National company built subdivisions like you mention (often 80-200 homes each, all cookie cutter mini mcmansions) are popping up where I live, but there isn't a

National company built subdivisions like you mention (often 80-200 homes each, all cookie cutter mini mcmansions) are popping up where I live, but there isn't a shortage of other options. People arent moving there "just to put a roof over their heads" as if it were a choice of last resort. People are moving into them because they want to. Lower crime than the city, less lawn to maintain than the country, plenty of room indoors for the whole family during bad weather, looks posh (even if any craftsman would scoff at the crap construction). I wouldn't ever buy one myself, but some people wouldn't have it any other way.