The ugly truth of America's expensive homes
- Posted on April 24, 2026
- By NPR
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- 2 min read
The ugly truth of America's expensive homes

Do you feel poor every time you turn on Bravo television?You're not alone - the beautiful homes of the rich and famous showcased on reality TV shows from Keeping Up with the Kardashians to the Real Housewives of Atlanta are meant to be something of a fantasy for audiences everywhere. But what are the housing realities behind the glitz and glamour? And how are your favorite reality TV stars shaping your own ideas of home and stability? To find out, Brittany is joined by Jack Balderrama Morley, author of Dream Facades: The Cruel Architecture of Reality TV, and Liam Dillon, staff writer at Politico who covers housing in California.Want more about cultural deep dives into Reality TV?Check out these episodes:Is this the end of reality TV?The molten center of 'The Real Housewives' multiverseSupport Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.