The 5 US Cities Where $300,000 Buys a McMansion

Think mortgage rates are at their peak in 2025? History tells us a different story. Flash back to 1981 when homebuyers paid an interest rate of 19% on a mortgage, according to CNN.

At the time, people who wanted to live in a large home but couldn’t afford a traditional mansion (5,000 square feet and above) could purchase a McMansion, a house measuring between $3,000 and $6,000 square feet, according to Quicken Loans, for thousands of dollars less.

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Compared to large estates made from custom materials and built on large lots, McMansions were constructed on small plots and made from low-quality materials that would wear much faster than premium products. These houses exemplified the phrase “cookie-cutter,” as every home in the neighborhood looked identical.

The good news: Homebuyers could own a house with more space at a fraction of the cost and upgrade to quality materials later — swapping out tacky chandeliers and poorly planned layouts for more custom designs without paying the market rate and compounding interest for a large home upfront.

When people spent more time at home during the pandemic, McMansions resurfaced, and today, in some places around the country, you can find them at steep discounts. Here are the U.S. cities where $300,000 buys a McMansion.