| The latest buzz in home building | | | | built with straight walls on the |
| surrounds monolithic dome homes. These | | | | exterior of the home, thereby creating a |
| odd looking properties are strong enough | | | | more traditional appearance. These new |
| to survive most natural disasters, | | | | improvements not only help to make dome |
| including hurricanes and earthquakes, | | | | homes more palatable to home buyers, but |
| and they're also resistant to | | | | to neighbors as well. |
| destructive bugs like termites. These | | | | Why should you care what your neighbors |
| homes are also extremely energy | | | | think of your house? Because if they |
| efficient. Dome homes can even be built | | | | believe that your home's odd appearance |
| for roughly the same cost as a | | | | will bring down property values of the |
| traditional stick-built home. The | | | | entire neighborhood, they may be able to |
| perfect home? Quite possibly. The | | | | stop you from building your home. |
| downside? The very uniqueness of the | | | | Home Owners Associations are known for |
| dome home is also its greatest weakness. | | | | their strict rules regarding the size |
| Dome homes may be close to being the | | | | and appearance of homes in the area. |
| ideal structure, but until neighbors, | | | | Dome homes are so foreign, that it will |
| buyers, and mortgage companies can | | | | be difficult to get a green light on |
| accept them, they will remain on the | | | | your dome home project. Talk with your |
| fringe of the real estate market for | | | | neighbors about your plans, and bring |
| years to come. | | | | plenty of photos to introduce them to |
| Why aren't monolithic dome homes more | | | | the wide variety of dome home designs |
| common? They really should be, | | | | available. Once they see the aesthetic |
| considering the fact that they are so | | | | possibilities and learn about the |
| good for the environment in addition to | | | | amazing benefits these homes have to |
| being able to withstand some of the | | | | offer, they may be more inclined to |
| planet's most violent weather systems. | | | | approve of your plans. |
| Dome homes are so vastly different in | | | | Another hurdle is with the mortgage |
| appearance to traditional homes, that it | | | | company, building inspector, and |
| can be difficult for people to see their | | | | builder. Builders need to know how to |
| beauty. Dome homes look like something | | | | deal with a dome home's unique design |
| out of a science fiction movie, which is | | | | and inherent challenges. Not just anyone |
| something that most home buyers find | | | | can work with these homes. You need to |
| hard to swallow. | | | | hire someone who has the training and |
| So far, most of the people that invest | | | | skill to work on your home. |
| in dome homes are looking for something | | | | Most home inspectors have never seen a |
| different. They want a house that's more | | | | dome home in person, and therefore have |
| eco-friendly, and unique looking. | | | | a great deal of difficulty assessing |
| Mainstream homeowners on the other | | | | values, and finding potential problems. |
| hand, want to blend in with their | | | | They simply don't know what to look for, |
| surroundings, to have a home that | | | | since these homes are so different from |
| reminds them of the one they themselves | | | | stick-built homes. |
| grew up in. Most owners are more | | | | Mortgage companies are often reluctant |
| concerned with their day to day living, | | | | to offer financing for dome homes |
| rather than carbon footprints and | | | | because they are so difficult to assess |
| global warming. But, as the planet | | | | in terms of value. Will anyone want to |
| continues to feel the effects of our | | | | buy your home when you move out? |
| modern civilization, weather systems | | | | Mortgage companies aren't so sure, so |
| will continue to rage out of control. | | | | they are hard-pressed to approve your |
| More hurricanes and tornadoes will | | | | home loan. |
| continue to slam into the country, thus | | | | While there are challenges involved in |
| creating a greater need for stronger | | | | building a dome home, it is worth it. |
| homes. By choosing a dome home, you're | | | | These homes are eco-friendly, will lower |
| doing something positive for the | | | | your energy bills, and keep your family |
| environment, and also creating a safe | | | | safe during most storms and earthquakes. |
| haven for your family. These homes may | | | | The more information that people have |
| be the best choice all around, if you | | | | about this revolutionary new type of |
| can get over their distinctive looks. | | | | home, the easier it will be to obtain |
| Fortunately, builders and architects are | | | | financing, and up their resell values. |
| creating more attractive dome home | | | | Bring home the dome, and bring home the |
| designs. There have even been dome homes | | | | future. |