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**Rain Man** · 11-25-2021, 11:14 PM

Heat 8 is a special Thanksgiving heat, so here's a picture for you:

Mansionmania continues with our Sweet 16 3rd-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.

Your entries in this heat are:

US Virgin Islands:

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...0_M97779-80235

Virginia:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7...zpid/?mmlb=g,0

**Rain Man** · 11-25-2021, 11:23 PM

Another heavyweight battle between two strong contenders. Let's review the tape.

USVI - It's a great home design, and there's no need to own a windbreaker. You'll have to save your vacation time to flee hurricanes, and I have a feeling that life in a US territory is going to involve some hassles that you won't find in a US state. If you look at the fine print, the 30,000 square feet includes both indoor and outdoor space, so it's not as big as they're boasting, but it's still going to be plenty big enough. However, a negative for me is that it's split into three buildings, which makes it less user-friendly. I just noticed the water slide into the pool, which is a nice touch. But where am I going for dinner? My entertainment choices are limited.

Virginia - I really like this house. I'm not usually a huge fan of the colonial style, but that's usually because it's a cheap knockoff. This is an estate that's basically Mount Vernon, and that makes it an inconceivably cool house. I like the indoor resistance pool, and the 16 acres gives me land to wander and consider the 18th-century interests of botany and birds and stuff. Then I can drive easily into DC and have a nice dinner. This house fits me very well from a style and design perspective.

USVI is amazing, but I have to go with Virginia here. That house is spectacular, and it's in a great location on a scenic lot.

DJ's left nut · 11-25-2021, 11:43 PM

Virginia - easy.

This is the one that’s part of Washington’s original Mt. Vernon Estate and overlooks the Potomac. This may be my favorite remaining home. Just an incredible spot.

**Buehler445** · 11-26-2021, 05:51 AM

Virginia here too.

And I’m a whore for the money.

That house is awesome.

lawrenceRaider · 11-26-2021, 07:39 AM

Voted for the island this time. Seems like I've been picking the loser on the last few of these.

Chiefnj2 · 11-26-2021, 09:03 AM

The Virginia house is nice, but the Potamic is dirty carp and catfish water. DC area traffic sucks.
USVI easily, especially with the money. Buy a sailboat and cruise around your allowable radius.

Buddy Rich · 11-26-2021, 09:15 AM

I live in Northen Virginia and hate a lot about the area but I'd take the Mt. Vernon house over any other two in the competition. The house is perfect, the spot is more than perfect and you get almost everything within 100 miles.

Zebedee DuBois · 11-26-2021, 09:32 AM

Virginia.

Island living would be too isolating. it would be difficult for friends and family to visit.
I wish there was a boat tied to the dock.

Great Expectations · 11-26-2021, 09:43 AM

That USVI house is my favorite on in the completion.

Otter · 11-26-2021, 09:54 AM

That USVI home looks cozy as a good set of boobs but I went with Virginia.

Definitely a tough call.

oldman · 11-26-2021, 11:12 AM

I have a friend that lived in a multi-million dollar home close to the house in the Virgin Islands for a few years. He's living back in the states now. I won't go into all the horror stories, but he's glad he moved before the next hurricane. I'm in on the VA house.

View Poll Results: Which one do you pick?
US Virgin Islands, plus $580,010 annual stipend	14	40.00%
Virginia, plus $250,000 annual stipend	21	60.00%
Gosh, I can't decide.	0	0%
Voters: 35. You may not vote on this poll

11-25-2021, 11:14 PM
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Rain Man's Avatar Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house	Mansionmania Tournament: Round 3, Heat 8 Heat 8 is a special Thanksgiving heat, so here's a picture for you: Mansionmania continues with our Sweet 16 3rd-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. Your entries in this heat are: US Virgin Islands: https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...0_M97779-80235 Virginia: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7...zpid/?mmlb=g,0
Posts: 141,670

11-25-2021, 11:23 PM	#2
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Rain Man's Avatar Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house	Another heavyweight battle between two strong contenders. Let's review the tape. USVI - It's a great home design, and there's no need to own a windbreaker. You'll have to save your vacation time to flee hurricanes, and I have a feeling that life in a US territory is going to involve some hassles that you won't find in a US state. If you look at the fine print, the 30,000 square feet includes both indoor and outdoor space, so it's not as big as they're boasting, but it's still going to be plenty big enough. However, a negative for me is that it's split into three buildings, which makes it less user-friendly. I just noticed the water slide into the pool, which is a nice touch. But where am I going for dinner? My entertainment choices are limited. Virginia - I really like this house. I'm not usually a huge fan of the colonial style, but that's usually because it's a cheap knockoff. This is an estate that's basically Mount Vernon, and that makes it an inconceivably cool house. I like the indoor resistance pool, and the 16 acres gives me land to wander and consider the 18th-century interests of botany and birds and stuff. Then I can drive easily into DC and have a nice dinner. This house fits me very well from a style and design perspective. USVI is amazing, but I have to go with Virginia here. That house is spectacular, and it's in a great location on a scenic lot. Last edited by Rain Man; 11-25-2021 at 11:32 PM..
Posts: 141,670

11-25-2021, 11:43 PM	#3
DJ's left nut Sauntering Vaguely Downwards DJ's left nut's Avatar Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Columbia, Mo	Virginia - easy. This is the one that’s part of Washington’s original Mt. Vernon Estate and overlooks the Potomac. This may be my favorite remaining home. Just an incredible spot.
Posts: 60,763

11-26-2021, 05:51 AM	#4
Buehler445 Supporter Buehler445's Avatar Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scott City KS	Virginia here too. And I’m a whore for the money. That house is awesome.
Posts: 56,918

11-26-2021, 07:39 AM	#5
lawrenceRaider Here We Go Again lawrenceRaider's Avatar Join Date: May 2002	Voted for the island this time. Seems like I've been picking the loser on the last few of these.
Posts: 14,494

11-26-2021, 09:03 AM	#6
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Chiefnj2's Avatar Join Date: Mar 2007	The Virginia house is nice, but the Potamic is dirty carp and catfish water. DC area traffic sucks. USVI easily, especially with the money. Buy a sailboat and cruise around your allowable radius.
Posts: 22,395	1 0

11-26-2021, 09:15 AM	#7
Buddy Rich Exasperated Buddy Rich's Avatar Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Africa	I live in Northen Virginia and hate a lot about the area but I'd take the Mt. Vernon house over any other two in the competition. The house is perfect, the spot is more than perfect and you get almost everything within 100 miles.
Posts: 1,141

11-26-2021, 09:32 AM	#8
Zebedee DuBois Veteran Zebedee DuBois's Avatar Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: floating in a tin can	Virginia. Island living would be too isolating. it would be difficult for friends and family to visit. I wish there was a boat tied to the dock.
Posts: 3,780

11-26-2021, 09:43 AM	#9
Great Expectations MVP Great Expectations's Avatar Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Joplin, MO	That USVI house is my favorite on in the completion.
Posts: 7,228

11-26-2021, 09:54 AM	#10
Otter Live free or die hard Otter's Avatar Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Durango, CO	That USVI home looks cozy as a good set of boobs but I went with Virginia. Definitely a tough call.
Posts: 26,220

11-26-2021, 11:12 AM	#11
oldman Curmudgeon oldman's Avatar Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North by Northwest	I have a friend that lived in a multi-million dollar home close to the house in the Virgin Islands for a few years. He's living back in the states now. I won't go into all the horror stories, but he's glad he moved before the next hurricane. I'm in on the VA house.
Posts: 5,319