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