Mansionmania rolls along with our juggernaut Elite 8 4th-round contestants. You will choose among each pair of houses with the following assumptions:
The purchase price for you is $0.
All maintenance, utilities, property taxes, HOA fees, and cleaning is included.
You must live in the home for the rest of your life.
You can't travel more than 100 miles from home (via google maps drive time) other than 1 two-week vacation each year.
You get $250,000 per year as a living allowance
You get an additional living allowance at the cheaper home, which will be valued at 1% of any cost difference annually. I will note this amount in the poll.
You get the furnishings. If unfurnished, you get an allowance that will give you mid-grade furniture in every room.
You get any vehicles in the garage. But only the garage - nothing parked outside.
I encourage you to click on the maps in the listings to see the general location and neighborhood.
Also, I will only enter contestants if they have a sufficient number of photos to judge, as determined by me.
I have voted for that Alabama house every step of the way. The indoor pool and garage in Maryland almost swayed me, but I'm sticking with Alabama. [Reply]
Y'know, I went into this one thinking that Maryland would be a walkaway winner for me. It's twice the size of Alabama, has access to DC, Baltimore, and the Delaware beach, and it's got a reasonably mild climate.
But I'll be doggoned if that Alabama spread doesn't still compete well. It's a great looking property and a very attractive house. I'd be paying for a lot of redecorating in Maryland, whereas I can move right into Alabama. Alabama also has a much nicer kitchen, whereas most of my first annual stipend will go toward upgrading Maryland's kitchen.
This is a tough one. In the end, Maryland is a huge house with an indoor pool and metro access. I've got to go Maryland, but I will speak fondly of Alabama. [Reply]
Beautiful location, enough acreage and really just an outstanding 'classic' home design.
You essentially own a point that overlooks the harbor for the Naval Academy - how cool would that be? Setting aside the obvious location advantages, this is just a great house/property. [Reply]
Bonus! On your boat you can sail up the Chesapeake, into the elk river and through Back Creek to get over to the Delaware River. Then you can take the Delaware up to Philly and get there in under 100 miles (so says my ruler and the map scale, anyway). [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Wait - fishing is a consideration and your answer is to take the place that ISN'T on the Chesapeake?
That seems counterintuitive...
I prefer freshwater fishing.
ETA: I hated to vote against the MD property, but it would take a while to fix all the old people decorations in there, and I just like the AL place better. [Reply]
Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider:
I prefer freshwater fishing.
ETA: I hated to vote against the MD property, but it would take a while to fix all the old people decorations in there, and I just like the AL place better.
I'm literally dropping crab pots in my back yard and bringing in fresh Maryland Blue Crabs every single day.
Crab is easily the best shellfish if you're willing to do the work for the meat. Sweeter and more complex than Lobster (which pretty much just tastes like the butter you have to dip it in). [Reply]
