If you live in the Sacramento area or various portions of California, you’ve likely come across a “McKeon” property. Maybe you didn’t know the formal name, but chances are you’ve seen one since they are sprinkled throughout the Sacramento area. McKeons are named after the McKeon Corporation, which built a great deal of attached four-unit properties in the 60s and 70s that are either condominiums or fourplexes. Take a one-minute video tour with me below to see in person what a McKeon looks like.
Where have you seen McKeon properties? If you have lived in one or sold quite a few, I’d be curious to hear your perspective on which unit you think is most preferrable?
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I prefer one of the side units. My girlfriend and her dad own two of these Mckeon units. Her dad has a front unit. It’s nice, and plenty spacious. I think it’s better for folks where mobility is an issue since it’s all one story. One drawback is you get all of the noise from the street.
My girlfriend’s unit is a side unit, which I like. I like the split level. It offers a spacious feel and can also help with noise (first floor noise isn’t as bothersome on the second floor.) But also, heat rises and with the bedrooms on the second floor, summer can be a bit warm. The flip side of course is the rooms upstairs are pretty toasty in the winter. I like the side units also because you don’t get the noise from the alley in the back or the street in the front.
The best thing about the rear units is you get an upstairs balcony. Depending on what your view is this can be good or bad. I think another downside is being right above the garages. Not all of these units have garage doors, but I can’t imagine enjoying the noise from the openers at all hours of the day.
Thanks!
Hi Philo. Your commentary is spot on, and I really think you highlighted the pluses and minuses very well. Thank you so much. I concur about Unit #4 because sometimes the view is open space if you’re lucky, but in many cases it’s an alley. I’ve seen the same thing too as some units have a garage door and other times not.
Any idea where I can get floor plans for remodeling the Ventura McKeons (unit 3 model)? There are some upgrades I would like to make and want to make sure if load bearing and if I can add a beam? Add air conditioning and possibly a small washer/dryer.
Hi Paula. Hmm, I’m not entirely sure. I suspect a contractor could let you know if a wall was load-bearing or not. I wonder if someone has plans posted somewhere on a site like Flickr. Sometimes I’ve been able to find really old images for other types of homes. That’s a longshot, but I figured I would mention it.
The heat in McKeon homes in unbearable. My father owns 2 of them in Citrus Heights. My brother in Unit 1 and myself in Unit 4.
I have remodeled mine a few years ago and there is little to no insulation where insulation should be. It takes a lot of energy to cool these homes and because there is little to no insulation the AC is on 24/7 June, July, and August. I had an tech go up there to replace the HVAC 7 years ago and he said the insulation up in the attic was 1/2 thick if I remember correctly. I fixed the subfloor of my #4 unit 4 years ago and there was no insulation between the garage and the subfloor.. These new tiers SMUD has enacted made paying the energy bills stressful. Last July, my energy bill was $300. The landlords aren’t incentivized to insulate rental properties because they aren’t the ones paying the energy, so it just becomes another burden forced onto those living with low incomes. As usual, making the cost of living higher when you’re poor.
SMUD wouldn’t have to charge tier rates during times of high energy usage if they incentivized owners of homes like the McKeons to be insulated.
Thanks Jeffrey. I really appreciate you pitching in here. I hear you on the tiers also. It’s not easy to keep things cool during those peak hours. I’m not a fan of that system. I’d be curious to see the end-result. What do the stats show? Do people use less energy during these hours now? Or is this a money-maker for them? Thanks again. Hang in there.