An unfinished waterfront mansion inspired by the Taj Mahal is back on the market in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, with a new asking price of $2.5 million.
asserted
mansion → inspire → million
The 4,402-square-foot property sits on nearly an acre along the Gulf Coast.
asserted
property → sit → Coast
It was first listed for $2 million in 2016.
asserted
It → list → 2016
Ten years after that first listing, and 13 years after construction began, the steel-and-concrete home is still unfinished.
asserted
home → begin → listing
It is waiting for a buyer willing to complete its ambitious design.
asserted
It → wait → design
Building permits for the property were first filed in 2008 by Biloxi doctor Dr Pravin Saija, according to the Sun Herald.
uncertain
permits → file → Herald
Saija planned to use the home as his main residence.
asserted
Saija → plan → residence
But finding contractors who could follow the project's detailed plans proved difficult, slowing the work over the years.
uncertain
who → find → years
Rachel Allen, a listing agent with Coastal Realty Group, told Realtor.com that the owner has chosen to sell the property instead of finishing the remaining work himself.
asserted
owner → tell → work
"The owner started building the home 13 years ago and had trouble finding a contractor to finish the vision the way he wanted," Allen told Realtor.com.
asserted
Allen → build → Realtor.com
"Since then, it has been left as it was, and it fell to the wayside.
asserted
it → leave → wayside
The seller is ready to retire, move on, and let someone else finish the vision.
asserted
someone → retire → vision
The five-bedroom home stands 30 feet above sea level and has 126 feet of direct water frontage.
asserted
home → stand → frontage
It was built with insulated concrete forms.
asserted
It → build → forms
The design includes south-facing turrets with water views and large outdoor terraces for seating.
asserted
design → include → seating
There is also a primary bedroom suite on the top floor and a distinctive tower that could be turned into guest quarters.
uncertain
that → be → quarters
The property has a rooftop lounge area as well, although the roof now needs structural repairs.
asserted
roof → have → repairs
The main structural work is finished, but the inside is still an empty shell.
asserted
inside → finish → ?
Finishing the home will require basic utility systems, including complete electrical wiring and plumbing.
asserted
Finishing → finish → wiring
Drywall, interior fixtures, kitchen countertops, and cabinets will also need to be installed.
asserted
Drywall → need → ?
Allen estimated to Realtor.com that finishing the inside and cleaning up the grounds would cost between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
asserted
finishing → estimate → 800,000
The final cost would depend on the materials and finishes chosen by the new owner.
asserted
cost → depend → owner
"The construction of it is magnificent, and it is 30 feet above sea level," Allen explained to Realtor.com.
asserted
Allen → explain → Realtor.com
"The most expensive parts have already been done.
asserted
parts → do → ?
We wanted to show what the house could be.
uncertain
house → want → ?
A lot of people appreciate seeing the potential."
Material costs drive updated valuation
asserted
costs → see → valuation
The $500,000 increase from the 2016 asking price reflects changes in local property values and the current value of construction materials already on the property, according to the listing agent.
uncertain
increase → reflect → agent
"It could be completely done in about six months," Allen told Realtor.com.
uncertain
Allen → do → Realtor.com
"The reason for the increase in price is the increased cost of additional materials that are also available."
asserted
that → increase → materials
Marketing materials for the property include computer-generated pictures of possible finished interiors.
asserted
materials → include → interiors
They are shown alongside photographs of the unfinished concrete structure to help potential buyers picture what the home could look like when completed.
uncertain
home → show → what
"What makes this listing so compelling is not simply its size or architecture," Allen said.
asserted
Allen → make → ?
People want to see inside it, understand why it was never completed, and imagine what it could ultimately become."
uncertain
it → want → it
Allen said the current owner thought about finishing the work before putting the property up for sale.
asserted
owner → say → sale
In the end, he decided not to take on the project.
asserted
he → decide → project
"He hopes someone makes it how they want it," she said.
asserted
she → hop → it
The property is about 20 minutes from downtown Ocean Springs and has no restrictions on short-term rentals.
asserted
property → have → rentals
According to Coastal Realty Group, the estate could be used as a private home, a corporate retreat, a wedding venue, or a boutique hotel.
uncertain
estate → accord → home
Any commercial use or redevelopment would still have to follow local zoning rules and receive the required building permits and administrative approvals.
asserted
use → have → permits
Ocean Springs has also received wider attention as a coastal destination.
asserted
Springs → receive → destination
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
