Casey Abby Blog's: Fun Fixer-Upper? Dome Home Amid the Dunes Needs a Handy Buyer to Dive In

Friday 23 July 2021

Fun Fixer-Upper? Dome Home Amid the Dunes Needs a Handy Buyer to Dive In

Dome Home Pajaro Dunes — Dream Home Images

An iconic dome home right on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Northern California is waiting for a buyer to dive in.

The unique structure amid the Pajaro Dunes of Watsonville, CA, sits on a quarter-acre of sandy land and is listed for $1,699,000. But the buyers must be prepared to dig even deeper if they want to round this dome into shape.

“It needs a lot of work,” says the listing agent, Natalia Lockwood. “It has three floors, with a really great main top floor. Thanks to the dome shape, you get all this light.”

Measuring 2,619 square feet, the home was built in 1979 and needs to be hauled into the 21st century. Lockwood says that the vintage quality of the property appears to attract prospective buyers, who are drawn to the character of the place.

“They want to preserve that style, but add in new amenities and the convenience of having things remodeled,” she says.

The ideal plan for a remodel would simply be to enhance the building’s essential features, she believes.

Exterior of dome home in Watsonville, CA
Dream Home Images

The main entrance sits on the top floor, where the curvature of the dome creates a striking living space.

“It’s a three-floor property, and all the main living is on the third floor,” she explains. “The higher you go up, the better the view is going to be.”

The kitchen, dining, and great rooms are all on the top level, along with a half bathroom. Bedrooms and bathrooms are one floor down, and a rec room space occupies the lowest level.

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As currently configured, the home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with additional spaces that can be used for sleeping.

Lockwood says that while the structure is livable as is, it needs new decking, given its age and the deterioration of some of the wood.

“There were tenants living in there up until about a month ago, and they were very happy there,” she says.

She added that most potential buyers she’s spoken with would plan on a full remodel.

The place fits right in the community of Pajaro Dunes, where the architecture is far from cookie-cutter, and each property seems to be unique. Right next door, the agent says, is a castle. Another house is on stilts.

“That one was nicknamed ‘The Flying Barn,’ because it’s so high up in the air,” Lockwood says.

Many of the properties in the gated community serve as second homes or vacation rentals. That offers the opportunity of a steady income stream for a buyer who doesn’t plan to live on the dunes full time. The area has no limit on the number of vacation rentals, the agent says.

“Every property in there could be a vacation rental, and you don’t need a permit,” Lockwood explains.

Because the home sites are staggered, almost every house has an ocean view. The dome house is in the second row, but nevertheless has a gorgeous ocean view and beach access.

The agent sees the perfect buyer for the house as someone who not only wants to enjoy it, but who also wants to share it.

“Someone who wants to come in and do a full remodel and really accentuate the fact that it is a dome house and bring out the character and bring it up to today’s standards,” she says.

“As soon as you see it and walk up to it, you can just see the potential there,” she adds. “Whoever buys it is going to be really happy.”