Tracy Kidder in House describes in greater detail the travails and conflict involved in actually constructing a house.)
McGinn, himself was not immune to the fever and invested in a rental property through agents that turned out to be less fun and remunerative than he expected. He applied and got a real estate license, so we're treated to an inside view of the profession. The only ones who really enriched themselves were the banks with their fees and the agents who gained more and more commissions as homeowners increasingly saw their homes as investments rather than domiciles.
Therein lies the core of the problem from my perspective. It used to be that Americans bought and built homes to live in; now they buy them as an investment. That inevitably drives the prices up as people move up. It's the classic bubble. Whether this trend will have been brought to a screeching halt by the recent structural failure of the market remains to be seen. I read an article recently that proposed most people should rent rather than buy anyway. A house requires too much maintenance and other expenses to make it worthwhile, reducing flexibility as well.
Lots of fun to read (or listen to - good audiobook.)
February 7, 2011
I first heard about this book on the website/blog Hooked on Houses(hookedonhouses.net), and am really glad I did. Dan McGinn is an engaging nonfiction writer, and in this book, he discusses Americans' preoccupation with their homes and the homes of their neighbors. He makes a provocative point that new media tools like Zillow.com and HGTV have allowed Americans to become "voyeurs" into the home-buying power of those we know, thus inciting our curiosity, envy, and other emotions.
A fun book for a social-culture lover like me! :)
Quotable quotes:
1) "Humans, like all animals, have an innate need to size one another up. Since we can't do it by sniffing ... and as jobs have become less useful status markers, instead we send signals by where we live -- a piece of information that communicates socioeconomic rank as clearly as shoulder stripes denote status in the military." (p. 11)
2) "When it comes to American homes, the only thing that's decreased in recent years is the size of the plots of land on which they're built and the size of the families who live inside." (p. 17)
3) "'Cost does not equal value.'" (p. 24)
4) "As homes have enlarged, the 'best room' concept lives on; it's become a deeply held custom to make one room in the house a formal space, but most of us prefer living informally, so we gravitate instead to the family room and kitchen to hang out." (p. 30)
5) "Consider a 4,500-square-foot house. It could be one story or two stories. The one-story home will require a much bigger foundation and roof -- both big-ticket items -- so despite the identical square footage, it will cost much more." (p. 41)
6) "Modern kitchens are engineered to serve as the hub of the house." (p. 67)
7) "Architectural writer Winifred Gallagher calls this migration from living rooms to family rooms to all-purpose great rooms 'a hundred-year-long experiment in which American culture has gradually shed traditional manners and mores to become more informal and open, while the home dropped walls and doors to the same end." (p. 68)
8) "Thanks to the shows on HGTV and Web sites like Curbed and Zillow, House Lust now has a year-round hold even on people who aren't actively buying, selling, or building anything." (p. 124)
9) "We're nosy. We're voyeurs. We want to see things we shouldn't be seeing. And when it comes to catching a glimpse of the assets and liabilities of our friends and neighbors, houses offer wonderful windows." (p. 125)
10) Research by Robert Dietz of Ohio State University summarizes these benefits, showing that children of people who own their homes perform better in school; that homeowners vote more frequently than renters; that people who own their home are generally happier and more satisfied with life than renters; and that property values generally rise faster in neighborhoods with higher rates of homeownership." (p. 165)
11) "'How many of you dreamed of becoming a Realtor when you were in high school?' The crowd laughs. Just a single person raises his hand." (p. 185)
A fun book for a social-culture lover like me! :)
Quotable quotes:
1) "Humans, like all animals, have an innate need to size one another up. Since we can't do it by sniffing ... and as jobs have become less useful status markers, instead we send signals by where we live -- a piece of information that communicates socioeconomic rank as clearly as shoulder stripes denote status in the military." (p. 11)
2) "When it comes to American homes, the only thing that's decreased in recent years is the size of the plots of land on which they're built and the size of the families who live inside." (p. 17)
3) "'Cost does not equal value.'" (p. 24)
4) "As homes have enlarged, the 'best room' concept lives on; it's become a deeply held custom to make one room in the house a formal space, but most of us prefer living informally, so we gravitate instead to the family room and kitchen to hang out." (p. 30)
5) "Consider a 4,500-square-foot house. It could be one story or two stories. The one-story home will require a much bigger foundation and roof -- both big-ticket items -- so despite the identical square footage, it will cost much more." (p. 41)
6) "Modern kitchens are engineered to serve as the hub of the house." (p. 67)
7) "Architectural writer Winifred Gallagher calls this migration from living rooms to family rooms to all-purpose great rooms 'a hundred-year-long experiment in which American culture has gradually shed traditional manners and mores to become more informal and open, while the home dropped walls and doors to the same end." (p. 68)
8) "Thanks to the shows on HGTV and Web sites like Curbed and Zillow, House Lust now has a year-round hold even on people who aren't actively buying, selling, or building anything." (p. 124)
9) "We're nosy. We're voyeurs. We want to see things we shouldn't be seeing. And when it comes to catching a glimpse of the assets and liabilities of our friends and neighbors, houses offer wonderful windows." (p. 125)
10) Research by Robert Dietz of Ohio State University summarizes these benefits, showing that children of people who own their homes perform better in school; that homeowners vote more frequently than renters; that people who own their home are generally happier and more satisfied with life than renters; and that property values generally rise faster in neighborhoods with higher rates of homeownership." (p. 165)
11) "'How many of you dreamed of becoming a Realtor when you were in high school?' The crowd laughs. Just a single person raises his hand." (p. 185)
December 28, 2017
House Lust is a fun, voyeuristic and smart look at the housing industry right before the bubble burst in 2008. The edition of the book I read hinted at the coming fall of house prices, but I don’t think the author was prepared for how badly everything would actually play out.
Nonetheless, it’s an entertaining read. From McMansions to time-shares, from people who wander through property they have no intention of buying to those who buy real estate sight-unseen by email, there’s no denying that America is obsessed with our houses – and those of our neighbors, our family, our friends, celebrities, and complete strangers. The question “How much did you pay?” is becoming more socially acceptable, not least because it’s a question that’s public information and easily google-able. The day before I finished the book, I sat down with a friend and went through all my mortgage paperwork with her – she wants to buy a house in a few years and has no idea where to start. I didn’t either, when I began the process, so I was happy to share with her what I learned over the last four months, and none of it makes sense without sharing numbers. Besides – she can just look it up on Zillow if I don’t tell her, so why not?
Trends like this are directly correlated to the rise of HGTV – also known as DIYTV – which encourage people to dream bigger and more expensively than they ever have before, and then to turn those dreams into reality. The excesses described in the book are those that I hope I never fall prey to – but I remember how easy it was to “just look” at houses priced above our price range, and how quickly I envisioned “minor” renovations to the house we bought, until a budget check reined me in. It’s no wonder people got in over their heads when credit was plentiful.
Author Daniel McGinn serves as a guide to the wonderful, weird world of real estate, even getting so excited by some of the deals he’s investigating that he invests in them himself. I’d be really interested to see an updated edition of this book that covers the foreclosure crisis and what’s happened since 2008 – several times he makes the point in the book that there are actually more times more vacant homes in America than there are homeless people, and I suspect that the spate of foreclosures in recent years have only made that statistic more stark.
House Lust is great narrative nonfiction reading for anyone who’s ever armchair-quarterbacked an episode of Exteme Makeover: Home Edition or looked up an ex on Zillow or created a board on Pinterest for “someday” projects – which encompasses, I’d say, pretty much everyone.
Nonetheless, it’s an entertaining read. From McMansions to time-shares, from people who wander through property they have no intention of buying to those who buy real estate sight-unseen by email, there’s no denying that America is obsessed with our houses – and those of our neighbors, our family, our friends, celebrities, and complete strangers. The question “How much did you pay?” is becoming more socially acceptable, not least because it’s a question that’s public information and easily google-able. The day before I finished the book, I sat down with a friend and went through all my mortgage paperwork with her – she wants to buy a house in a few years and has no idea where to start. I didn’t either, when I began the process, so I was happy to share with her what I learned over the last four months, and none of it makes sense without sharing numbers. Besides – she can just look it up on Zillow if I don’t tell her, so why not?
Trends like this are directly correlated to the rise of HGTV – also known as DIYTV – which encourage people to dream bigger and more expensively than they ever have before, and then to turn those dreams into reality. The excesses described in the book are those that I hope I never fall prey to – but I remember how easy it was to “just look” at houses priced above our price range, and how quickly I envisioned “minor” renovations to the house we bought, until a budget check reined me in. It’s no wonder people got in over their heads when credit was plentiful.
Author Daniel McGinn serves as a guide to the wonderful, weird world of real estate, even getting so excited by some of the deals he’s investigating that he invests in them himself. I’d be really interested to see an updated edition of this book that covers the foreclosure crisis and what’s happened since 2008 – several times he makes the point in the book that there are actually more times more vacant homes in America than there are homeless people, and I suspect that the spate of foreclosures in recent years have only made that statistic more stark.
House Lust is great narrative nonfiction reading for anyone who’s ever armchair-quarterbacked an episode of Exteme Makeover: Home Edition or looked up an ex on Zillow or created a board on Pinterest for “someday” projects – which encompasses, I’d say, pretty much everyone.
July 4, 2008
I learned a lot reading this book, but could not stand the author's writing style--he thinks he's just so darn clever and funny. I ended up skimming the last half of the book, reading the data and skipping the 'me me me' stuff.
December 3, 2014
Boy howdy what a timely book! As the prices of houses plummet and loans are near-impossible to attain, this book makes it crystal clear where it all went wrong. Actually, House Lust author McGinn makes the claim that he will do nothing of the sort in his book. While there is little mention of the current financial mess we are currently mired in, it is oh so clear how we got here.
Greed, pure and simple, is what has driven our economy into a pit. Not just greed from the no-money-down banks but house owners' lust for marble counter tops, brand-new houses and bigger, wider, deeper living rooms for their bigger, wider and narrower tvs.
McGinn, a self-confessed house-luster himself, covers the various areas of house lust. There are the redecorators who watch numerous tv shows on redoing their place. There is the renovating crowd, taking out massive loans against their mortgage to build "additions" larger than the original home. There are those that "need" a minimum of 4000 square feet to be comfortable and those that believe they are real estate moguls who merely have to invest their life savings into a dilapidated shack. With a coat of paint and a few flowers, they will flip that baby for a mint. *sigh* Many people are really stupid. Yes, there is definitely a strong element of voyeurism in this book "ooooh, they're spending $200,000 on a house worth $150,000, that's going to bite them in the buns."
If you are a homeowner already, read this book. It will make you you appreciate your own little ranch house in the not-at-all fashionable neighborhood. I sure appreciate our affordable little house a great deal more.
Greed, pure and simple, is what has driven our economy into a pit. Not just greed from the no-money-down banks but house owners' lust for marble counter tops, brand-new houses and bigger, wider, deeper living rooms for their bigger, wider and narrower tvs.
McGinn, a self-confessed house-luster himself, covers the various areas of house lust. There are the redecorators who watch numerous tv shows on redoing their place. There is the renovating crowd, taking out massive loans against their mortgage to build "additions" larger than the original home. There are those that "need" a minimum of 4000 square feet to be comfortable and those that believe they are real estate moguls who merely have to invest their life savings into a dilapidated shack. With a coat of paint and a few flowers, they will flip that baby for a mint. *sigh* Many people are really stupid. Yes, there is definitely a strong element of voyeurism in this book "ooooh, they're spending $200,000 on a house worth $150,000, that's going to bite them in the buns."
If you are a homeowner already, read this book. It will make you you appreciate your own little ranch house in the not-at-all fashionable neighborhood. I sure appreciate our affordable little house a great deal more.
July 9, 2012
My lunchtime reading for almost three months I think (ONLY lunchtime mind you, or it would not have taken me nearly this long, as it is a moderately sized book book). House Lust is a non-fiction piece about, as it says, America's obsession with our homes. It goes through the workings of TV shows on channels like HGTV and websites like Zillow where we can check our house's worth (I think that's what that one did). It goes into renting versus owning, and the ups and downs of owning vacation homes and renting properties to others. The book is fairly fascinating really, as boring as it sounds. For the first three or four chapters at least I was completely hooked, although I'll admit as it went on it became less and less interesting, and I would have wished for more of a tie-in at the end of all the chapters. Still, it was interesting and entertaining and I know a little bit more about This Old House than I did before.
May 16, 2023
This book was written prior to the 2008 financial crisis and it shows- no discussion of the global financial crisis (although the author indicates awareness something along those lines is coming) , nor of course of the covid pandemic and its affects. Internet is a shiny new thing that is influencing the market at the time of writing.
Nonetheless an entertaining and interesting read for those curious about the american culture around homeowner ship, on an array of topics like "is bigger better" "are these renovations worth it", holiday home ownership and so on.
I would be quite keen to get an updated version with the authors opinions and insights since this was written, and the advent of sites such as airbnb, among other topics.
Nonetheless an entertaining and interesting read for those curious about the american culture around homeowner ship, on an array of topics like "is bigger better" "are these renovations worth it", holiday home ownership and so on.
I would be quite keen to get an updated version with the authors opinions and insights since this was written, and the advent of sites such as airbnb, among other topics.
July 27, 2018
This was a very eye opening book. Although it is a little dated now, I think the main sentiments reign true for how people view their homes, if they own. Living in an area where building is rampant, I see the ideas brought forth by McGinn when it comes to buying brand new homes. I think the main appeal of this is to understand the "home lust" phenomenon if it is something you are already interested in learning about.
September 1, 2020
I like books about houses, and this one delves into lots of reasons why we are so into both our own and other houses. Fascinating and good writing.
October 13, 2019
Good book.
80,000 words.
It's well written, not terribly taxing. The reader tags-along with the author as he explores various aspects of the real estate industry, both as a reporter and as someone who eventually participates in the real estate "game."
McGinn proffers interesting riffs on house lust, real estate porn, and time-share vacation home polyamory—all of which might make one wonder what work he intends the sexual metaphors to do. He doesn't delve into it, but recurrent reference to sexual references are in his text.
I don't think I'll ever re-read this book but if McGinn ever writes a follow-up, I'll probably read it.
80,000 words.
It's well written, not terribly taxing. The reader tags-along with the author as he explores various aspects of the real estate industry, both as a reporter and as someone who eventually participates in the real estate "game."
McGinn proffers interesting riffs on house lust, real estate porn, and time-share vacation home polyamory—all of which might make one wonder what work he intends the sexual metaphors to do. He doesn't delve into it, but recurrent reference to sexual references are in his text.
I don't think I'll ever re-read this book but if McGinn ever writes a follow-up, I'll probably read it.
May 3, 2024
An incredible historical document from 15 years ago when our ancestors didn’t know about the recession that was about to hit them. I did not know that people got into house investing as a backup plan after their stocks went bust. MAYBEEEeeee the whole investment framework is fucked!?
Would be awesome to write another version on the pandemic housing bubble. This guy is way less funny than he thinks he is though
Would be awesome to write another version on the pandemic housing bubble. This guy is way less funny than he thinks he is though
May 25, 2017
Published just before the recession hit its peak, this was an interesting view into America's housing obsession. The author, being a little too close to the topic, fails to provide the in depth critical view I wanted. Still, was a good glimpse into various sectors of the housing industry. Would love to see an updated edition. Perfect for non fiction fans and those interested in the economy.
September 11, 2017
A little dated at this point--most of the manuscript was written in 2007--but I'm glad I read. As the real estate market heats up again, this is a good reminder of what the bubble was like at its height, how consumers behaved, and what motivated their (risky) financial decisions about their housing.
November 19, 2017
Borrowed from library. A quick read on the excess of the housing bubble. Most notable for authors first-person exploration of the subject (he gets licensed as a realtor, buys a rental property, renovates his house, etc.).
October 11, 2018
so out of date but 'historically' interesting.
the last paragraph made it not a complete loss.
the last paragraph made it not a complete loss.
March 23, 2009
Lust is defined as a passionate desire for something, which just about describes the yearnings of many of the people who appear in this book. Whether it is lust for an addition that costs as much as the original house; a kitchen with an eight-burner stove (I would die before cooking a meal that required eight burners); a McMansion for which the occupants can not afford furnishings because they are so overextended; or an overpriced tract home.
What you cannot see in the above photo is that this house is probably only 15 feet from its neighbor....but at least there was enough space to turn the garage so it does not face the street. Houses like that are often called "snout houses" and some cities, like Portland, have moved to ban them.
"House Lust" is exceptionally well-researched, informative, and interesting. It never lags and never bores the reader with statistics like Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You ---which basically was haphazard and disorganized, whereas McGinn's writing was organized and engaging. He proceeds logically from one topic to another, making for easy reading. I especially enjoyed McGinn’s personal involvement in his research - as when he spent the night in a model home, got a realtor’s license, and also when he bought a rental property so as to get firsthand experience. These things gave him a lot of credibility.
McGinn was writing this book as the housing bubble was bursting and he adjusted his writing accordingly.
I am a real fan of Sarah Susanka’s “not-so-big” values and really loved it when McGinn asked her to accompany him on a tour of a Toll Brothers house - she did not like it! No surprise there - not only because many of these houses are so overdone, but also because the quality is certainly nothing Susanka would ever approve of.
This was a great look at the psychology behind house lust and our most recent housing boom.
What you cannot see in the above photo is that this house is probably only 15 feet from its neighbor....but at least there was enough space to turn the garage so it does not face the street. Houses like that are often called "snout houses" and some cities, like Portland, have moved to ban them.
"House Lust" is exceptionally well-researched, informative, and interesting. It never lags and never bores the reader with statistics like Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You ---which basically was haphazard and disorganized, whereas McGinn's writing was organized and engaging. He proceeds logically from one topic to another, making for easy reading. I especially enjoyed McGinn’s personal involvement in his research - as when he spent the night in a model home, got a realtor’s license, and also when he bought a rental property so as to get firsthand experience. These things gave him a lot of credibility.
McGinn was writing this book as the housing bubble was bursting and he adjusted his writing accordingly.
I am a real fan of Sarah Susanka’s “not-so-big” values and really loved it when McGinn asked her to accompany him on a tour of a Toll Brothers house - she did not like it! No surprise there - not only because many of these houses are so overdone, but also because the quality is certainly nothing Susanka would ever approve of.
This was a great look at the psychology behind house lust and our most recent housing boom.
November 3, 2009
I enjoyed this book because like most books that I enjoy, it confirmed ideas that were already in my head. Also, the book seemed to have the right author because he admitted to having symptoms of the disease of "House Lust" himself. This gave the book more balance than I originally expected.
The book covered reasons why Americans become obsessed with purchasing more home than they need and remodeling to improve on property that is already just fine as it is. It came out at an interesting time, just as people were becoming aware of the housing bust. Other chapters of the book were devoted to Realtors and the purchase of vacation homes.
I picked it up at the library to gain an understanding for the enthusiasm that my wife seems to have for all things home. She is strongly in favor of improving our entire first floor. I think we only need a bathroom addition. We are also having work done on the backyard and we've had people come to the house to talk to us about improving our basement.
I think it gave me a fair amount of insight into the reasons why people become addicted to using their homes as status symbols, the rise of HGTV, and the emotional appeals that people in the industry make to close their deals.
One quibble: It didn't speak as directly to us as I would have liked because most of the focus was on people who are able to afford McMansions and people in the real estate industry. I was looking for more middle class coverage.
Otherwise, recommendable--especially as a voice against the tide of "keeping up with the Joneses".
The book covered reasons why Americans become obsessed with purchasing more home than they need and remodeling to improve on property that is already just fine as it is. It came out at an interesting time, just as people were becoming aware of the housing bust. Other chapters of the book were devoted to Realtors and the purchase of vacation homes.
I picked it up at the library to gain an understanding for the enthusiasm that my wife seems to have for all things home. She is strongly in favor of improving our entire first floor. I think we only need a bathroom addition. We are also having work done on the backyard and we've had people come to the house to talk to us about improving our basement.
I think it gave me a fair amount of insight into the reasons why people become addicted to using their homes as status symbols, the rise of HGTV, and the emotional appeals that people in the industry make to close their deals.
One quibble: It didn't speak as directly to us as I would have liked because most of the focus was on people who are able to afford McMansions and people in the real estate industry. I was looking for more middle class coverage.
Otherwise, recommendable--especially as a voice against the tide of "keeping up with the Joneses".
May 31, 2011
I learned about this book from the blog, Hooked on Houses and I decided to read it because I was curious about the concept of house lust. Writer, Daphne Merkin coined the term "Real Estate Lust" for "a condition whose symptoms include a compulsive scanning of real estate ads and incessant discussion of who paid what for how much, as well as a fascination with size and shape-- down to the number of bedrooms, closets and bathroom windows-- of apartments and houses that belong to people other than ourselves." McGinn prefers to use the term house lust because he thinks "Real Estate Lust" is too economic. He find that house lust is just being obsessed with houses from wanting the best house on the street to looking other people homes (whether in person or tv) to just talking about houses.
McGinn looks at why people buy new houses, undergo massive renovation projects, live in enormous houses, watch reality house shows like House Hunters, become real estate agents or buy investment and vacation properties....
For the rest of my review, visit: http://nookstowersandturrets.blogspot...
McGinn looks at why people buy new houses, undergo massive renovation projects, live in enormous houses, watch reality house shows like House Hunters, become real estate agents or buy investment and vacation properties....
For the rest of my review, visit: http://nookstowersandturrets.blogspot...
March 25, 2015
This was a great read, both informative and highly entertaining. I loved McGinn's quirky sense of humor and his ability to poke fun at himself. That's such a plus in non-fiction!
McGinn goes into detail about several aspects of America's obsession with homes: owning large (and I mean LARGE homes), building brand-new homes (enabling the owner to pick out every single item that they want and also to avoid inheriting any of the previous owners' "germs"), the time-and-money-intensive challenge of having a home remodeled, the over-the-top costs of New York City housing, buying home properties as rental investments, etc. The author focuses on certain parts of the U.S. for each chapter (Pocatello, ID; Las Vegas, NV; Naples, FL; Newton, MA; etc.) which enables him to be very specific about homes, neighborhoods, and individuals involved with the home process. It's a lot of fun.
One thing to acknowledge: this book was written just as the U.S. housing market was about to crash, so things have changed a lot since the book was published. That doesn't take away from the knowledge I gained nor from the sheer entertainment factor of the book.
McGinn goes into detail about several aspects of America's obsession with homes: owning large (and I mean LARGE homes), building brand-new homes (enabling the owner to pick out every single item that they want and also to avoid inheriting any of the previous owners' "germs"), the time-and-money-intensive challenge of having a home remodeled, the over-the-top costs of New York City housing, buying home properties as rental investments, etc. The author focuses on certain parts of the U.S. for each chapter (Pocatello, ID; Las Vegas, NV; Naples, FL; Newton, MA; etc.) which enables him to be very specific about homes, neighborhoods, and individuals involved with the home process. It's a lot of fun.
One thing to acknowledge: this book was written just as the U.S. housing market was about to crash, so things have changed a lot since the book was published. That doesn't take away from the knowledge I gained nor from the sheer entertainment factor of the book.
July 28, 2008
Very interesting. As I expected, I felt a little bit guilty reading it and knowing I am prone to some of these "symptoms" (wondering what people are selling houses for, browsing real estate markets in other states where we could get a lot more house for the money, talking and dreaming of remodeling or finishing space) and at the same time gloating a little bit that I don't have it as bad as some (do I dream of granite countertops and 10,000 sq. ft. houses? not really).
So it was an interesting look at all the lustful and obsessive behaviors that have cropped up in US society as the housing market boomed, and then burst. I wished he could have analyzed a little more about how we came to this point and how to avoid getting caught up in it all (he was phrasing everything very carefully so as to not offend those that are really really obsessed with it all - almost to the point of being humorous).
So it was an interesting look at all the lustful and obsessive behaviors that have cropped up in US society as the housing market boomed, and then burst. I wished he could have analyzed a little more about how we came to this point and how to avoid getting caught up in it all (he was phrasing everything very carefully so as to not offend those that are really really obsessed with it all - almost to the point of being humorous).
September 28, 2009
Interesting! It was really eye-opening and I liked the lengths the author went to in researching the book. He went "undercover" to real estate conferences, followed real estate investors, home sellers and buyers, builders and a family undergoing a major remodel. It did seem repetitive at points, and the author talks a lot about himself but my only real complaint was that the book was clearly conceptualized during the housing boom but not completed until the early recession. Therefore, some parts seem disjointed as though they were added in later to soften statements and make them more relevant to what's going on now. The author added something at the end about this, but it's still noticeable throughout the book, especially when he references a real estate expert's "apocalyptic" predictions of national unemployment soaring, widespread foreclosures, etc. Just by using the word "apocalyptic," we see just how bulletproof the author and others thought we were when this book was written.
October 27, 2013
I should love this thing -- we've spent the past 3 years bubble-sitting, trawling zillow.com and waiting for this house mania to end. But this book suffers from a depressing lack of self-awareness and the author's attempts at humor are grating and mostly unsuccessful. In fact, his commiseration with the McMansion set's preoccupation with size, amenities and trendiness makes me want to find an acre somewhere at the butt end of nowhere and live in a one room yurt.
Edited to add: on reflection, I think my review was a little unfair. The author is certainly more sympathetic to the subject than I am, but my knee jerk response was to lay all the blame at the mahogany and leaded glass door of the messenger. There really is a bunch of decent information in the book, so ...a 5K kickback and a widescreen TV to the author at closing (and one more star).
Edited to add: on reflection, I think my review was a little unfair. The author is certainly more sympathetic to the subject than I am, but my knee jerk response was to lay all the blame at the mahogany and leaded glass door of the messenger. There really is a bunch of decent information in the book, so ...a 5K kickback and a widescreen TV to the author at closing (and one more star).
April 1, 2016
Very entertaining book. Covers a very wide range of current subjects relating to houses and real estate. From McMansions, to renovations, to the birth and success of HGTV, to becoming a real estate agent, and more. Even discusses time shares as an option used to get around costs of a vacation home that sits unused most of the year.
I found it educational and informative and most certainly entertaining. Its not meant as a history of real estate or a how to book either. It's an exploration of how our society has become obsessed with homes, ours and other people's and how it came to be and all the ways its manifested. Exactly what the subtitle promises.
If you've ever had any interest in real estate related things ie kept an eye on local listings or watched HGTV on purpose ever, you'll probably enjoy this book too.
I found it educational and informative and most certainly entertaining. Its not meant as a history of real estate or a how to book either. It's an exploration of how our society has become obsessed with homes, ours and other people's and how it came to be and all the ways its manifested. Exactly what the subtitle promises.
If you've ever had any interest in real estate related things ie kept an eye on local listings or watched HGTV on purpose ever, you'll probably enjoy this book too.
May 2, 2008
This book explored the pshycological and behavioral trends that led to the recent real estate boom and bust. I learned that I could very esaliy develop a full blown case of house lust. I have the minor symtoms (HGTV and Zillow addications as well as Model Home shopping problems). With Derek in school I am unable to truly jump in the game (I have dipped a toe in. I even signed up to try and get my real estate license, but we moved before I could take the test.) This book gave me a look at the the advantages and risks that is inherient in Real Estate. Some I knew, some I didn't and some I could feel, but couldn't find a name for. I definitly want to buy a home someday, but I now feel more eqquiped to decide when I am truly ready both financially and emotionally.
January 20, 2010
I've actually been listening to this as an audio book in bed, before falling asleep -- well, actually, I've fallen asleep during many parts, but don't take that as a judgment on the book. It may have affected my opinion of the overall narrative, given that I rarely every heard the end of a chapter the same day I heard the start.
It's a wry look at the psychology and effects of home ownership inflation. I found it engagingly written, very much suitable for a layperson who has never even glanced at a mortgage contract. And I actually liked how much of the author's voice and perspective I got; I don't think I would've found this interesting at all had it been a dry recitation of other people's circumstances.
It's a wry look at the psychology and effects of home ownership inflation. I found it engagingly written, very much suitable for a layperson who has never even glanced at a mortgage contract. And I actually liked how much of the author's voice and perspective I got; I don't think I would've found this interesting at all had it been a dry recitation of other people's circumstances.
September 29, 2011
While this book focused on people who spend exorbitant amounts of money for houses and properties so vast and numerous they can't even count them ("how many bathrooms do we have? 10? 9 1/2?" etc), there were passages and themes that I recognized in myself as I house hunt. How much can I afford? How much do I need? Why am I looking for a 3 bedroom house when there's only myself and Tom? Can I do renovations? Why am I addicted to watching HGTV?
This book was published in 2008, right as the bubble was obviously bursting on the housing market and economy at large. There are some mentions of this, but I think it would behoove this author to come out with a 2nd edition to further expound on the effects this has had on America's House Lust.
This book was published in 2008, right as the bubble was obviously bursting on the housing market and economy at large. There are some mentions of this, but I think it would behoove this author to come out with a 2nd edition to further expound on the effects this has had on America's House Lust.
May 19, 2008
I think the book started off strong, but got a little weak in the middle before picking up just a tad at the end. In the middle, I almost got depressed because he kept talking about how the housing market was bursting and really just reminds me of how the value of my own house has probably dropped. Good thing I'm not planning on moving.
I liked the crazy stories of the ridiculously large houses and the special rooms some of them have, reading through the first 1/3rd of the book right away. But then I just strained to finish it up. I was hoping to recommend it to friends, but it just didn't seem relevant.
I liked the crazy stories of the ridiculously large houses and the special rooms some of them have, reading through the first 1/3rd of the book right away. But then I just strained to finish it up. I was hoping to recommend it to friends, but it just didn't seem relevant.
November 12, 2008
This was a pretty light and interesting, for the most part, read. He only wrote it last summer (2007) but it's already out of date with the recent market change. It's still interesting, though. I like how he doesn't shed those who have house lust in a bad light. I also liked how each chapter described a different way in which one can have house lust. But, that also meant that not every chapter grabbed my attention. Continually renovating, owning and maintaining rental real estate, and acquiring vacation homes and time shares were the chapters that really caught my attention just because I felt like they were describing my Dad. I guess he has house lust. :)
January 18, 2015
I found this book very interesting for the most part, though at times a few chapters seemed to drag on for too long. This guy does what it takes to learn about his subject matter--engaging in such activities as buying rental property over the internet, obtaining a real estate license, and purchasing a time share--all in an attempt to write from experience as well as from observation. From obsessing over square footage, to purchasing second and third vacation homes, to investing in real estate, Dan McGinn thoroughly uncovers all the dimensions of house lust and how it has affected our society.
May 7, 2008
Highly entertaining and a little bit shocking--I didn't really think of myself as being someone who lusted after houses, but I fit a lot of these characteristics: I do talk to my neighbors about the reasons that House X in our neighborhood hasn't sold, or whether House Y is priced correctly, and we all know how to get to the city's property records, so it's not like there are any secrets...horrors!
The author's acknowledgments of his own weaknesses when it comes to his home or to the various pitches he listens to are endearing.
The author's acknowledgments of his own weaknesses when it comes to his home or to the various pitches he listens to are endearing.
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