How much living space does a person really need? Obviously, that can only be answered on a case-by-case basis. A newlywed couple with no children probably needs far less space than, say, the Kardashian clan.

But the fact is, the size of the average newly-constructed home in the United States has grown over the years. In 1945, the square footage was around 800. In 2020, it was almost 2,500, which is more than triple the size.

The cost of materials and the ease of getting fat credit lines are just some of the reasons Americans are building bigger.

So what's the largest single-family home in New York? It also happens to be the biggest in the entire country.

FAIR FIELD MANSION

 

Located in the Hamptons in Long Island, the Fair Field mansion was constructed in 2003 and boasts approximately 110,000 square feet of floor space, making it the largest single-family residence in the United States. By comparison, the White House is "only" 54,900 sq ft. 

The mansion's estimated value is between $267 and $500 million. It's owned by 88-year-old billionaire businessman Ira Rennert, who started his successful career in Wall Street in the mid-1950s. He's one of the richest individuals in the state of New York, with a net worth of roughly $3.5 billion.

INSANE AMENITIES

Along with 21 bedrooms and 18 bathrooms, the mansion reportedly features a 164-seat theater, a garage that can hold approximately 100 cars, and a private museum showcasing Rennert's $500 million art collection. There are three swimming pools on site, an enormous $150,000 hot tub, a bowling alley, and a heli pad for Rennert's private helicopter. The mansion sits on 63 acres.

So what do you think-- would you live in a 110,000 sq ft home? Or would you just get lost in there?

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY BELOW FOR A TOUR:

25 Stunning Photos From The Biggest Mansion In New York State

Want to take a not-so-little tour around the Fair Field Mansion? Take a look below, and then watch a video with more from the tour by clicking here.

You Can Rent New York's Largest AirBnb For $343

There are currently two options for those wanting to use the 850 acre Vanderkamp Estate: The Frank Soule Lodge and The Boathouse.

The Frank Soule Lodge is named after the original property owner who used the estate as his personal escape from the world of industry. The Airbnb listing includes seven bedrooms for multiple families or lot of friends and has a shuffleboard room, large kitchen, outdoor fire pit, and a private dock. The Lodge is $800 per night.

The real bargain is The Boathouse. 200 feet away from the Lodge, The Boathouse has its own private dock (with personal canoe, it is a boathouse after all), an outdoor fireplace and two bedrooms facing the water. Airbnb lists it as $343 per night.

The 850 acres is shared between Lodge and Boathouse guests, but if you can’t find a place far enough away from other people within the 1.3 square mile grounds you may have more problems than a weekend retreat is going to solve.

Both retreats are pretty solidly booked through the summer, but have good availability in the fall. As you can see by some of the pictures, this place has to be completely spectacular when the leaves change. Definitely something to look into Oswego County for. Check it out!

16 of New York's Biggest, Widest, Oldest, Tallest and Weirdest Record Holders

While this list is not exactly the Guinness Book of World Records material, it does illustrate the Upstate New York can hold a candle to any place when it comes to setting unique records.

Here is a list of 16 of the biggest, shorted, oddest, longest, one-of-a-kindest, deepest, and weirdest factoids about our region.

If nothing else, this list will make a great conversation starter at your next get-together!

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