Reading up on real-estate
100 deep · digging since nov 19, 25
- Starbase, LA | Hacker News
SpaceX's Starbase expansion in Los Angeles aims to boost local aerospace industry but faces regulatory and community hurdles.
- Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown
The article walks through constructing a backyard office, from foundation to interior finishes, while providing a detailed breakdown of material costs, labor estimates, and total budget.
- The ‘Do or Die’ Days - by A.M. Hickman
Author reflects on his creative block, financial windfall, and dilemma over investing in rural New York revitalization amid isolation, taxes, and community risk.
- Jackie O’s Private Beach Is Open to All. But It’s a Hike.
Caroline Kennedy and her family sold over 330 acres of Martha’s Vineyard shoreline to conservation groups, opening Jackie O’s formerly private beach to the public, albeit with access caveats.
- Pick Your Favorite Lakeside Home in Ontario
The article presents three distinct lakeside properties in Ontario—a boat-accessible pine cabin, a tranquil waterfront cottage, and a suburban townhouse—inviting readers to choose their favorite.
- Harry and Meghan’s California Neighbors Shrug as Their Idyll Ends
Montecito neighbors show indifference to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's departure from their ultrawealthy enclave, describing them as distant.
- Inside Emmy Rossum’s Tidy and Spacious Upper East Side Home
Emmy Rossum’s Upper East Side residence is a tidy, spacious home that fulfills her childhood dream of living in the neighborhood with added square footage.
- Pick Your Favorite Summer House in Iceland
Pick Your Favorite Summer House in Iceland describes three two-story cottages offering scenic views and close access to mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls.
- Miami’s Skyline Is Getting Super Tall
At least 10 new skyscrapers, including five supertalls, are planned for Miami over the next five years, raising concerns about whether such rapid vertical growth is sustainable or wise.
- The Bruising Race to Rent in San Francisco Goes Into Overdrive - WSJ
San Francisco's rental market has intensified as AI-driven high salaries collide with extreme housing scarcity, pushing rents to unprecedented levels.
- Pick Your Favorite Home Under $2 Million in Rio de Janeiro
Three distinct homes under $2 million in Rio de Janeiro are featured, including a Balinese-style residence near a national park, a penthouse with Corcovado views, and a renovated duplex with a pool.
- NYC’s Pied-à-Terre Owners Hunt for Creative Ways to Dodge New Tax - WSJ
NYC pied-à-terre owners are seeking creative, sometimes dubious, ways to avoid a new second-home tax, including setting up offshore entities or pretending relatives live there.
- A Narrow Vancouver House Leans Into Minimalism
A Vancouver couple studied the quirks of their narrow home and then renovated it to eliminate those idiosyncrasies, embracing a minimalist aesthetic.
- A California Beach House Meant to Be Handed Down
After losing their primary home to wildfires, a couple moved to their California beach house and later renovated it for long-term durability to pass down through generations.
- This High-Powered Real-Estate Fund Is Run by College Students - WSJ
Indiana University undergraduates manage a $12 million real-estate fund that sold its first investment nationwide for a 65% gross profit.
- To Save Japan’s Heritage Homes, People Are Shipping Them Across the World
Enthusiasts are dismantling Japan's abandoned kominka homes and shipping them overseas to be rebuilt, preserving cultural heritage abroad in various countries around the world.
- Adam Driver Sells a Brooklyn Condo and Buys Three More
Actor Adam Driver sold his Brooklyn loft condo and purchased three nearby units, while Helen Mirren relisted her Los Angeles estate for sale.
- In This Housing Market, the Second Home Comes First
City dwellers priced out of local housing markets are purchasing vacation and weekend homes as an alternative route to achieving home ownership.
- Looking to Sell Your Home? Grab This Big Tax Break if You Can.
Sellers of a primary residence can exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 for married couples) of capital gains from taxes if they meet ownership and use tests.
- ‘Hysteria’ Grips San Francisco’s Housing Market as A.I. Wealth Pours In
The surge of AI‑related wealth from firms like OpenAI and Anthropic is inflating San Francisco housing prices, prompting buyers to compete and sellers to demand equity instead of cash.
- $24.5 Million Brownstone Is Brooklyn’s Latest Trophy Sale
A Brooklyn Heights brownstone sold for $24.5 million, setting a new price record for the borough and signaling its shift from affordable Manhattan alternative.
- People Keep Sneaking Into an Empty IBM Campus. This Town Has Had Enough. - WSJ
A vacant IBM campus in Somers, N.Y. has become a destination for trespassing urban explorers, drawing police responses and local frustration.
- Meg Ryan Lists the Hamptons Home She Bought Two Years Ago
Meg Ryan is selling her Hamptons property purchased in 2022, while Kristen Wiig and Joe Jonas also list homes for sale.
- In Brazil, Making a Huge Space ‘Cozy’ Is a Big Challenge
Coletivo Arquitetos transformed a vast two-story São Paulo penthouse into a warm, inviting home by balancing scale with intimate materials and spatial strategies.
- Why the West stopped making land - Works in Progress Magazine
1970s environmental regulations, not geography or transportation, halted U.S. urban land reclamation despite high land values and housing needs.
- Is It Worth It to Build That A.D.U.?
Hiring an appraiser can clarify whether building an accessory dwelling unit adds enough property value to justify the cost, especially when selling.
- Dakota Johnson Finds a Buyer for Her Los Angeles House
Actress Dakota Johnson is finalizing the sale of her Los Angeles house just days after listing it, while Chris Evans lowers his price and Bill Koch prepares to auction his estate.
- A Paris Pied-à-Terre, Designed for a Daughter
A designer renovates a Paris apartment to serve as both a family pied-à-terre and a home for their daughter.
- Real Estate Giants Compass and Zillow Fight Over the Future of the Market
Compass and Zillow face legal battles and antitrust scrutiny in their competition to dominate the home-buying experience.
- Can I Trust the ‘Zestimate’ for My Home on Zillow?
Zillow's Zestimate accuracy depends on the quality of data fed into its system, says a real estate attorney.
- They Wanted to Upsize for Their Kids, but Could They Do It on the Upper West Side? - The New York Times
A couple with a $1.5 million budget searched for a larger Upper West Side apartment with extra bedrooms, office space, and a short commute to their children's school.
- In Manhattan, Learning to Not Always Take ‘Yes’ for an Answer
A Manhattan apartment seeker discovers that agreeing to a lease too quickly can hide costly problems, urging thorough vetting of rental deals.
- Inside Humorist David Sedaris’s Two Upper East Side Apartments - The New York Times
David Sedaris opens up about his two Upper East Side apartments, art collecting, fan interactions, and the unexpected benefits of the neighborhood.
- A.I. Boom Upends San Francisco Housing Market
The AI boom has driven San Francisco's median home prices to the nation's highest, with the steepest annual increases amid renewed tech-worker demand.
- Still Mailing Your Rent? You’re Hardly Alone.
Online rent payments have become the majority method for the first time, but still barely edge out mailing checks.
- After a Breakup, an American Started Fresh in Amsterdam - The New York Times
An American art curator, after a breakup, moved to Amsterdam with a $350,000 budget and toured studios in three neighborhoods.
- I Tried to Sell My House With a Chatbot
The author gambled their savings on using AI instead of a real estate agent to sell their house, finding AI persuasive but blocked by legal requirements.
- Meet the ‘Hyper A.D.U.’
A Jersey City project preserved a historic house by building three townhouses behind it, showing how YIMBY and NIMBY factions can compromise on housing density.
- Inside Actress Andie MacDowell’s Sprawling South Carolina Home - The New York Times
Actress Andie MacDowell discusses collecting shells, sterling silver, and wearing Hermès scarves to the beach at her South Carolina home.
- They Found a Gem of an Apartment Among Hamptons Mansions
A Manhattan family finds a 550-square-foot seasonal apartment at Round Dune in East Quogue as an affordable Hamptons summer escape among mansions.
- Does a House Really Need Rugs? - The New York Times
A New York Times piece arbitrates a home-decor dispute, ruling on whether a house truly needs rugs.
- Las Vegas Arts District: An Antidote to the Glitz
The Las Vegas Arts District provides a walkable, creative enclave contrasting with the Strip's glitz, with a rapidly growing residential footprint.
- Pricing | SecondLight
SecondLight offers three AI virtual staging plans: Starter at $199/year, Pro at $469-499/year, and custom Enterprise pricing.
- Angelina Jolie Lists Her Los Angeles Estate for $29.85 Million
Angelina Jolie listed her historic Beaux-Arts mansion in Los Feliz for $29.85 million, with a TV-famous "Dawson's Creek" home also selling.
- Can the Country’s ‘Dirtiest Hotel’ Get a Clean Slate?
The Hotel Carter, once notorious for squalor and crime in Times Square, sits empty and disputed in litigation, though some envision its potential rebirth.
- The Best Markets for First-Time Home Buyers
Zillow analysis finds that buying is an affordable alternative to renting for first-time home buyers in large U.S. metros like Detroit and Cleveland.
- For One Couple, the ABCs of Home Renovation Were Not So Simple
A couple's ambitious renovation of a 9,000-square-foot Indiana schoolhouse highlights the courage required for large-scale home projects.
- The ‘Scarface’ Mansion Is Listed for $237 Million in Florida
The former 'Scarface' mansion in Key Biscayne, Florida, is listed for $237 million, alongside other luxury real estate sales in London and Monaco.
- Why AI Startup Offices in NYC Are Flashy but Mostly Empty - WSJ
AI startups in NYC are leasing large, flashy offices that often remain mostly empty, using space for prestige and future growth rather than current headcount.
- Inside Constance Zimmer’s Los Angeles Home - The New York Times
Actress Constance Zimmer’s Los Angeles home in the hills reflects her personal style through displayed memories, mugs, and mustaches.
- How a Housing Organizer and Her Son Live on $89,000 Near Central Park - The New York Times
Angela Donadelle, a housing organizer, lives in an East Harlem complex she fought to keep affordable, allowing her and her son to stay in New York City.
- Two Sisters, Two Husbands, a Toddler and a House in the Bay Area - The New York Times
A family of two sisters, their husbands, and a toddler pooled resources to buy a multifamily house in the Bay Area, navigating the region's expensive housing market.
- How a Half-Empty NYC Tower Became the Hottest Office on the Market - WSJ
The Nine West building in NYC, once half-empty after the 2008 crisis, now commands record rents and is the hottest office market property.
- Daniel Craig and Lily Allen Sell Their Brooklyn Brownstones - The New York Times
Actor Daniel Craig and singer Lily Allen have sold their Brooklyn brownstones, with Craig selling after nearly a decade and Allen amid a marriage breakup.
- The Home Renovation Show That Unfolds in Real Time - The New York Times
Jenna Phipps and Nick Volkov are renovating their midcentury modern home entirely on their own and filming the process in real time.
- How to Deal With a Problem Neighbor - The New York Times
The article compiles expert advice on de-escalating neighbor disputes and reaching a peaceful resolution.
- How Home Builders Are Skimping on the Basics, From Flimsier Cabinets to Fewer Windows - WSJ
Home builders are cutting costs by using cheaper materials like particle-board cabinets and fewer windows to maintain profits in a stagnant housing market.
- When the Neighbor’s Renovation Gets Too Close for Comfort - The New York Times
Prolonged or improperly executed home renovations can damage neighboring properties when buildings are only feet apart.
- The Slum in Gangnam, the Richest Part of Seoul - The New York Times
Hundreds defy eviction in a Gangnam shantytown as Seoul pushes redevelopment, residents fight for a right to own homes in one of the world's most expensive districts.
- What Is Zillow Preview, and What Does It Mean for Home Buyers? - The New York Times
Zillow's Preview feature provides buyers early access to pre-market listings, fundamentally changing how brokers and buyers approach home sales.
- Mortgage Rates Jump Again as Iran War Effects Ripple Through Housing Market - The New York Times
Mortgage rates in the U.S. rose for the fourth time since the Iran war began, reaching 6.38 percent for a 30-year loan.
- The Development Boom in Gramercy Park - The New York Times
Luxury condos have arrived in Gramercy Park, shifting the neighborhood's character and sparking a development boom.
- Fitting Her Life Into a 400-Square-Foot Paris Studio - The New York Times
After her divorce, Chloe Legras moved from a California cattle ranch to a 400-square-foot studio in Paris's Marais district.
- The AI Boom Has Exploded the San Francisco Housing Market - WSJ
San Francisco home prices in desirable neighborhoods are surging again after a slump, fueled by the AI boom.
- I’m a Small Landlord. What Can I Do About My Nonpaying Tenants? - The New York Times
Small landlords reliant on rent struggle with housing court's high costs and slow processes, often leaving them with few effective remedies for nonpaying tenants.
- Opinion | Why the Kids Won’t Farm - The New York Times
Young people aspire to become farmers but are blocked by prohibitive land prices, low wages, and student debt.
- With No Time to Spare, They Traded a House in Austin for a Condo in Chicago - The New York Times
A family sold their Austin house and bought a Chicago condo for $900,000, testing affordability in three North Side neighborhoods.
- U.S. Mortgage Rates Rise, Undercutting Housing Affordability Push - The New York Times
Mortgage rates in the U.S. have risen above 6% again after briefly dropping, driven by renewed inflation worries that undermine housing affordability efforts.
- The Investors Risking Millions to Rebuild Kanye West’s Former Malibu Mansion - WSJ
Belwood Investments defaulted on an $18.5M loan for rebuilding Kanye West's former Malibu mansion, putting hundreds of small investors at risk of losing their funds.
- How to Afford Housing in London: Multiple Roommates, No Living Room - The New York Times
High housing costs in London force many adults in their late 20s and 30s to share apartments with multiple roommates and sacrifice living spaces.
- The New York Building That Couldn’t Be Budged - The New York Times
A stubborn Upper East Side townhouse survives engulfment by new luxury construction, illustrating the city's ever-changing real estate landscape.
- Musician Billy Joel Sells Long Island Mansion for $28.75 Million - The New York Times
Billy Joel’s Long Island mansion sold for $28.75 million, $14 million below its original asking price, after years on the market.
- Demand for AI Data Centers Sends Prospectors Hunting for Land and Power - The New York Times
Former Microsoft executive Brian Janous and his firm Cloverleaf act as modern land men, packaging electricity and land to meet AI data center demand.
- They Wanted a Two-Bedroom in Queens, With Room to Grow, for Less Than $400,000 - The New York Times
A newlywed couple searched co-ops in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, Queens, and found two-bedroom apartments under $400,000 to put down roots.
- The Rise and Fall of a Notorious Florida Nudist Colony - The New York Times
Florida's troubled 67-year-old nudist colony is for sale, as owners seek a buyer to resolve its problematic history.
- $450,000 Homes in Vermont, Georgia and Colorado - The New York Times
The New York Times profiles three $450,000 homes: a Vermont farmhouse, a Savannah townhouse, and a Colorado Springs cottage.
- Big Tech Is Buying Up America’s Land—and Home Builders Can’t Compete - WSJ
Big Tech firms like Microsoft and Google are buying up land for data centers in Northern Virginia, outbidding home builders and reducing housing supply.
- $1 Million Homes in California - The New York Times
The piece describes three California homes for sale at around $1 million each, including a Berkeley contemporary, a Los Angeles 1947 bungalow, and a Sacramento County midcentury modern.
- A Designer Moves Upstairs — and Starts Over - The New York Times
Designer Kyle O’Donnell meticulously renovated a sunnier apartment in his Greenwich Village condo with bespoke details after moving upstairs.
- They Made the Basement the Most Attractive Part of the House - The New York Times
An architect redesigns his family's unfinished D.C. basement into a luxurious in-law suite, prioritizing light, privacy, and high-end finishes.
- The Rise of the All-Electric Luxury Kitchen - The New York Times
Induction cooking has evolved from a compromise into a driver of innovative, high-end luxury kitchen designs in the United States.
- They Went From Renters to Renovators in Los Angeles - The New York Times
A couple bought the Los Angeles house they had been renting and undertook a full renovation, transforming almost every aspect of the property.
- Gene Hackman’s Santa Fe Compound Is for Sale a Year After His Death - The New York Times
Gene Hackman's Santa Fe compound has been put on the market one year after his death, with other celebrity estates also recently listed.
- A Green ‘Monster’ Hides on a Quiet London Street - The New York Times
A compact 1,000-square-foot London home, the Jealous House, is expanded but retains its green brick trim, hidden on a quiet street.
- $300,000 Homes in Georgia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania - The New York Times
The piece reports on three homes listed at $300,000 in Georgia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, each with unique architectural styles.
- They Left Their Empty Nest for a Fresh Start in Helena, Montana - The New York Times
A couple sold their suburban home and bought a house in downtown Helena, Montana, seeking a walkable lifestyle after becoming empty nesters.
- Celebrity Listings From Anthony Hopkins, Larry Ellison, Maria Bello and More - The New York Times
The piece reports on recent real estate transactions by celebrities, including Anthony Hopkins buying another Los Angeles home and Martha Plimpton leaving Brooklyn.
- L.A. Rams Owner Stan Kroenke Becomes Largest Private Landowner in the U.S. - The New York Times
Stan Kroenke acquired 937,000 acres in December, bringing his total holdings to 2.7 million acres and making him the largest private landowner in the U.S.
- The Dream of a Florida Retirement Is Fading for the Middle Class - WSJ
Florida's rising costs of living are pushing out middle-class retirees and attracting wealthy ones, reshaping the state's identity as an affordable retirement haven.
- Compass Acquires Top Rival, Creating World’s Largest Brokerage - The New York Times
Compass finalized its September 2025 acquisition of its top rival, creating the largest real estate brokerage in the world.
- An American Couple Explored Japan for a Diamond in the Rough - The New York Times
Two Californians sought an income-generating traditional home in Atami, Japan, that they could also live in as an investment property.
- A New Yorker Falls for an L.A. Bungalow - The New York Times
An architect buys a below-street-level 1,000-square-foot bungalow in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, as a second home for a bicoastal life.
- All-Cash Deals Dominated Manhattan’s Real Estate Market in 2025 - The New York Times
Cash buyers made up 64 percent of Manhattan co-op and condo sales in 2025, outpacing buyers who needed mortgages.
- Mickey Rourke Declines $100,000 in Donations After His Eviction - The New York Times
Mickey Rourke refused $100,000 in donations after being evicted for unpaid rent, claiming the home was uninhabitable.
Takes
Building without predicting. (The story of how I built my perfect home.) https://sive.rs/fit
@sivers
Things I learnt after buying a house after 1 year and going through lots of shitty products and things and what I'd do know if I bought or build a house again: - home assistant + their HA Green (little box that's open source to connect all your devices with Home Assistant) - LG or Mitsubishi air conditioning in EVERY room, both cooling/heating, every unit should have its own outdoor unit, or you get annoying things like you can't cool one room and heat the other at same time! I think they're called mono splits - xiaomi air purifier in every room, big spaces get the big purifiers, smaller rooms small ones (most air purifiers are too small for the space they're in!) - a good smart lock, it's so good because you come home and your door auto opens (esp nice if you carry stuff) - matic vacuum (they gave me one so I have to disclose but it's GREAT, all the Roomba and Chinese ones suck) - unifi router with access points, outdoor extenders, cameras, doorbell, all PoE - starlink with local fiber backup - tesla dreamwall or other batteries sufficient to power for days (means like 4-8 batteries @ 13kwh per maybe!), then connect your freezer, fridge, stove, etc to it (heavy loads) so you can keep and cook food when shit goes down - related get a Weber Genesis gas bbq so you can always cook food, fun with friends too - solar panels actually sufficient to power (so like 30-50, crazy number but if you get like 15 it's just not enough?) - pool is honestly overrated, you'll almost never use it, also lots of maintenance (we had a massive water leak with a $10,000 water bill this month, so F that) - but u DO want a standalone jacuzzi, that's nice, with lights! - if you care about safety get steel doors with massive locks for other rooms, and make those safe rooms, so if someone comes in you have multiple layers of security - also get weapons to defend you and your family where legally possible! - garden should be permaculture kinda concept with vegetables, herbs and stuff you can grow to eat, like strawberries, rosemary etc - harvia dry sauna, and if outside, add a little changing room to it so you don't exit in the cold outside! - related, build a home gym, get a big power rack with cables, free barbell, smith barbell, everything built in, and then some dumbbells and kettlebells, and a gym bike like concept2, maybe concept2 rowing machine too, with that you can do almost anything to stay fit! then hire personal trainer to come to your house or you will never go! - ALL lights should be changeable to red at night, via home assistant, so you can make everything red at 10pm for sleep! - also get outdoor lights for fun and security (burglars hate lights) - ALL windows black out blinds on outside, for both security and just NO light during sleep - when you're not sleeping, get lots of sunlight, big floor to ceiling glass windows, it's great! - all doors to outside flat on floor level, no stepover edges (like in PT) - preferrably lots of land around your house so you're not close to any neighbors (neighbors are always annoying even if they're nice!) - fellow water kettle, fellow ode 2 coffee grinder - sofas, other interior, make sure to find natural materials, 99% of interior is polyester/plastic - LG makes the best TVs, end of story, but their software is shit and spies on you, NEVER connect them to the internet/WiFi, instead buy an Apple TV box and connect that, that doesn't spy on you and has no ads, then connect it with HDMI and you're good, also no annoying LG TV updates - re: TVs, people show these formulas of like blalba distance to sofa from tv is N meter so now you need 60", in my experience they always sell you a TV like 10-15" too small, we had 77" LG TV and it was like diving into the screen, beautiful, but then we followed the formula and changed it for 65", not the same! get bigger! - get a VERY big bed, 2m wide by 2m long at least, get natural bed sheets/duvet and seperate duvet from partner, the less you wake up when your partner moves the better - guest rooms are a bad idea, it's annoying to have friends and family IN your house for weeks or a month, good luck trying to have SEX! better get a small house or apt near for them or put them in airbnb!!! - add a delivery box outside ur house so delivery people can put packages inside without having to ring your doorbell 10x per day - get a $500 mini projector and big projection screen outside (or a white wall) so you can have movie nights outside w friends
@levelsio
A developer just killed the real estate walkthrough industry by scanned an entire house with his phone. Uploaded it. Now anyone on Earth can walk through it in a browser tab. No app. No VR. No agent. No appointment. Click → you’re inside. Every room. Every angle. Every shadow. Photoreal. The economics are brutal for the old model: → Agent fee on a $500k home: $15,000 → Cost to produce this scan: roughly $200 → Time to "tour" 50 houses: one evening → File size: smaller than a TikTok clip The science is wild too: It runs on 3D Gaussian Splatting instead of polygons. Millions of tiny glowing splats of color and depth reconstruct the scene from your photos, and it loads photoreal on a phone. Freelancers are already charging $300 to $800 per scan for realtors, Airbnbs, venues, and dealerships. One person + one phone + one weekend = a business. Open source. Built on PlayCanvas. Free GitHub:
@bigaiguy
Our real estate agent sold their home for $580,000 in 2025. They paid $355,000 for it back in 2018. They paid 0% capital gains tax on that $225,000 gain. Because, Real estate 🏡
@theficouple
If you’re making over $250k/yr Retire your wife immediately Not so she can do yoga and Pilates all day But so she can become the family real estate professional With the real estate professional status on your tax returns You’ll be able to claim enormous tax deductions from buying real estate Have your wife quit her job And you’ll secure generational wealth from buying tax deductible, cash flowing real estate My life changed forever when I had my wife quit her corporate job and we started buying a ton of section 8 rental properties Running this playbook till I’m blue in the face
@andyantiles_
I'm so happy when I bought my house I just went straight to the owner, rang the door bell, and told him I wanted to buy it (we knew it was for sale)We both agreed to keep real estate agents out of itSaved us both a giant commission for doing zero workBest decision of my… https://t.co/xAfosIROzc
@levelsio