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2011 real-estate winners and losersIt was a rough year for real estate, but a few came out ahead.
Best- and worst-performing marketsFind out where home values have risen and where they have plummeted.
Not every market is strugglingHome values have lagged across the U.S., but there are exceptions.
Own your own graveyardIf you like being spooked, these homes will delight you.
10 toxic townsContamination and disaster caused some of these cities to cease being.
What agents do for buyersFirst-time homebuyers research online but use agents for complex tasks.
5 things agents will do for freeAn agent may go to great lengths to keep – or get – your business.
How to craft a lowball offerWith these tips, you can score a great bargain in your next home purchase.
Supercharge your house hunt: 15 appsResearch everything you need to find the perfect home with these 15 apps.

© Bob Hurwitz/Hurwitz James Co.

© Heather Croner Real Estate Sotheby's International Realty

© Heather Croner Real EstateSotheby's International Realty

© Heather Croner Real Estate Sotheby's International Realty

© Heather Croner Real Estate Sotheby's International Realty

© Bob Hurwitz/Hurwitz James Co.

© Bob Hurwitz/Hurwitz James Co.

© Bob Hurwitz/Hurwitz James Co.

© Bob Hurwitz/Hurwitz James Co.

© Bob Hurwitz/Hurwitz James Co.

© Bob Hurwitz/Hurwitz James Co.

© Hilton & Hyland

© Hilton & Hyland

© Hilton & Hyland

© Maggie Kent/CORE Group

© Maggie Kent/CORE Group

© Joseph Barbieri/Sotheby's International Realty

© Joseph Barbieri/Sotheby's International Realty

© Joseph Barbieri/Sotheby's International Realty

© Joseph Barbieri/Sotheby's International Realty
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I have to laugh... Keep writing! All of us have to dream. I would love to have this as a reality but just because it will not be... it does not mean I will not stop looking! I love to keep looking and I definitely love to dream!
The rich pay very little in taxes as Mr. Forbes trys to tell everyone...and this is one of the best ways...
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OH NO! CAN THIS BE TRUE! A DEMOCRAT PROTECTING THE RICH!
The coolest pools money can buy
By Melissa Friedling of MainStreet
Take the plunge
Nothing makes summertime cooler than taking a dip in a pool, especially when the pool is in your own backyard. But forget about ordinary backyard pools — this summer we're taking the plunge in architectural statements that are outrageously luxe. Check out some of the contemporary homes that are making a splash in the market now.
The coolest pools money can buy
Taghkanic, N.Y.
This home has plenty of architectural bona fides, including the 2004 American Institute of Architects National Honor Award. Designed by New York-based architectural firm Thomas Phifer and Partners, the 6,700-square-foot home in the picturesque Hudson Valley in upstate New York is priced at $9.75 million.
- Video: A girls' guide to pool safety
- 'Listed': Survey: Outdoor living space is important
- MSN Lifestyle: Healthier swimming in gorgeous natural pools
The coolest pools money can buy
Garden pool
The main outdoor pool is set against a backdrop created by famed garden designer Dan Kiley.
The coolest pools money can buy
Ponds as pools
Several of the manmade and natural ponds sitting on the 350 acres of farmland property look a lot like swimming pools. Why not take a dip?
- Video: A girls' guide to pool safety
- 'Listed': Survey: Outdoor living space is important
- MSN Lifestyle: Healthier swimming in gorgeous natural pools
The coolest pools money can buy
Take a dip indoors
The indoor pool is beside a 7,000-square-foot substructure in a hill beneath the 1,800-square-foot pavilion. For more information, contact Heather Croner Real Estate Sotheby's International Realty.
The coolest pools money can buy
Malibu, Calif.
The Henman House estate is set on 16.9 acres and offers mountain and Pacific Ocean views from the steel and glass structure. Its asking price is $7.95 million.
- Video: A girls' guide to pool safety
- 'Listed': Survey: Outdoor living space is important
- MSN Lifestyle: Healthier swimming in gorgeous natural pools
The coolest pools money can buy
Swim with a view
In the backyard, you’ll find a 60-by-12-foot pool in a grassy yard. The poolside office includes a full bath and sauna.
The coolest pools money can buy
Flight or golf?
The stairs from the office lead to a 50-foot helipad that can double as a driving range.
For more information, contact Bob Hurwitz at the Hurwitz James Co.
- Video: A girls' guide to pool safety
- 'Listed': Survey: Outdoor living space is important
- MSN Lifestyle: Healthier swimming in gorgeous natural pools
The coolest pools money can buy
La Jolla, Calif.
Architect Wallace Cunningham designed The Razor, listed for $32 million. Among its many cutting-edge features is a pool that seems to disappear into the view of the Torrey Pines State Reserve.
The coolest pools money can buy
A unique feature
The infinity pool certainly sets the 11,000-square-foot home apart.
- Video: A girls' guide to pool safety
- 'Listed': Survey: Outdoor living space is important
- MSN Lifestyle: Healthier swimming in gorgeous natural pools
The coolest pools money can buy
A beach for guests
Inside the concrete and glass structure, you'll find four bedrooms and six bathrooms. A two-level guest house offers private access to the exclusive Black's Beach.
The coolest pools money can buy
Los Angeles
Infinity pools are all the rage for the optical-illusion-loving set that enjoys a nice view. This pool offers a more urban view of L.A. Just minutes up Doheny Drive from downtown, this 5,000-square-foot home designed for indoor/outdoor living is for sale for $6.29 million.
- Video: A girls' guide to pool safety
- 'Listed': Survey: Outdoor living space is important
- MSN Lifestyle: Healthier swimming in gorgeous natural pools
The coolest pools money can buy
Plenty of windows
Next to the pool are a spa and outdoor shower. Inside the home are three bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and more than enough windows to enjoy the views.
The coolest pools money can buy
Cabana has it all
The poolside cabana is equipped with a fire pit, kitchen, barbecue and more.
For more information contact Hilton & Hyland.
- Video: A girls' guide to pool safety
- 'Listed': Survey: Outdoor living space is important
- MSN Lifestyle: Healthier swimming in gorgeous natural pools
The coolest pools money can buy
New York
An indoor pool in the heart of New York City is the ultimate luxury statement. In this 22.5-foot-wide Chelsea town house, you can have your own indoor oasis for $11 million.
The coolest pools money can buy
A rare New York treat
On the garden level, the 8-foot deep, 26-foot long pool is perfect for laps. The pool is a rarity in New York, where the Department of Buildings no longer permits them. The pool opens into a 16-foot high solarium sanctuary that connects to a private garden. The five-floor home also has a sauna, five wood-burning fireplaces and a rooftop deck.
For more information, contact Maggie Kent of Core Group.
- Video: A girls' guide to pool safety
- 'Listed': Survey: Outdoor living space is important
- MSN Lifestyle: Healthier swimming in gorgeous natural pools
The coolest pools money can buy
Greenwich, Conn.
Located in prestigious Field Point Park, this 100-year-old home on Long Island Sound has been renovated and is listed for $42.5 million. The six-bedroom, 20,000-square-foot stone home set on 4.26 acres has indoor and outdoor pools.
NOTE: This property is no longer listed.
The coolest pools money can buy
More than a mosaic?
Inside, a dramatic natatorium/ballroom features an elaborate mosaic floor that lowers at the touch of a button ...
- Video: A girls' guide to pool safety
- 'Listed': Survey: Outdoor living space is important
- MSN Lifestyle: Healthier swimming in gorgeous natural pools
The coolest pools money can buy
A hidden swim
... and transforms into the indoor pool.
The coolest pools money can buy
Private bridge
Outside, there is another pool, a guest house and a guest cottage dotting the historic 175-foot suspension bridge designed by John Roebling and Sons, who designed the Brooklyn Bridge. The home recently sold for $39.5 million, according to the Hartford Courant.
- Video: A girls' guide to pool safety
- 'Listed': Survey: Outdoor living space is important
- MSN Lifestyle: Healthier swimming in gorgeous natural pools


