Special offer

What Is A Mansion

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792

Today, a home buyer called about a house for sale that he saw on  Sacramento Real Estate Voice and wanted to know more about it.

Question from Granite Bay Home BuyerThe house is for sale in Granite Bay, a community of upscale homes where there are friendly gated, guarded gated and non-gated neighborhoods.

If you would like to take a tour of some of the Granite Bay neighborhoods, just click on the link.

While speaking to the Granite home buyer, he asked an interesting question...What makes a mansion a mansion?  I thought it was a good question that many other home buyers might wonder about.

Usually, a 6,000 square foot home is considered to be a mansion but not always. A mansion can be much smaller. The key that makes a mansion a mansion is the design which is tailored to fit particular buyers needs. It's a bit above and beyond.

The Granite Bay house, (I should say mansion) that the home buyer called about has 6,700 square feet on almost 2 acres with amenities galore. One of the convenient features of the mansion is the pre-programmed, wireless, radio frequency lighting system called Lutron Lighting. While driving up to the house, from a car or by a central system, one can turn on the inside and outside lights of the house or simply dim the lights all in the flip of a finger.

A curved staircase one with glass sides overlooking all glass windows floor to ceiling reaching 30 ft with a 180 degree view is just another plus for this home. Little things like home theater, multi zone units for heat and air, multiple shower heads, sub zero refrigerator and freezer, Neff cabinetry, Bloomberg windows, guest quarters, pool, pool house, wine cellars, media/sports rooms, fantastic views plus ever so much more.  Some mansions have their own helipad, vineyard, multiple garages...all for the toys or future toys that the new home buyer may purchase. These all help to make a house a mansion along with state of the art fixtures and materials used for building and installing appliances.

Click to see some of the mansions in and around Granite Bay, CA for your look at Sacramento Luxury Homes for sale.

Comments(28)

Linda Scanlan
A Fan of AR - Burleson, TX

Gena! I LOVE your new photo!! I was scrolling my subscribed list and wondered who is that person?? You look fabulous!

May 30, 2008 11:53 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

I second that motion! (the fabulous picture)  That mansion tax is way out of date!

May 30, 2008 03:02 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Jeff, I'd say you're right. Thanks Jeff...good to see you and even better to hear from you. Hope all is well. Will you be attending Inman in SF?

Joan, yes it's amazing all the things that come up...sort of like a painting. There are always critiques and more and more ways of distinguishing good art and mansions, hugh?

Stewart, point well taken that square footage isn't the only criteria.

Linda, so nice of you to say. I think I aged a thousand years after that operation but best to show the new me rather than the old one. I do hate to go and get those professional photos so this one will have to do until then. Thanks for noticing and being ever so kind.

Georgina, thank you, too. You actually saw me at my worst after the rain shower on the beach, DRENCHED.  I quite agree that NY's mansion tax is way out of date. Don't imagine they want to change that one...must be a lot of dollars in the coffer for the state.

May 30, 2008 03:47 PM
Mitchell J Hall
Manhattan, NY
Lic Associate RE Broker - Manhattan & Brooklyn

Gena, I love the new picture too. They should call the mansion tax the middle class tax.

Does Nicole Murphy still own the mansion in Granite Bay?

 Stewart, We call them trophy apartments - mansions in the sky

It's not about square footage that house in Beverly Hills is asking $12,000 per square foot. It must be gorgeous.

May 30, 2008 04:20 PM
COMPASS PALM SPRINGS | Stewart Penn
COMPASS - Palm Springs, CA
COMPASS Palm Springs - Broker Associate

Mitchell - Did you see my Blog about the most expensive condos currently For sale in Los Angeles?

Top of the list is a new $27 Million Penthouse.

May 31, 2008 08:39 AM
Mitchell J Hall
Manhattan, NY
Lic Associate RE Broker - Manhattan & Brooklyn

Stewart, I know you mean well and it's certainly an interesting discussion but it's not proper A/R blogger ettiquite to link your blog from Gena's comments.

May 31, 2008 09:19 AM
COMPASS PALM SPRINGS | Stewart Penn
COMPASS - Palm Springs, CA
COMPASS Palm Springs - Broker Associate

Mitchell - I didn't know that and did not mean to step on anyone's toes. Stewart

May 31, 2008 09:26 AM
Ann-Marie Clements
Candidate for an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership - Saint John, NB
Ed.D. candidate, Innovative Proactive Principa

Hi Gena,

Great article!! They must be gorgeous... I wasn't aware of that community just outside of Sacramento, CA.

Wow, 6,000 sq ft!!!  I love it!!!  Remember a mansion is relative to all very differently.  A person in an apartment for all their life would think that a 2,000 sq ft home is a mansion.  it's all how you look at it.

May 31, 2008 12:59 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Mitchell, thank you. Have the folks in NY become aware of this tax and how it should either be renamed or given a new dollar amount?

No, Nicole has moved. 

I have a new blog post coming out about all those tremendous properties. Beverly Hills and Trumps reduction of $25mil on his property in Florida. That's some reduction, I must say!

Stewart, hope you check out my post tomorrow about the top most expensive mansions here in the U.S.

Anne Marie, I do agree with that. It's all in the eyes of the beholder.

May 31, 2008 02:36 PM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Hey Gena.........love your new photo. I almost didn't know which blog I was on. ;-)

 

Pepper

May 31, 2008 04:17 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Teri, what? You didn't recognize me?  When Jeff Turner saw me, he was so sweet and said that I look younger than the old photo (that is only 4-5 yrs old). Somehow, I think he may have been pulling my leg but I love him for it anyway.  Actually, I think my next photo will be an avatar like your signature photo...can't go wrong with looking like that for the next 20 years!

May 31, 2008 05:18 PM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Gena, I think Jeff was right. You do look younger.....and what? Your last picture was five year's old? No way!

Pepper

Jun 01, 2008 03:40 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Teri, oops did I say 5 years old ... meant I was 5 years younger in the other one and I always thought I looked better...this new one is now which is 5 years later. Hard to believe I could possibly look younger now. You guys are all full of it...but I thank you, anyway.

Jun 01, 2008 05:16 PM
Marcia Kramarz
Re/Max Executive Realty - Medway, MA
CDPE,LMC,CBR

Hey Gina, thanks for the education - Not sure I agree with the lady who says that a home has to be over 10,000 sq ft to qualify - If it's PLUSH and OVERLY OSTENTATIOUS - it'd fit my bill... BUt then again maybe "Mansion" is in the eyes of the beholder - all relative as they say!

Jun 01, 2008 11:17 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Marcia, I quite agree that it is all in the eyes of the beholder. Truly square footage really is secondary to the amenities, location, view and uniqueness of the property. Thanks for weighing in on your thoughts.

Jun 02, 2008 04:08 AM
Doris Freeman
Zach Taylor Real Estate - Gallatin, TN
Broker/Agent, 615-961-7799

In Nashville, Tennessee area a manision would have to be well over 10,000 sq ft or very unique, we have a lot of 6000 sq ft homes.

Have A Great Day

Jun 04, 2008 03:08 PM
Liz Carter
Liz Carter & Team Realty-Your Real Estate Resource For Life! - Katy, TX
Broker/Owner of Liz Carter & Team Realty, Katy TX (Houston)

Gena, I LOVE the new hairdo!  Tag you're it...you've been super meme'ed by meme :).  Come on you need to get out there with your new look.  Liz

Somebody Loves Me...MeMe, Yes!

Jun 04, 2008 07:37 PM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Doris, sounds like you have some rather large estates in Tennessee.

Liz, WOW...I thought I had escaped. This will be my 3rd time. Let's see if I can come up with something as unique as the new photo, hugh?

Jun 05, 2008 02:31 AM
Pam Winterbauer
Pam Winterbauer Real Estate - San Ramon, CA
"Providing Blue Ribbon Service"

Gena.....good post and a great post.  I have never thought of "what constituted a mansion".  thnks for keeping us informed.

Jun 06, 2008 02:02 AM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Pam, glad to have been enlightening.

Jun 07, 2008 03:02 AM