McMansions are sprouting in the suburbs of Washington and Atlanta, in southern Connecticut and out West in Utah as an appetite for bigger homes just keeps on growing.

One in five American houses had at least four bedrooms in 2005. That’s up from one in six in 1990, despite shrinking families and increasing costs for construction and energy.

What can you expect?

Evan and Valerie Astle are having a 5,700 square-foot house built in a new subdivision near Ogden because they want more space for their three teenagers.

"Our kids have more stuff. They need more living space," said Valerie Astle, a grade-school teacher. "Our (old) house was fine when they were small, but we’ve just outgrown it."

Oh, god, yes, it must be terrible slumming it in your current 2,100 square-foot home!

Complete story: Appetite for big houses keeps growing - The Associated Press by way of The Boston Herald