My wife and I couldn't afford to buy a home on our own, so we bought one with our in-laws instead.
Bill Coberly
To become homeowners sooner, my wife and I bought a house with her parents.
At first, navigating the space wasn't easy, but we're still able to have ample privacy.
Living with my in-laws has its challenges, but I can't imagine living anywhere else.
I've known my wife's parents for nearly a decade, and we've always gotten along, but I never imagined sharing a roof with them. That all changed last year, when my wife suddenly popped the question: "How would you feel about buying a house with my mom and dad?"
We knew it would be years before we could afford the down payment on a house, particularly anywhere near Frederick, Maryland, where we wanted to live.
Even though we were both lawyers in our late 30s, we didn't have as much saved as we should have. We had each chosen lower-paying work over big-firm jobs and lost financial ground during our divorces in the late 2010s.
Without the help of my in-laws, my wife and I would've had to wait another decade or so to buy a house. But if we purchased a place together, her parents would provide the down payment, and we would cover more than half of the mortgage.
So, just like that, I agreed to become roommates with my in-laws.
The house gave all of us the space we needed, but we still had to learn how to share it
This one-story house, with an added-on second floor and a finished basement, was perfect for all four of us.
Bill Coberly
When we began our search, we envisioned a duplex — two separate living spaces joined together — but we had a hard time finding one.
We struggled even more to find a house with bedrooms on both the first and second floors, something crucial for my in-laws, since they're in their late 60s, and we didn't want them worrying about climbing stairs now or as they get older.
After several months of looking, we finally found a place that checked all the boxes: a 1950s one-story house that the previous owner had renovated to add a second floor and a finished basement.
The upstairs, where my wife and I would live, had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a laundry space. Downstairs, where my in-laws would live, was the main kitchen and living room, a small den, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a small back kitchen.
There was enough space for all four of us — along with our two cats, our dog, and their dog — so we put in an offer.
For the first couple of months after moving in, the house was a sea of boxes, and it seemed almost impossible that we could cram all four lives into one place.
My wife and mother-in-law argued about the furniture we needed to get for the shared spaces, and we debated back and forth about what to do with the back kitchen, which we ultimately decided to convert into a laundry/mud room.
As time went on, we also had to get used to the quirks of living together. My wife works from home, which means she has to go downstairs to the main kitchen and interact with her parents before she can fully wake up. Luckily, we've just converted the upstairs laundry space into a little kitchenette, so now she can make her morning smoothie in peace.
Additionally, I learned to put on my dress shoes only when I'm on my way out of the house in the morning, as I had previously been startling my in-laws awake by clomping around in the closet just above their bedroom.
My wife and I love spending time either in our bedroom or in the basement, where we built a library.
Bill Coberly
But even though we're all in the same house, my wife and I still feel like we have ample privacy. Our bedroom is large, and my in-laws don't really spend much time in the basement, so sometimes, we like to hang out there as well.
Thankfully, expenses haven't been an issue, since we split most day-to-day purchases right down the middle by contributing to a joint bank account.
Living together has made everyday life easier in ways I didn't expect
My mother-in-law makes dinner for all of us most nights.
Bill Coberly
Despite the challenges, sharing a home with my in-laws for the past eight months has been great.
My mother-in-law graciously offered to make dinner most nights, so we can all sit down and have a home-cooked meal as a family. When we go out of town, my in-laws watch our dog and our cats.
Once we have children, grandma and grandpa will be right there to help, and as my in-laws get older, we'll be right there to assist them.
Obviously, there are times when we annoy each other, but I've gotten to know my in-laws much better since we became roommates. The arrangement has turned us into a family and given us more financial security, and the plan is never to move again.
Wendell is the fastest-growing town in North Carolina, according to US Census data.
OakCityDrone/Getty Images
US Census data shows population growth in small towns across every state from 2020 to 2025.
Many of the towns are in proximity to major cities, often within 25 miles.
They range from rural mountain towns to desert communities.
The US population has grown by roughly 58 million since 2000, but the nation's biggest cities aren't the only areas seeing increases.
Whether it's suburbs next to urban areas or towns that have become hot spots in their own right, all 50 states are seeing population growth in small- and medium-sized towns.
Business Insider used the latest five-year Census population estimates, covering July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2025, to calculate the population growth percentage for each state's towns and cities over the period.
Census population estimates are revised every year, so some 2020 figures differ slightly from estimates published in previous years.
To avoid municipalities with negligible populations, we considered only places with more than 1,000 residents in the 2020 population estimates. We also excluded unincorporated areas and Census-designated places belonging to a larger city. Of the 50 places, most have populations under 20,000.
Here's each state's fastest-growing city or town.
Triana, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama, roughly 15 miles northeast of Triana.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 3,003
2025 population: 5,244
Percentage growth: 75%
Sitting in the northern region of Alabama along the Tennessee River, Triana was named the fourth-best suburb to live in Alabama by Niche, a real-estate and education ranking platform.
Wasilla, Alaska
Wasilla, Alaska.
Jan Miracky/Getty Images
2020 population: 9,113
2025 population: 10,556
Percentage growth: 16%
Wasilla sits roughly 40 miles north of Anchorage, the state's largest city. As of 2020, Wasilla had just 732 residents per square mile, according to Census data.
Coolidge, Arizona
The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge, Arizona.
apollob66/Getty Images
2020 population: 13,425
2025 population: 19,959
Percentage growth: 49%
Coolidge sits between Phoenix and Tucson and is home to the site of the Casa Grande Ruins, containing fragments of Native American structures. Sitting in the Sonoran Desert, the town sees frequent daily temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.
Highfill, Arkansas
Roberto Galan/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,672
2025 population: 3,676
Percentage growth: 120%
Highfill is about 15 miles away from Bentonville, Arkansas, and is near the Northwest Arkansas National Airport.
Paradise, California
Paradise, California.
Chris Allan/Getty Images
2020 population: 5,090
2025 population: 10,023
Percentage growth: 97%
The rapid growth can largely be attributed to Paradise's recovery after the 2018 Camp Fire, which ravaged the community. Per the Census, the town had over 26,000 residents in 2010, and is still rebuilding after being at the heart of the deadliest fire in the state's history.
Elizabeth, Colorado
Elizabeth, Colorado.
Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
2020 population: 1,710
2025 population: 2,957
Percentage growth: 73%
Elizabeth is about 40 miles from Denver, making it popular for those seeking a rural life while living within commuting distance of Colorado's economic hub, according to a report by Outside.
Woodmont, Connecticut
Woodmont is a borough of Milford, Connecticut.
miroslav_1/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,554
2025 population: 2,391
Percentage growth: 54%
Woodmont, a borough of Milford, is a popular summer destination, according to the Connecticut Tourism Office. It is about 7 miles away from New Haven.
Cheswold, Delaware
Rolf Karlsson/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,938
2025 population: 2,653
Percentage growth: 37%
In 2000, Cheswold had just over 300 residents, per the Census.
Westlake, Florida
felixmizioznikov/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,048
2025 population: 9,042
Percentage growth: 763%
Westlake was formerly farmland before the land was purchased by Minto Group, a real-estate company with development plans for the area. The town only officially became a municipality in 2016.
Occupying over 6 miles of land, Westlake has thousands of single-family residential homes with more under construction, according to the town.
Hoschton, Georgia
Nearby Athens, Georgia.
Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 2,775
2025 population: 8,623
Percentage growth: 211%
Hoschton lies about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta and 30 miles northwest of Athens.
Hawai'i County, Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii.
Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images
2020 population: 200,744
2025 population: 210,043
Percentage growth: 4.6%
Hawaii holds the distinction of being the only US state without official incorporated municipalities. The state's towns are governed at the county level.
Of the five counties — Hawai'i, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kaua'i, and Maui — Hawai'i County, commonly known as the "Big Island," reported the largest population growth from 2020 to 2025.
Star, Idaho
Boise, Idaho, about 15 miles southeast of Star.
christiannafzger/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 11,488
2025 population: 20,874
Percentage growth: 82%
Star is located just 15 miles northwest of Boise.
Wonder Lake, Illinois
Nearby Woodstock, Illinois.
EJ_Rodriquez/Getty Images
2020 population: 4,004
2025 population: 5,593
Percentage growth: 40%
Wonder Lake sits just below the Illinois-Wisconsin border, about 65 miles between Milwaukee and Chicago.
Whitestown, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana, is about 20 miles southeast of Whitestown.
Wirestock/Getty Images
2020 population: 10,383
2025 population: 15,767
Percentage growth: 52%
Whitestown, which is just over 20 miles northwest of Indianapolis, is home to more than 50 acres of parks and 13 miles of trails.
Tiffin, Iowa
Nearby Cedar Rapids, just north of Tiffin, Iowa.
Aaron Yoder/Getty Images
2020 population: 4,625
2025 population: 7,156
Percentage growth: 55%
The fast-growing suburb sits F. W. Kent County Park, a sought-after destination in the state for outdoor activities. Tiffin is located 22 miles south of Cedar Rapids.
Maize, Kansas
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 5,818
2025 population: 7,853
Percentage growth: 35%
It takes under 20 minutes to drive from Maize to central Wichita.
Elkton, Kentucky
Elkton, Kentucky.
BOB WESTON/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 2,061
2025 population: 2,387
Percentage growth: 16%
Nashville is the nearest major city to Elkton, located about 60 miles south of the town.
Maurice, Louisiana
Nearby Lafayette, Louisiana, just 11 miles northeast of Maurice.
Laser1987/Getty Images
2020 population: 2,185
2025 population: 3,215
Percentage growth: 47%
Maurice is just southwest of Lafayette, Louisiana's fourth-largest city.
Greenville, Maine
Greenville, Maine.
A Janick/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,440
2025 population: 1,743
Percentage growth: 21%
Far from the cities of Portland and Bangor, Greenville is located further inland at the southern tip of Moosehead Lake, the state's largest freshwater body, according to Visit Maine. Greenville sits roughly 60 miles from the US-Canada border.
Trappe, Maryland
nearby Easton, Maryland.
Grandbrothers/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,177
2025 population: 1,517
Percentage growth: 29%
Trappe has seen growth in population in part because of a modern housing development, Lakeside at Trappe.
Bolton, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 5666
2025 population: 6477
Percentage growth: 14%
Bolton is about 18 miles northeast of Worcester and about 40 miles west of Boston.
Editor's Note: Amherst had the largest estimated population increase from 2020 to 2025, but Business Insider chose second-place Bolton because Amherst’s unusually low 2020 estimate could have been distorted by pandemic-era student departures.
Manton, Michigan
The downtown area in nearby Cadillac, Michigan.
Roberto Galan/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,271
2025 population: 1,626
Percentage growth: 28%
Manton was a finalist in Reader's Digest's "Nicest Place in America" ranking in 2021.
Dayton, Minnesota
Dayton, Minnesota.
Melissa Kopka/Getty Images
2020 population: 7,432
2025 population: 11,402
Percentage growth: 53%
Dayton is a relatively wealthy suburb, with a high homeownership rate and a median household income of $148,947 in 2024, per 2024 Census data. Dayton is under 30 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
Sumrall, Mississippi
Neaby Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
CRobertson/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,777
2025 population: 2,299
Percentage growth: 29%
Sumrall sits just over 15 miles northwest of Hattiesburg, Mississippi's fifth-largest city.
Rogersville, Missouri
Nearby Springfield, Missouri, 20 miles west of Rogersville.
ChrisBoswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 3,897
2025 population: 5,754
Percentage growth: 48%
According to 2024 Census data, there are about 2.98 households per resident in Rogersville, which is above the national average.
The town is located 20 miles east of Springfield.
Kalispell, Montana
Kalispell, Montana.
GummyBone/Getty Images
2020 population: 25,263
2025 population: 31,851
Percentage growth: 26%
According to the 2024 Census data, Kalispell is the seventh-largest city in Montana by population and the eighth-largest by land area.
Hickman, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska.
Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images
2020 population: 2,655
2025 population: 3,663
Percentage growth: 38%
Hickman's population has more than tripled since 2000, per the Census. The town is under 20 miles south of Lincoln, the state's capital city.
Mesquite, Nevada
A highway near Mesquite, Nevada.
Moiseii Production/Getty Images
2020 population: 20,608
2025 population: 24,001
Percentage growth: 16%
Mesquite sits in the Mojave Desert and borders Arizona. The nearest major city is Las Vegas, roughly 80 miles southwest of Mesquite.
Epping, New Hampshire
Epping, New Hampshire.
Wirestock/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 7,153
2025 population: 7,973
Percentage growth: 11%
The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute attributed Epping's population growth to its proximity to major state highways and economic hubs in the Seacoast, Merrimack Valley, and Boston.
Seaside Park, New Jersey
Seaside Park, New Jersey.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,445
2025 population: 2,135
Percentage growth: 48%
Seaside Park neighbors Seaside Heights, a popular Jersey Shore destination known for its amusement park.
Los Lunas, New Mexico
Los Lunas, New Mexico.
Lily Kimei/Getty Images
2020 population: 17,454
2025 population: 20,572
Percentage growth: 18%
Los Lunas has held significance at different points in American history, including its use as a bombing range after World War II, according to the Center for Land Use Interpretation.
The town is about 20 miles south of Albuquerque.
Kiryas Joel, New York
Kiryas Joel, New York.
Jonathan Novack/Getty Images
2020 population: 33,507
2025 population: 47,147
Percentage growth: 41%
Kiryas Joel, coterminous with the town of Palm Tree, has a predominantly Hasidic Jewish population and covers only 1.46 square miles, according to the 2020 Census.
Wendell, North Carolina
Wendell, North Carolina.
zimmytws/Getty Images
2020 population: 9,997
2025 population: 19,687
Percentage growth: 97%
Wendell is within 20 miles of Raleigh, North Carolina's second most populous city. The growth is expected to continue, with 1,900 new homes under construction in the town, the area's ABC 11 reported.
Horace, North Dakota
Downtown of the nearby Fargo.
Sanghwan Kim/Getty Images
2020 population: 3,249
2025 population: 7,001
Percentage growth: 115%
Horace is a suburb of Fargo, North Dakota's largest city by population, and is itself the 13th most populous city in the state.
South Bloomfield, Ohio
Nearby Columbus, Ohio.
Sanghwan Kim/Getty Images
2020 population: 2,147
2025 population: 4,164
Percentage growth: 94%
South Bloomfield is located 20 miles south of Columbus.
Newcastle, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is located just north of Newcastle.
RudyBalasko/Getty Images
2020 population: 11,171
2025 population: 15,198
Percentage growth: 36%
A suburb of Oklahoma City, Newcastle appeared on 24/7 Wall St.'s "The Best City to Live in Every State" list in 2019.
Estacada, Oregon
McIver Park, near Es
Demujin/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 4,531
2025 population: 5,814
Percentage growth: 28%
Estacada is roughly 30 miles southeast of Portland.
Lancaster Township, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is about 34 miles north of Pittsburgh.
Althom/Getty Images
2020 population: 2,765
2025 population: 3,734
Percentage growth: 35%
Lancaster Township is a small municipality in Butler County, western Pennsylvania, and is separate from the much larger city of Lancaster in southeastern Pennsylvania. It's about 34 miles north of Pittsburgh.
Glocester, Rhode Island
Nearby Providence, Rhode Island.
miroslav_1/Getty Images
2020 population: 9,984
2025 population: 10,612
Percentage growth: 6.3%
Glocester, seated 20 miles northwest of Providence, contains the villages of Harmony and Chepachet.
Hardeeville, South Carolina
The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge in Hardeeville, South Carolina.
Norm Lane/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 7,764
2025 population: 16,459
Percentage growth: 112%
Located under 20 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, Hardeeville has historically had the nickname "The Lowcountry Host" for its many hotels and accommodations for travelers, per the Hardeeville Police Department.
Harrisburg, South Dakota
GummyBone/Getty Images
2020 population: 6,845
2025 population: 10,405
Percentage growth: 52%
Harrisburg, just 10 miles south of Sioux Falls, has 3.7 miles of land area, per 2020 Census data.
Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon, Tennessee.
csfotoimages/Getty Images
2020 population: 38,908
2025 population: 53,412
Percentage growth: 37%
Located 30 minutes east of Nashville, Lebanon is becoming a population hub in its own right. The town is home to the Nashville Superspeedway and Cumberland University.
Josephine, Texas
Kruck20/Getty Images
2020 population: 2,283
2025 population: 10,208
Percentage growth: 347%
Josephine, 40 miles northeast of Dallas, is experiencing a major housing boom. Companies like D.R. Horton are constructing developments with hundreds of homes, and the low cost of living in the area is attracting a lot of millennial first-time homebuyers, Business Insider's Alcynna Lloyd reported.
Saratoga Springs, Utah
Homes under construction in Saratoga Springs, Utah.
George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty Images
2020 population: 38,318
2025 population: 61,397
Percentage growth: 60%
Saratoga Springs sits along Utah Lake and is among Utah's 15 most populous cities. Saratoga Springs has a reputation for safety, with its total crime rate 69% below the national average, per Best Utah Real Estate.
Newport, Vermont
Newport's neighboring eponymous city of Newport, Vermont.
vermontalm/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,581
2025 population: 2,583
Percentage growth: 63%
The town, a distinct municipality from the neighboring city of Newport, is just over 5 miles south of the US-Canada border and is one of Vermont's least populous municipalities.
Louisa, Virginia
Louisa, Virginia.
krblokhin/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,993
2025 population: 2,244
Percentage growth: 13%
Louisa is located roughly 50 miles northwest of Richmond.
Ridgefield, Washington
Ridgefield, Washington.
portgrimes/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 10,875
2025 population: 16,132
Percentage growth: 48%
Located near Vancouver, Washington, Ridgefield has a history as a Native American village site, which was visited during the Lewis and Clark expedition, the city says.
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town, West Virginia.
Robert Knopes/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
2020 population: 6,529
2025 population: 9,329
Percentage growth: 43%
Charles Town was notably founded by Charles Washington, the youngest brother of President George Washington, according to the city.
Lannon, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jon Mattrisch/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,419
2025 population: 2,057
Percentage growth: 45%
Lannon's growth can largely be attributed to new investments in the town, such as housing developments, TMJ 4 Milwaukee reported. Lannon is located about 20 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
Alpine, Wyoming
Alpine, Wyoming.
htrnr/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 1,229
2025 population: 1,382
Percentage growth: 13%
Alpine sits on the Idaho-Wyoming border and is near Jackson, one of the state's 10 most populous cities.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z have built a six-figure portfolio of real estate properties.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Beyoncé and Jay-Z purchased a home that set a record for the priciest home in California in 2023.
The $190 million Malibu mansion is just one of the many properties they own around the country.
Here are the homes they're linked to, from a former church in New Orleans to a Hamptons estate.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z break music records — and real-estate records.
The couple, whose combined net worth is nearly $4 billion as of publication, according to Forbes, is linked to numerous partnerships and deals, including Jay-Z's upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance, as well as several multimillion-dollar homes across the United States.
In 2023, they bought a 42,000-square-foot Malibu estate with a minimalist concrete aesthetic, designed by famed Japanese architect Tadao Ando. The price? $190 million — one of the largest sums in California history.
In New Orleans, the "Cowboy Carter" singer and the rapper-turned-entrepreneur have been linked to a former Presbyterian church that has been transformed into a mansion.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z's impressive property portfolio also includes another mansion in the Los Angeles area and several homes in New York. They are also reportedly in talks to purchase a 58-acre plot of land in the Cotswolds that they plan to develop in the future.
Take a look at Beyoncé and Jay-Z's homes across the country.
Beyoncé came from humble beginnings in Houston.
One of Beyonce's Houston area childhood homes.
Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images
Beyoncé's rise to stardom began in a modest, middle-class neighborhood in Houston's Third Ward.
2414 Rosedale Street has three bedrooms and three bathrooms over 8,640 square feet, according to the listing from 2019.
According to the Associated Press, the Knowles family purchased the home in 1982, not long after Beyoncé was born, and moved out when she was about 5.
In 2019, the home was listed for sale for about $500,000. Because Texas is a non-disclosure state, it's unclear how much it sold for.
Beyoncé was spotted taking photos of the home in September 2023 during the Houston stop of her Renaissance World Tour, the AP reported.
The couple is linked to a Tribeca penthouse, where they married in 2008.
Jay-Z made one of his first large real estate purchases at 195 Hudson Street.
Business Insider/Julie Zeveloff
In September 2004, Jay-Z, who voiced his aspirations for success in his hit rap song 'Big Pimpin', made one of his first big real-estate purchases.
The native New Yorker, who was about 34 at the time, spent $6.85 million on a penthouse at 195 Hudson Street in the downtown Manhattan neighborhood of Tribeca.
Architectural Digest reported that the 8,000-square-foot apartment has an additional 3,000 square feet of outdoor terrace space. It's in a 27-unit building that was converted from a 1929 brick warehouse in 1999, real-estate listings site StreetEasy reported.
In 2008, he and Beyoncé held an intimate wedding ceremony at the penthouse, with 40 people in attendance. Architectural Digest reported in 2024 that the couple is believed to still own the home.
The couple rented out a Los Angeles mansion for $150,000 a month
Los Angeles.
Michelle Smith/Getty Images
In 2014, the Carters house-hunted on the East Coast, considering several properties. One was an eight-bedroom, 15-bathroom Beverly Hills mansion that they were outbid for by Markus Persson, the billionaire creator of the video game Minecraft. (Persson listed the mansion for sale in October 2026 for $70 million.)
After being outbid on several other properties, the couple decided to rent a home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Holmby Hills, Architectural Digest reported. The 20,000-square-foot estate was valued at $4 million in 2015, according to Realtor.com. At the time, the couple paid a whopping $150,000 a month in rent. When the property was eventually sold in 2015, they moved on.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z are also linked to a home in New Orleans that used to be a church.
La Casa de Castille was previously a Presbyterian church before being transformed into a residence decades later.
IMAGE VIA TIMES-PICAYUNE ARCHIVE"
Louisiana is where Beyoncé's mother, fashion designer Tina Knowles, was born and raised.
In 2015, multiple news outlets reported that the couple purchased a Spanish Baroque-style mansion in New Orleans' Garden District.The house on Harmony Street, locally known as La Casa de Castille, was listed for $2.6 million at the time of its purchase, but the exact sales purchase price remains a mystery due to Louisiana's non-disclosure policy.
NOLA.com outlined how the church became a residence: In the 1920s, Westminster Presbyterian Church built it, and 38 members of the Ku Klux Klan allegedly attended its groundbreaking ceremony. Following years of vacancy, dancer Harvey Hysell transformed it into a ballet theater in 1977. Finally, in the early 2000s, it was purchased and extensively renovated.
According to the old Zillow listing, it still has 16-foot ceilings and stained-glass windows. The 13,300-square-foot, three-story property, made up of a main residence and three separate apartments, has a total of seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and a rooftop garden.
In 2021, there was a fire on the property, and it was listed for sale shortly after at $3.5 million, later increased to $4.45 million, TMZ reported. However, it was later taken off the market, according to Architectural Digest.
On Google Maps' Street View, La Casa de Castille is blurred, suggesting that it may still be a private residence.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z own a home in the Hamptons.
Jeffrey Collé
Beyoncé and Jay-Z have a New York state of mind when it comes to real estate.
In addition to the Tribeca penthouse and a midtown Manhattan condo — which Beyoncé owned prior to their marriage and sold in 2017 for $10 million — they have rented and owned several homes in the Hamptons.
In 2012, the year their daughter Blue Ivy was born, they leased a 31,000-square-foot vacation home in Bridgehampton for $400,000 a month.
Beyond the standard luxuries like a bar, a pool, and a tennis court, that mansion also featured a bowling alley, rock climbing wall, and skateboard half-pipe, according to Architectural Digest.
In 2017, the couple purchased the Pond House in East Hampton for $26 million.
Located at 81 Briar Patch Road, the 12,000-square-foot mansion with seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a separate cottage was designed by architect Stanford White, whose work includes the arch in Washington Square Park.
The couple's waterfront property sits across from Georgica Pond and a 17-acre meadow preserve, offering unparalleled privacy.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z purchased a 34,000-square-foot estate in Bel Air in 2017.
An aerial view of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Bel Air mansion, pictured in the center of the image with the round driveway, just above the semicircular construction site.
The sale set a record at the time for the most expensive property transaction in California. It was also the largest residential sale nationwide that year.
The estate's record-breaking price tag is attributed in part to its high-pedigree design and extensive array of amenities.
According to Architectural Digest, it took the previous owners, art collectors Bill Bell and his wife Maria Bell, a decade and a half to complete the building.
Spanning more than 8 acres, the compound is designed in the Japanese minimalist style for which its architect, Tadao Ando, is known.
According to E! News, the main residence has 8 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, while its living room features custom-made fixtures imported from Italy. Outside, there are four separate pools, a bar, and a private helipad.
The couple is reportedly in talks to purchase a 58-acre plot of land in the Cotswolds in England.
The Cotswolds.
by Marc Guitard/Getty Images
The Cotswolds, a picturesque region spanning parts of southwestern and south-central England, is known for its rolling green hills, centuries-old villages, and historic estates.
With luxury properties often commanding multimillion-pound prices, the area has earned the nickname "the Hamptons of England." It has long attracted prominent British residents, including David and Victoria Beckham, actress Elizabeth Hurley, and supermodel Kate Moss.
More recently, the Cotswolds have also attracted wealthy Americans. Beyoncé and Jay-Z are reportedly among them, The Times reported in September.
According to the publication, the Carters are considering a £7.5 million ($8.54 million) 58-acre property in Wigginton, a village with fewer than 200 residents. Owain Jones, who is handling the sale, told The Times that their plans to develop the land could bring the project's total cost to about £18 million (or about $20. 5 million).
Should the Carters move forward with the purchase, they would not be far from the Beckhams and Simon Cowell, who reportedly own homes in the nearby village of Great Tew.
However, the proposed construction has upset some Wigginton residents, who are concerned about preserving the village's peace and quiet, House & Garden reported.
HOA president was not on the list of titles Lana Martin ever planned to hold, but it's one that's befallen her.
Martin bought a townhouse in a 13-unit complex in Los Angeles in 2022. She quickly realized that the leaders of her homeowners association were ignoring a number of unaddressed issues, including a leaky decades-old roof that was flooding her neighbors' living rooms. Martin, who works for the California state government, decided to join her complex's three-person board to help out.
As the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished.
The other two board members aren't very involved, so "everything falls on me," Martin says. She handles vendor calls, fields resident complaints, and babysits a low-budget property manager. Residents raised hell about the roof replacement project — they didn't want to stomach the roughly $160,000 cost that meant a painful $13,000 assessment for each unit. Some of them accused the HOA board and management company of acting illegally and threatened to lawyer up. Martin has had to block some of her neighbors' phone numbers.
"They wanted to second guess everything, Monday-morning quarterback everything, rather than just become involved," Martin says.
The reluctance to participate is understandable. It's also part of what's left Martin holding the bag.
HOAs are easy to hate. They are private mini-governments made up of non-expert volunteers who happen to live in proximity with one another. Across the country, millions of Americans have bought into condos, co-ops, and subdivisions governed by these associations, tethering their largest financial asset to an amateur bureaucracy. Most HOA stories are told from the outside looking in: a beleaguered resident hit with a ridiculous fine over a rogue garden hose or an overgrown lawn. Talk to the people who've ventured into the belly of the beast, and the picture gets gnarlier: You give up a ton of time, don't get paid, and everybody's always a bit mad at you.
And yet, HOA setups are growing. There were 373,000 community associations in the US in 2025, covering 29.6 million housing units and 78.1 million residents. By comparison, there were 222,500 in 2000. These entities collected $124.2 billion in assessments last year — about 1.5 times New York City's total tax revenue for the same year. You can see why things get so heated, and not just about money.
"HOAs are the ultimate pressure cooker environment for human interactions," says A.J. Steigman, a Florida real estate investor who currently sits on two boards. "You can cure cancer, you can pave the place in gold, you can even lower the HOA fees, and yet you're still going to have some elderly couple constantly complain about their flower patch."
Why would anyone in their right mind raise their hand for this?
HOAs typically attract two distinct archetypes, says Evan McKenzie, a political science professor at the University of Illinois Chicago and author of "Privatopia: Homeowner Associations and the Rise of Residential Private Government." On one side are the reluctant pragmatists — people who step up out of civic duty or sheer self-defense. On the other are what McKenzie calls the "condo commando" types who have some pretty strict ideas about how the people next door ought to live. For them, the board is a badge of domestic authority. Once they wind up in the same room, these groups inevitably clash — or, perhaps even worse, they run up against the paralyzing apathy of everyone else.
The paradox of HOA leadership is that the moment an owner displays basic competence, the rest of the community often abdicates. That's how James, a product designer in LA, landed in his current situation. He asked me to withhold his last name in order to protect his privacy — and keep from ruffling feathers among his neighbors.
HOAs are the ultimate pressure cooker environment for human interactions.
Back in 2021, a couple of people in his complex asked him to help out since he works from home and could keep an eye on things. He officially joined the board in 2023 and now acts as an unwitting customer service desk. Residents email the board about petty issues like intercom numbers and rat spottings. One recent Friday night, someone emailed to report a gas leak. "It's like, you need to call 911," James says.
He can't walk around his residence without risking someone coming up to him to pitch an idea or air a grievance. "You're never really off the clock," he says. He wishes he could quit, but no one else will step up.
Olivia Horbowy's story is one of self-preservation. When she bought an older top-floor condo in LA in 2024, the concept of an HOA was quite foreign to her. There were signs something might be amiss when she informed the building's then-leadership of her renovation plans for her new place — demands for extra documentation, a denied in-unit washer-dryer — but she brushed them off. She is an attorney, after all. But after moving into the space in the spring of 2025, she received notice of $15,200 in surprise accumulated fines related to the remodel. "They were convinced they were above the law and could make any decision they wanted," she says. After some legal back-and-forth, she didn't wind up paying.
As a result of the incident, Horbowy also decided to run for the five-person board herself. Victory wasn't entirely sweet, because of one preexisting board member's reaction. In emails, the aggrieved veteran referred to one member as a "kiss ass minion," accused the board president of taking bribes, and called Horbowy a "Russian whore." (She's Polish.) That member eventually resigned.
What makes HOAs and condo boards different from, for example, a corporate board is the question of interest, explains Nadav Shoked, a law professor at Northwestern. In HOA boards, the directors and the people affected by the decisions are often one and the same — and their neighbors. While they all have a common interest — the property — they often have interests that conflict.
People of a certain age, even though they may not be financially insecure, they worry about, will the money run out in my lifetime?
HOA boards contend with all sorts of fault lines. Older residents on fixed incomes tend to prioritize keeping monthly fees lower, while younger families lean toward upping fees for more amenities and construction projects. In situations where some owners live in their residences and others rent them out, boards wind up with a triangle of interests: Landlords want low costs and easy rental terms, full-time residents prioritize day-to-day quality of life, and renters wade through all of it without having a say.
These disconnects are why routine governance so frequently devolves into absurdity.
Andrew Simkovsky just wanted an investment property when he bought a condo in South Florida in 2024, but he wound up orchestrating a "hostile takeover" of the board amid concerns over their stewardship of said investment. He's since worked to rebuild the condo's finances and reestablish a budget. Still, the one thing that's surprised him is the hullabaloo over pets. The building's original bylaws from the 1970s officially barred them. In the '80s, there was an amendment allowing pets for owners but not renters, but over the decades, both groups had brought them in. The association's attorney advised them that enforcing the pet ban for tenants could be legally problematic, so Simkovsky decided to bring the building into the 21st century by officially allowing dogs and cats of up to 50 pounds for owners and instituting rules around leashes and cleanup that hadn't previously been in place. (Renters are still technically not allowed to have pets, but the board doesn't enforce that.) Purist residents revolted and wanted pets out. "My response to them was, they're already here, should I evict them?" he says.
Alice Young says she's fine to serve on her board as long as it doesn't cut into her pickleball time,
Courtesy of Alice Young
Alice Young, a retiree in suburban Chicago, says she's fine to serve on her board as long as it doesn't cut into her pickleball time, even though "everything takes so goldarn long to resolve." Among the lengthy items on her agenda are finding a new property management company and convincing a fellow board member to personally confirm a single extension cord has been removed from the basement in order to close out another board member's violation.
The true crisis inside the HOA machine is money. Many boards have kept dues artificially low for decades in order to appease residents and put off pricey updates. Now, aging housing stock is colliding with surging insurance premiums, stricter reserve laws, and tighter safety regulations, and the bill is coming due.
Florida is an especially stark example. It has the second-most community associations of any state, behind only California, with 50,600 such groups covering 4.5 million housing units and 10.9 million residents. Neighbors who live under Florida HOAs kick in over $20 billion to their associations annually. A 2023 Florida Senate analysis found that 912,000 of the state's 1.5 million condo units were at least 30 years old. After the 2021 collapse of the Surfside condominiums that left 98 people dead, the state required qualifying buildings to undergo "milestone" structural inspections after a certain age and changed the rules so owners can't simply vote to underfund reserves for major structural repairs. In 2024, Redfin found double-digit annual increases in condo dues in Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.
Paul Vesely joined the board for his Florida second-home condo in 2009
Courtesy of Paul Vesely
This creates a brutal fiduciary burden. When Paul Vesely joined the board for his Florida second-home condo in 2009, the complex's on-site managers warned him against commissioning an engineering inspection, because "they might find something." The association has since taken out over $2 million in loans to pay for various updates and renovations, which translates to thousands of dollars a year for each unit. One owner, who has cancer, is currently delinquent on her payments, and the board will send her to collections if she doesn't pay. "As badly as we may feel about a certain individual, we have to be consistent," he says.
Not everyone shares the same economic clock. Bill Masterson recalls attending a condo meeting in Chicago years ago in which an elderly man pushed back against a $225,000 assessment to put in a parking lot. "Why can't you wait until I die?" the man asked. The board went ahead anyway, and the man lived for another several years. "People of a certain age, even though they may not be financially insecure, they worry about, will the money run out in my lifetime?" he says.
Masterson swore off condo boards when he moved from Chicago to Florida in 2016 and then signed right back up. He admits he's a stickler for the rules, but he's also aware of how silly disputes can break down relationships. One of his neighbors doesn't speak to him because of a long-past disagreement over a speed bump.
"That's OK, because the work gets done," he says. "You never know in a given moment what pressure people are under."
Lana Martin, back in LA, says contending with everything has been a "wild ride." She spoke to me the day roof construction on her complex had finally begun. She's relieved, but there's more work to be done. Next up: writing up a towing policy. "People won't voluntarily just agree, 'Oh yeah, I shouldn't block driveways,'" she says.
Emily Stewart is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.
Defining what we consider "coolest" is hard. We evaluated every state on its own terms and found that the architecture across all 50 states and Washington, DC, can be as diverse as the country's population.
In states like California and Massachusetts, picking the most striking building meant finding ones that look futuristic and elegant, like something out of a science-fiction movie. In other states, like Maine and the Carolinas, we found that the coolest buildings are distinctive because of their place in history or their states' cultures.
Whether you're looking for a piece of history or a glimpse into the future, these buildings can show you what different worlds look like.
James Grebey and Jacob Shamsian contributed to an earlier version of this story.
ALABAMA: Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio Passenger Terminal
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The Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio Passenger Terminal in Mobile, Alabama, which has Spanish influences with its cream walls and red clay tiles, was designed by P. Thornton Marye. It was completed in 1907 and has undergone restoration since passenger train service ceased in the 1950s.
ALASKA: The University of Alaska's Museum of the North
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The University of Alaska Museum of the North is home to numerous exhibits showcasing the native cultures, natural wonders, and wildlife of our nation's largest state. It's also a stylish refuge from the cold.
ARIZONA: Chapel of the Holy Cross
The Chapel of the Holy Cross sits on a hillside.
ANNA WILCZYNSKA/Getty Images/iStockphoto
The Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona was completed in 1956, and it juts majestically from a red stone butte, some 200 feet above the ground.
ARKANSAS: Thorncrown Chapel
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The beautiful Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs looks like an open-air structure, but it's actually a serene, glass-enclosed architectural marvel.
CALIFORNIA: The Chemosphere
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It was designed in 1960, but the Chemosphere still looks futuristic. It's a house with 2,200 square feet of space, perched atop a 30-foot concrete pole. And it's survived every major Californian earthquake in the San Fernando Valley since it was built.
COLORADO: Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park
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Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features some of the best-preserved prehistoric landscapes of the Ancestral Puebloan people. These ancient dwellings, where the Ancestral Puebloans once lived, were constructed on the sides of natural cliffs.
While most dwellings had only one to five rooms, the Cliff Palace, the largest known cliff dwelling in North America, had 150 rooms, 23 sacred meeting spaces, and housed about 100 people, according to the National Park Service.
CONNECTICUT: Grace Farms
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The main feature of Grace Farms in New Canaan is a serpentine wooden pavilion that links glass-walled rooms, including a library, stage, tea room, and a gym with a full basketball court. Completed in 2015, it's open to the public for free.
DELAWARE: Wilmington's Grand Opera House
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The country's oldest state has some classic buildings that stand the test of time. Wilmington's Grand Opera House, built in 1871, is as classic as it gets.
FLORIDA: The Salvador Dalí Museum
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The Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg is a fittingly unique tribute to the beloved master of surrealism. The museum boasts the largest collection of Dalí's work outside Europe.
GEORGIA: The Earth Lodge on Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
Jeffrey M. Frank/Shutterstock
This might not look much like other buildings in this list, but the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park's Earth Lodge dates back to the year 1015, per the National Park Service.
The lodge is a reconstructed council chamber of the native Mississippian culture. While the walls and ceiling were reconstructed in the late 1930s, the clay floor remains the same as the original, dating back over a thousand years.
HAWAII: ʻIolani Palace
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ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu is the only royal palace on United States soil. David Kalākaua, the last reigning king of Hawaiʻi and the first monarch to travel around the world, was inspired by the European palaces he saw during his 1881 voyage.
IDAHO: The Dog Bark Park Inn
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The Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood is a delightful piece of American kitsch. The bed and breakfast is shaped like two charming beagles.
ILLINOIS: Bahá'í House of Worship
Bahá'í House of Worship in Illinois
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Although there are between 5 and 6 million adherents to the Bahá'í Faith, there are only eight continental houses of worship worldwide. The one in Wilmette, Illinois, is the oldest still standing, and the only one in the United States.
INDIANA: West Baden Springs Hotel
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When the West Baden Springs Hotel opened in 1902, it was billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. While enjoying the view from inside the massive domed atrium — at one point the largest in the world — it's easy to see why.
IOWA: Grotto of the Redemption
The Grotto of the Redemption is the size of a football field.
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Father Paul Dobberstein promised to build a shrine to the Virgin Mary as she helped cure his grave case of pneumonia. His resulting Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend is made of rocks, shells, fossils, and gems pressed into concrete. It's the size of a football field.
KANSAS: Big Well in Greensburg
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The Big Well in Greensburg is a museum that rests atop its titular main attraction: the largest hand-dug well in the world, spanning 32 feet in diameter and reaching a depth of 109 feet.
KENTUCKY: Churchill Downs
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Churchill Downs, most famously the host of the Kentucky Derby, can hold 120,000 excited, sometimes rowdy, racing fans at max capacity.
LOUISIANA: The Pontalba Buildings
The Pontalba Buildings are emblematic of the French Quarter in New Orleans.
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The Pontalba Buildings, which make up two sides of New Orleans' Jackson Square, are emblematic of the French Quarter. Some of the residences on the upper floors are believed to be the oldest continuously rented apartments in the country.
MAINE: The Portland Head Light
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The Portland Head Light — one of the state's many lighthouses — has been around since 1791. It was built under the directive of George Washington himself.
MARYLAND: The American Visionary Art Museum
American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.
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The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore showcases outsider art. All the works within its wonky exterior were made by inspired, self-taught creators.
MASSACHUSETTS: Simmons Hall at MIT
Simmons Hall at MIT is one of the coolest-looking dorm buildings in the US.
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Simmons Hall at MIT is the coolest dorm building in the US. It looks like a monstrous Tetris piece combined with underground caverns.
MICHIGAN: Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
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The museum, one of the oldest and largest dedicated to African American history, is a three-story building designed with influences of African and local Detroit architecture. The building features a stunning 55-foot-tall glass dome ceiling.
MINNESOTA: The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
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The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Saint Paul's Como Park was opened to the public in 1915 and features Japanese, Bonsai, and butterfly gardens, among others.
MISSISSIPPI: Gehry's Pods at the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art
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Designed by Frank Gehry — whose striking work also includes the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain — the curved metal pods, which house pottery at Biloxi's Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art, are meant to look as if they were "dancing with the trees," per the museum's website.
MISSOURI: The Community Bookshelf
The Community Bookshelf in Kansas City displays giant book spines.
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The parking garage at the Kansas City Library is called the Community Bookshelf. It displays the giant spines of 22 classic books that were suggested by Kansas City readers.
MONTANA: Montana State Capitol building
The Montana State Capitol began construction in 1896.
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Construction started on the Montana State Capitol in 1896. The inside of the rotunda salutes four types of people central to the state's early history: a native American, an explorer, a gold miner, and a cowboy.
NEBRASKA: Nebraska State Capitol Building
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The Nebraska Capitol in Lincoln is one of the greatest state capitol buildings in the US. Built between 1922 and 1932, the building features artworks representing the development of law and the state of Nebraska.
NEVADA: Ward Charcoal Ovens
The Ward Charcoal Ovens in Ely were built in the 1870s for silver mining.
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The Ward Charcoal Ovens in Ely were built in the 1870s for silver mining.
The distinctive beehive-shaped Ward Charcoal Ovens in Ely were built for silver mining back in the 1870s, and they still look like nothing else on the landscape.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Mount Washington Hotel
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Built in 1902, the Mount Washington Hotel — today operating as the Omni Mount Washington Resort — is one of the last remaining grand hotels in the state, and is rumored to be haunted.
NEW JERSEY: Nassau Hall at Princeton University
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Nassau Hall is the oldest building at Princeton University, dating back to the 1750s. While it now houses the school's administrative offices, during the Revolutionary War it was occupied by both British and American forces and suffered damage during the battles.
NEW MEXICO: Taos Pueblo
This October 2012 photo shows adobe dwellings at the Taos Pueblo in Taos, N.M., a UNESCO World Heritage site where the Taos native people have lived for 1,000 years. Tours of the pueblo describe the community’s survival and challenges across the centuries. The picture-perfect dwellings are multi-level, often with ladders to reach upper floors and round ovens outside.
AP Photo/Beth Harpaz
Hundreds of years old, the Taos Pueblo is a multi-story complex built by Native Americans from the region. It looks like one big, molded piece, and it's still used as a residence.
NEW YORK: The Chrysler Building
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The Empire State Building gets all the hype, but it's the Chrysler Building that's really the most magnificent skyscraper in New York City. The Art Deco-style building was the tallest in the world when it was built, but it was beaten out by — you guessed it — the Empire State Building just 11 months later.
NORTH CAROLINA: The Executive Mansion
North Carolina's Executive Mansion in Raleigh is the home of the governor.
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North Carolina's Executive Mansion in Raleigh is the home of the governor.
Give it to North Carolina for having its most beautiful building designated as a civil landmark. The state's Executive Mansion in Raleigh is the home of the governor and a high-profile event venue that's open to public tours.
NORTH DAKOTA: The North Dakota Heritage Center
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At the center of the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck is a great glass cube flanked by two copper-colored wings. It's the home of the state's greatest treasures, including Native American historical artifacts and lots of dinosaur fossils.
OHIO: The Longaberger Company building
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The Longaberger Company, which makes baskets, made a building in Newark that perfectly matches its brand. The building was closed in 2016, and it has largely sat idle since.
Plans for the property have included a hotel, a coworking space, and, most recently, a mixed-use development, but it still has an unclear path for the future.
OKLAHOMA: First Americans Museum
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The First Americans Museum's 175,000-square-foot building in Oklahoma pays homage to the state's indigenous populations and their history. The design is inspired by the importance placed on the rising and setting sun by Native populations, with the Remembrance Walls being aligned with the sunrise.
The central half-dome is supported by 10 pillars of various stones, each representing a 10-mile stretch traveled by Native people during forced removal from their original homelands, according to the museum's website.
OREGON: The Portland Building
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In 2009, Travel + Leisure famously called The Portland Building "one of the most hated buildings in America," and its reputation is split among architecture critics. But its shapes, strange geometric clashes of glass and stone, make it the weird building that Portland most deserves.
PENNSYLVANIA: Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater
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Frank Lloyd Wright's 1935 masterpiece Fallingwater remains Pennsylvania's greatest work of architecture. Water falls from each level of the building into the one below, perfectly integrating with the landscape.
RHODE ISLAND: The Breakers
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Built as a summer residence for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, The Breakers mansion in Newport has 70 rooms across 138,300 square feet, making itone of the largest houses in the US and an icon of Gilded Age architecture.
SOUTH CAROLINA: The International African American Museum
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In South Carolina, the International African American Museum stands on top of 18 13-foot pillars that keep the museum from touching the sacred ground on which it was built.
The museum is situated on the historic site of Gadsden's Wharf in Charleston's Cooper River, which was the last and most significant disembarkation point in North America for enslaved Africans during the transatlantic slave trade, per the US Civil Rights Trail website.
SOUTH DAKOTA: The Corn Palace
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The walls of the Corn Palace in Mitchell are adorned with complex murals and art that's all been made out of, you guessed it, corn. The design changes every year.
TENNESSEE: Parthenon in Centennial Park
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Built in 1897 for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition — and then reconstructed between 1921 and 1930 — the Parthenon in Centennial Park is a full-sized replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Today, it's open to the public as an art museum.
TEXAS: James Turrell's Twilight Epiphany skyspace
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Designed by renowned artist James Turrell, the "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace in Houston is a performance space that makes you feel as though you've entered another dimension.
UTAH: Natural History Museum of Utah
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The Natural History Museum of Utah in Salt Lake City looks like it could have been carved out of the landscape. It was designed by Todd Schliemann of Ennead Architects.
VERMONT: The Old Round Church
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The Old Round Church in Richmond is technically a 16-sided polygon, but it's still enough of a circle to lend credence to a rumor that it was built in that shape so that the Devil had no corners to hide in.
VIRGINIA: Dulles International Airport
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If they're done wrong, airports can be the most insufferable place to spend a few hours. But we have to admire Virginia's Dulles International Airport, which almost looks like a futuristic aircraft itself.
WASHINGTON: Seattle Central Library
SEATTLE - MAY 19: An exterior view of Seattle's new Central LIbrary on May 19, 2004 in Seattle, Washington. The glass and steel structure was designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture of the Netherlands and Seattle-based LMN Architects and cost $165.5 million to build. It is set to open to the public May 23.
Photo by Ron Wurzer/Getty Images
Forget the idea of a dusty old home for books nobody reads. The Seattle Central Library is a miracle of modern architecture.
WASHINGTON, DC: The United States Capitol
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The United States Capitol is such a mainstay of nightly news and political pop culture that it's easy to take for granted. It's nice to step back once in a while and take in the grandeur and historical significance of this government building that reflects on America's complicated past.
Construction on the Capitol began in September 1793, and much of the structure was built by enslaved workers working alongside free Black and white laborers, per the White House Historical Association. In 2012, a marker was added to the Capitol Visitor Center commemorating the unpaid labor of enslaved people who built the nation's Capitol.
WEST VIRGINIA: The Palace of Gold
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The Palace of Gold is a majestic memorial shrine located in the Hare Krishna community of New Vrindaban.
WISCONSIN: The Burke Brise Soleil
: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The most striking feature of the Milwaukee Art Museum is the Burke Brise Soleil, a towering sunscreen with a 217-foot wingspan. It folds and unfolds twice a day.
WYOMING: Smith Mansion
Grossinger/Shutterstock
This wacky-looking building is in the middle of the remote Wapiti Valley. In 1971, architect Francis Lee Smith started building the structure by hand as his and his family's home. After completing the first floor in 1973, he could not stop building. He died after falling from one of the balconies in 1992.
There are a few things people should look out for before buying a luxury home.
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As a luxury real-estate agent, I tell buyers that a high price tag doesn't mean a sound investment.
A beautiful renovation with signs of low-quality workmanship is an immediate red flag for me.
I also pay close attention to a home's location and how long it's been on the market.
As a real-estate agent who works with buyers looking for luxury homes, I know how easy it is to get swept up in a beautiful property.
But after nearly three years in the industry, I like to remind my clients that a higher price tag doesn't automatically make a house a better investment — or mean there aren't problems hiding beneath the surface.
Some of the biggest concerns I notice aren't necessarily the things that stand out during a first showing. They're often in the details — like the quality behind the renovation, the home's location, and its history on the market.
These are the five red flags I always recommend my clients watch for before making an offer.
A pretty renovation doesn't mean it's a quality renovation.
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A home may look spectacular online, but sometimes, once you walk through the door and look under the hood, it isn't what it appeared to be in the listing photos. I jokingly call it "lipstick on a pig."
Before making an offer, buyers should understand what they're actually getting, beyond gorgeous photos and expensive-looking finishes.
I like to look more closely at things like the cabinetry and hardware, flooring, countertops, stonework, fixtures, and overall quality of workmanship.
One of the easiest places to spot a lower-quality renovation is the cabinetry — specifically, whether the joints are properly fitted, the drawers glide smoothly, and the cabinet doors align. I also look out for things like uneven tilework, inconsistent grout lines, poorly installed flooring, and gaps around the cabinets or trim.
To me, the biggest concern is whether the renovation will hold up over time. If the materials and workmanship aren't up to par, buyers could end up repairing or replacing finishes far sooner than expected.
When you're paying for a luxury home, you want to know you're investing in quality that will last, not just an aesthetic that looks good in listing photos.
Regardless of how beautiful the home is, location is crucial.
Ricardo DeAratanha/Getty Images
Everyone has heard the term "location, location, location," and there's a reason for that. Almost anything about a home can be renovated or changed — its location can't.
I always tell buyers not to overlook things like road noise, backing to a busy street, an undesirable lot position, or other location factors simply because they love the house.
Those things may not bother you personally, but they could narrow your buyer pool significantly when it comes time to sell.
It's concerning when a house has been on the market for many days.
Feverpitched/Getty Images
Seeing a high days-on-market number — the amount of time the property has been actively listed — isn't inherently detrimental, but it's important to understand why a house hasn't been able to sell.
A question I often get from clients is, "How many days on market is considered too many?" The reality is that there isn't a single magic number, as it depends on the area, the specific neighborhood, and the price point.
Just because a home has been on the market for an extended period doesn't necessarily mean there is something wrong with the property. It could be road noise, a less desirable location, or simply a matter of pricing. However, I've seen instances where issues were uncovered during inspections, causing buyers to walk away.
Regardless of the reason, I always look at the listing history, previous price reductions, and comparable sales in the area to get a better picture of what's going on.
I'm also not afraid to ask the seller's agent point-blank what the issue has been. All of that information helps me decide how my clients and I should approach and structure an offer.
A luxury price tag doesn't mean a home is problem-free.
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Even a picture-perfect home listed for millions of dollars can have an aging HVAC system, roof issues, water damage, plumbing concerns, or other costly problems that aren't obvious during a showing.
That's why inspections are so important. If an inspection reveals that an HVAC system needs to be replaced, that's a significant expense the buyer may not have anticipated when making their original offer.
I always remind my clients that the inspection period is still very much a negotiation period. The key is knowing which issues are worth negotiating, and being strategic about what you ask for.
What a seller spent isn't necessarily what an improvement is worth.
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If a listing agent tells me their seller put $300,000 into a home's renovation, that doesn't automatically mean it's worth $300,000 more.
A seller may have spent a significant amount on finishes or design choices they personally loved, but that doesn't necessarily mean the next buyer will place the same value on them.
I think it's important for buyers to separate what someone spent on a home from what the market supports.
High-quality improvements absolutely matter, but ultimately, I don't think a buyer should pay a premium simply because a seller spent a lot of money.
Living together seemed like a crazy idea, but he ended up becoming a safe space for me in the house.
The experience brought us closer and made me less afraid of postgrad life.
Before heading out to the bar on our final day of junior year at the University of Maryland, I sat in my empty college apartment with my friends, laughing over a dumb sitcom while scrolling on our phones.
Half of our stuff was in boxes as we were preparing to move into our very own house for the next school year. We fantasized about the parties we would throw and the decorating we would do.
But then, two months later, everything was turned upside down when one friend backed out and moved to Wisconsin to pursue a new career path. We were scrambling to find a replacement, but luckily, we weren't the only ones looking for a roommate.
When I was talking to my mom about the situation, my 24-year-old brother, who was three years out of college, was on the other end of the phone. Turns out, he was trying to find a place to live after his arrangements in Baltimore — about 40 minutes from my school — changed at the last minute.
My mom listened to both her children in a state of panic and was able to solve both problems with the most cruel suggestion a college girl could ever hear. "Why don't you move in together?"
Sure, that's just how every girl wants to spend her senior year of college. It was my parents' dream and my own nightmare.
My brother and I are close, but this still seemed like a crazy idea. However, we'd already signed a lease and didn't want to cover the rent for our friend who moved away. So, my brother and I talked on the phone, toying with the idea, before meeting up for lunch and deciding to officially become roommates for the first time since high school.
Despite any hesitations, once the summer ended, we all moved into the house together.
Suddenly, my senior year of college looked less like a coming-of-age movie and more like an episode of "New Girl." Three college girls and my older brother, all under one roof.
My brother became an unexpected safe space for me
There were many moments I was thankful my brother was in the same house as me.
Caroline Lissy
Whenever my brother and I told people we were living together, we got some crazy looks. There were a lot of questions for him about how he could live with a bunch of college girls and function as a full-time adult. There were also a lot of questions for me, a full-blown party girl, about whether I would feel uncomfortable living with my overprotective brother.
We were living different lives and were on completely different pages — or so we thought. Surprisingly, after moving in, there were moments when I was thankful my brother was there.
When I had a falling-out with my roommates around the second half of the school year, and tensions grew, my brother was there to have my back. The living room no longer felt like a safe space, so I would go to his room instead.
Then, six months into our living arrangement, I got news that one roommate had received a full-time job offer, while the other was accepted into graduate school. Meanwhile, I was a straight-A student with four different internships, who was going to be completely jobless.
It felt unfair and difficult to speak with my friends about my unemployment and fear of adulthood since they couldn't relate. So, in these moments, I ended up going to my brother, since he had gone through the same situation a few years back when he was finishing school.
As I learned more about his life, his perspective helped me navigate my own experiences — and brought us closer, too.
Fast-forward a couple of months, and my brother and I spent the majority of our time at home laughing on the couch, watching reality television, and talking about our weekday struggles. While I was struggling to find a job, my brother was struggling with his work as an elementary school teacher.
When I was complaining about guys, he was telling me about his dating failures. Sure, living together while navigating our respective romantic lives was occasionally awkward, but we did our best to keep our flings from crossing paths.
Before long, we were both spending our Sundays hungover on the couch, debriefing our weekends. Although my brother may not have found the same common ground with the other girls I was living with — who were practically strangers to him — we were closer than we've ever been.
Living with my brother made me less afraid of life after college
My brother showed me that postgrad life could still be fun.
Caroline Lissy
Spending this much time with my brother alleviated any fears I had of adulthood.
His day-to-day life wasn't too different from mine, but while I was attending classes as a student, he was leading them as a teacher. Although I had no plans to become an educator, he gave me advice on navigating the workforce and figuring out how to be a grown-up.
More than anything, he showed me that postgrad life could still be fun. I could go to the gym and blast my music, grab drinks with friends, and binge-watch my favorite shows. The difference was that life felt a little more elevated, with new opportunities to step outside my college bubble.
At the end of the day, he taught me that the problems we face after college are not so different from the ones we had in college. Whether someone is newly postgrad, graduated 10 years ago, or is still completing their studies, we are all figuring things out in our own way.
We now live in different cities with our significant others, but spending a year together created a bond that makes my brother feel more like my best friend than a sibling.
We still talk every day, and now we get to laugh with each other's partners about the realities of living with us. After all, we've both been there.
Bonnie and Hunter Moore renovated their home in Nashville.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
Retirement didn't exactly mean slowing down for Bonnie and Hunter Moore.
The Moores, both 71, have lived near the Vanderbilt campus in Nashville for over 40 years. They bought their home in 1983, raising their two children and building their careers. Bonnie was a proofreader, while Hunter worked in the music industry.
When they retired in 2019, they were excited to have more time for their passions. For Hunter, that includes reading, playing the piano, working on model trains, and independent study (he's currently working on a dissertation for fun). Bonnie loves entertaining her friends — especially in her "Not Your Mother's Bible Study" group — hosting her grandsons, and traveling.
By 2023, though, it was clear their home base wasn't set up to help them thrive in retirement, as their bedroom, office, and music studio were all on the second floor. After caring for their own aging parents, they knew second-floor living wasn't ideal for aging in place, particularly when Hunter developed vertigo that made climbing stairs unsafe.
Bonnie and Hunter didn't want their adult children worrying about them as they got older, as they had worried about their parents. Instead, the Moores hoped to set themselves up to live independently for as long as possible — and have fun while doing it.
Luckily, the house next door was the perfect solution to their problem.
The Moores bought the house next door as a rental property in 2007.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
The Moores bought the rental house, which provided supplemental income, in 2007 for $360,000. At 1,400 square feet, it had three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The front couldn't be changed too drastically because the Moores live in a historic area, but their lot had space in the back where they could expand the home.
As they realized they wanted to upsize for retirement from their 2,700-square-foot home, Bonnie and Hunter decided to do a massive overhaul of the rental house, taking it down to the studs.
The renovation, which added a two-story addition to the back, gave them a 4,400-square-foot space with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and two half baths, plus ample living space and a bonus room that could be converted into a bedroom if needed.
The Moores hired Michael Brown Construction, Beth Haley Designs, and Allard Ward Architects to bring the project to life. Brown specialized in historic renovations, and Haley had an expertise in aging-in-place accommodations, both of which were needed.
Renovations kicked off in early 2024 and took about 18 months to complete. Because they gutted the original structure, the Moores had to pay for all new plumbing and electrical wiring throughout the home in addition to the cosmetic changes. The height of the original exterior stayed the same, and the windows that were originally there didn't move. Nearly everything else changed, though.
The Moores were able to stay in their first home while they transformed their new house, which, Bonnie said, made everything easier.
"We didn't have to move," she said. "We could look out the window and notice somebody was walking around, and go over to see if they needed to talk to us. It was wonderful."
First-floor living was a priority in the design.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
It was important to the Moores that the addition had a second story so they'd have plenty of bedrooms for their kids, grandkids, and loved ones to stay in when they visited.
However, they wanted the first floor to be where they spent most of their time. It needed to accommodate larger parties, such as their Christmas gatherings or Bonnie's Bible study group, and their bedroom had to be on the main level as well.
An open-concept design on the first floor was perfect for the Moores.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
The kitchen and living areas are combined in the Moores' home, with large windows and sliding glass doors framing the space and letting in light.
A table helps to visually separate the kitchen from the living area.
The large kitchen was a huge upgrade.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
"My kitchen is probably about the size of part of my downstairs next door," Bonnie said of the space, which features a large island surrounded by ample built-in cabinetry.
It also has a walk-in pantry, one of Bonnie's favorite features, and was set up to suit the couple as they get older, with wide walkways and doorways. A few of the drawers also have large gaps behind them, so you can reach behind them without jamming your fingers.
There are two living spaces on the main floor.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
The first floor has a larger living room with a TV, and another with two comfortable chairs in front of the fireplace, which the Moores think of as their den. A grand piano splits the two spaces.
Bonnie also said they had the fireplace raised intentionally.
"As you're sitting in your chair, you're looking straight into the fireplace instead of looking down," she said. "When you're old, you don't want to have to bend over as much, so you raise things in that way without it looking weird."
The Moores also felt free to get creative with how they used their rooms.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
The house came with a formal dining room, but the Moores didn't feel they needed that space, since they had a dining area at their kitchen counter and kitchen table.
Instead, they turned it into a workout room and office for Bonnie.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
It has a treadmill, a weight machine, and a desk. However, it could easily still work as a dining space or even a bedroom down the line if needed.
"We kept it with the feel of a dining room in case somebody wanted that for resale," Bonnie said.
The Moores didn't want to waste any space in their home.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
To maximize the space, they put shelving wherever possible. For instance, Bonnie turned the space below their stairs into a "hobbit hole" for her grandsons, filling it with a bean bag and books as an escape for them.
"I used every place that you could store something," she said.
Their home library can also serve multiple purposes.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
Bonnie described Hunter as a "voracious reader," so a library was a must-have for their home.
Still, the room has a closet and an en suite bathroom, and it could fit a smaller bed or a Murphy bed, so it could become another first-floor bedroom if the Moores ever need live-in help.
The primary suite sits on the first floor.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
Bonnie and Hunter's bedroom has plenty of room for the couple to walk around the bed on either side, which was intentional. They didn't want the space to become cumbersome if they use wheelchairs or walkers someday.
It also has a loveseat, which Bonnie said they added so they can sit and put on their shoes without bending down.
There's plenty of storage in the bedroom.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
The suite has a walk-in closet, one of Bonnie's favorite features in her new home.
Its blue cabinetry matches that in the bathroom for a cohesive look.
The bathroom is both luxurious and long-term-minded.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
The bathroom is designed to accommodate a walker or wheelchair with ease.
It has luxury touches, like a double vanity and a massive walk-in shower with grab bars and a bench running the length of the shower for aging-in-place accommodations.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
They also made the showerhead adjustable, which was a must-have because Bonnie is 5-foot-4 and Hunter is 6-foot-2. Bonnie wanted to make sure the height could adjust easily with one hand in case they developed any mobility issues, and that function has already come in handy.
Bonnie had a mastectomy in August and wasn't able to lift her arms above her head in the initial weeks of her recovery. Being able to adjust the showerhead height on her own during that time allowed her to maintain her independence as she healed.
They also have a laundry room in their en suite.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
The location of the laundry room means the Moores can live entirely on their first floor if they want, ensuring they don't have to use stairs if it becomes challenging for them.
The Moores will never have trouble reaching the second floor of their home, though.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
The Moores didn't want their second floor to become inaccessible if stairs became harder for them to manage as they age, so they decided to add an elevator to the home in the renovation.
It was a pricey aspect of the renovation, coming in at around $31,000, which doesn't include the cost of building out the space for it or installation.
Bonnie said the elevator was worth it, though, as it feels "responsible" for her and Hunter at this stage. It's a big comfort to their kids, too.
"They're so relieved that we aren't going up and down the stairs," Bonnie said.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
The elevator sits next to a room where Bonnie stores things like Christmas decor and luggage, and she said being able to pop items directly into the elevator has been great for them.
There are two bedrooms upstairs.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
One of the bedrooms has twin beds for the Moores' grandsons to enjoy, and it connects to Hunter's office (which could also be turned into a bedroom if needed) via a Jack-and-Jill bathroom.
The other bedroom on the second floor has an en suite bathroom, providing privacy for whoever stays there.
There's an additional living area upstairs as well.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
An open area at the top of the stairs has a wet bar, a mini fridge, and a cozy seating area.
The Moores love having an additional flex space for their family or friends to enjoy when they come to visit.
The garage serves multiple purposes.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
The Moores didn't have a large garage at their old home, so they were excited about the detached, two-car garage on their new property.
They finished a space at the back with a half bathroom and a room for Hunter to work on his model trains. The space has vaulted ceilings for a more luxurious look, which Bonnie said they added with the home's resale value in mind.
There's an unfinished attic in the garage as well, which gives the Moores the option to expand their living space further if they want.
"If one of our kids wanted to live over there and finish it, they could," Bonnie said.
The Moores' home is everything they hoped it would be.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
The Moores moved into their home in August 2025, and they've been loving it ever since.
"This is our dream house," Bonnie said. "We are so grateful that we could do this because we put everything we possibly wanted."
"When we sit at our dining room table and eat breakfast, I tell my husband every morning, 'I'm so happy,'" she added.
Hunter echoed Bonnie, saying the renovation "seemed like a huge project," but their design team made it manageable, as did being able to bounce ideas off Bonnie.
"I'm so glad we did it," he added.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
It's working well for their community, too. Bonnie said the house has made their guests feel at ease when they've hosted parties and had people stay overnight.
"It's better than I thought it would even turn out, and the way it makes us feel is just very peaceful," Bonnie said. "My kids all love it, and we have room for everybody. I host all the holidays and the birthday parties."
The renovation was worth the investment.
Tamara Reynolds for BI
In total, the Moores said they spent about $1.7 million turning their rental property into their dream home. That cost includes furniture upgrades and some exterior stonework to ensure the house looks up to date from the outside.
They were able to offset it with the $850,000 sale of their first home, and Bonnie said she views the work they did as an investment in the future, for both themselves and their kids.
"This allows us to stay in our house as long as we possibly can, and if we can't, then we have designed a house that will probably sell for $1.9 million," she said. "Our kids can sell it, pay for wherever we need to be, or it can be a great inheritance for them."
She and Hunter feel only gratitude that they could create a house that will benefit them and their whole family for years to come.
"The sooner you do it, the more you can enjoy it before you really need it," she said. "And it's a relief for your children. It's the best gift we could give them."
I loved the life I had built there, but taking the next step — like buying my own house with a yard — felt out of reach for me. However, I was afraid I would regret leaving the place I had called home for so many years.
When thinking of places I'd like to live, Seattle immediately came to mind. I figured the city would offer similar energy and career opportunities as San Francisco, and I loved its proximity to striking natural beauty.
Plus, I'd visited the West Coast city many times and had a good friend who lived there, so it seemed like a logical move. But instead of taking the leap immediately, I decided to test out living in the city for a month to make sure it was the right fit for me.
Through HomeExchange, a platform that allows users to swap homes with people from around the world, I traded my Noe Valley condo for a house with a yard in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle for the month of July.
I got to experience Seattle as a local instead of a tourist
It was interesting being able to experience the city as a local would.
Heather Snow
Although I'd visited Seattle many times over the years, this was my first chance to test everyday life there with my dog, Pepper — not just experience the city as a tourist.
I worked remotely, went grocery shopping, and checked out the Ballard Farmers Market on Sundays. Pepper and I explored different parks on morning walks and went to local breweries in the evenings.
I really prioritized spending time in Ballard, since that was the neighborhood I was most interested in possibly calling home. I loved that the residential parts were filled with single-family homes on tree-lined streets, but the location was also walkable to a historic core filled with shops, restaurants, and bars.
It felt like it could be the perfect combination of having a home with a yard in a residential neighborhood, while still having the city life and walkability I loved in San Francisco.
I mostly spent time in the walkable Ballard neighborhood.
Heather Snow
However, staying for a month also allowed me to experience some of the pain points I'd deal with as a local.
For example, although I found Ballard incredibly walkable, once I left the neighborhood, Seattle as a whole felt much more spread out and suburban than San Francisco. I found myself driving and sitting in traffic more than I'm used to.
One night, I was invited to go to my friend's house for dinner. What I thought would be a quick, 30-minute drive turned into a 55-minute headache in rush-hour traffic. In this moment, I realized moving around the city would require more planning than I initially expected.
Having Pepper with me also gave me insights into dog regulations that I never would have noticed on vacation. Although Seattle is a very dog-friendly city, I found there are more restrictions around water access and off-leash areas than I ever would have known about as a tourist.
I'm used to letting Pepper run off-leash in the sand at Fort Funston in San Francisco, but I found that most sandy beaches in Seattle don't allow dogs. Luckily, she was still able to sunbathe and people-watch from the yard of the house we were staying in.
The house swap helped me figure out what I want from a permanent home
Even though Seattle isn't for me, it helped me figure out what I want next.
Heather Snow
Having someone stay in my home gave me insight into what she loved about it, and it made me appreciate what I already had.
The woman I traded homes with mentioned that many of my neighbors greeted her and that people were friendly on her daily dog walks in Noe Valley. I wasn't surprised that she felt this way. After all, the community in my neighborhood is one of my favorite things about San Francisco.
Spending time away gave me clarity on what I value in the home I already have, and some perspective on what I want in my next home.
A month in Seattle made it clear that the city is not my place. It also confirmed that I wanted some things that are out of reach for me in San Francisco because of the cost of housing, like a house with a yard.
Ideally, I'd like to find a place that combines the best parts of both cities: affordability, a walkable neighborhood with a sense of community, and natural beauty. I also realized that avoiding heavy traffic and crowds may mean looking beyond major cities.
Thankfully, trading homes was a relatively low-cost, low-risk way to test a major life decision like moving. Before making an expensive move, I was able to refine my list of what I want in my next home, and what I don't.
For now, I'm still searching for my new city, but my vision of what the next chapter will look like is much clearer.
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