As US economy rises, so do dream homes

New York

SCOTT Seltzer's beach house in Sagaponack, New York, would have been finished in half the time, if not for the screening room. That one room took two years, but Mr Seltzer, who works in finance, has no regrets.

"I lived in small apartments my whole life," said Mr Seltzer, 52, who grew up in Queens and now lives in Manhattan. "When we were building this house, I said I'd like a screening room. I could watch movies or the news. Then I thought, let's make this special."

It was that word "special" that doubled the project's time for one room in his 8,000-square-foot home, taking more time to finish than the spa with the Turkish marble floors or the wine cellar. "What most people cal…