From a private art wing with steel doors that drop from the ceiling to a 70-foot saltwater swimming pool, these homes have it all -- for around $50 million.
Take a tour of some of the largest and priciest homes in the U.S., most in L.A., New York, or Florida. Is it that surprising that no one's buying?
"This is the real-estate world's expanding ubermarket, where prices start at $30 million and sellers are sometimes in it just for sport. These aren't mere mansions -- sorry, Cher, your $9.8 million joint wouldn't make the cut -- but modern-day San Simeons, largely insulated from the rest of the market. Currently about 60 of these mini-emirates are for sale in the U.S., according to databases and interviews with brokers. That's compared with a handful of $30-million-plus homes even a few years ago."
[The original article as published in the Wall Street Journal may be found here for approximately three days; the link below is a permanent version published in the Baltimore Sun.]
FULL STORY: Megamansions sit on housing market

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Poorest NYC Neighborhoods Pay Price for Delivery Boom
The rise of ‘last-mile’ e-commerce warehouses — and their attendant truck traffic and air pollution — is disproportionately impacting the most historically disadvantaged parts of the city.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.

California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.
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