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Two windows poke out from the grass roofline of this unusual home.

By Zillow

1941-1943 Beach Ave, Atlantic Beach, Fla.
For sale: $1.2 million

You may be used to mowing your backyard, and perhaps your front yard, but how about having to mow the tops and sides of your house? For homeowners of a grass dune home in Florida, it's a reality.

The little rounded piece of Atlantic Beach real estate is for sale for $1.2 million. Originally listed for $1.85 million, the property has bounced on and off the market with a few price cuts along the way since 2009. Its latest price cut, from $1.35 million to $1.2 million, is a decrease of 11.1 percent. Median Atlantic Beach home values are at $214,200, down about 5 percent year over year, although prices have been edging higher in recent months.

Built in 1975, the oceanfront home is actually a duplex, with two separate living spaces, each with one bedroom, one bathroom and 750 square feet of living space.

Designed and currently owned by architect William Morgan, the home was, he said, "built to to preserve the ecological setting to the greatest possible extent."

The home is two concrete shells dug into the sand dune, "like giant sea shells in the sand dune," explained Morgan. It was the first time he had built a home completely encased in the earth.

Located in an area that is susceptible to hurricanes and ocean storms, Morgan says the house is "a bomb shelter."

"It would be a good place to go if there was a hurricane," he said. "Inside, you don't hear anything, but you can look out through the sliding glass windows and see the hurricane blowing the waves outside."

Currently each of the apartments in the dune duplex are rented, and whoever purchases the home can continue to use it as investment property, or as a single-family home.

Real estate agent Tansy Moon says the home has garnered lots of interest, but in the end whoever puts an offer down will be a unique buyer.

"It's just really a unique home," she said.

With a 20 percent down payment and a 30-year-loan, this grass dome can be yours for $6,475 a month, according to current mortgage rates.

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The dome duplex entrance is below ground.

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One of the dome's living areas.

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The dome barely peaks up from between the palm trees.

See the full listing here.

Our site is filled with information on homes for sale and apartments for rent, plus we have data on more than 100 million homes in the U.S., so lots of homes catch our eye.

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This Vermont home has several acres of landscaped gardens.

1161 West Rd, Dorset, VT
For Sale: $1,500,000

Why travel all the way to Italy when you can walk out to your backyard? This Dorset home for sale features Italian renaissance-style gardens designed by landscape architect Charles Downing Lay in the 1920s.

The gardens have marble walkways and walls that were added to the property in 1915," said listing agent Sara Buckley. "[They] incorporate a lovely pool with a fountain and peaceful marble tea-house."

This style of garden was first developed in the 15th century in Italy and was copied throughout Europe, leading to the English-style and French renaissance gardens. An Italian Renaissance garden is classified by a grand and symmetrical design and water grottoes, fountains and statues as well as multiple levels.

Landscape architect Charles Downing Lay designed a number of homes' gardens besides this one in Dorset, but he's best known for his work in city parks, particularly New York's Battery Park, Marine Park and Madison Square Park as well as the National Academy of Sciences grounds in Washington D.C.

The home was built in the 1820s from marble quarried on site. The old quarry is still on the property as well as other outbuildings, says Buckley.

Another historical part of the property is the dining room that have "feathered edge (no nails) paneling from a tavern said to be frequented by Ethan Allen," Buckley said.

Although the gardens are undoubtedly the focal point of the property, the home is nothing to sneer at. The 8-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom home has over 6,000 square feet of living space.

The property was first listed for sale on the Dorset real estate market for $2,495,000 but recently had a significant price cut, dropping down $995,000 to $1.5 million. Located in southwest Vermont, Buckley says Dorset, is "quintessential Vermont – picture perfect town with stunning natural beauty and endless outdoor activities." Much of the properties are historic, keeping median Dorset list prices on the higher side at $575,000.

Even with a price cut and low interest rates for mortgages, a monthly payment for this home is almost $6,000, hitting at $5,738 with a 30-year-fixed mortgage and 20 percent down according to Zillow Mortgage Marketplace.

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A fountain from 1915 is featured in one portion of the gardens.

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Italian Renaissance gardens are characterized by levels and symmetry.

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The interior of the home recalls the home's 1820s construction date.

See more photos of the home here.

The Zillow web site is filled with information on homes for sale and apartments for rent. We have data on more than 100 million homes in the U.S., so lots of properties catch our eye.

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The home was built in 1815.

By Zillow

260 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
For sale: $3,199,000

Before Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was married to John F. Kennedy and forever linked to American politics and history (as well as American style), she was Jackie Bouvier, from a family connected to Napoleon-era France.

A piece of that family recently hit the Philadelphia real estate market for $3.199 million. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' great-great grandfather, Michel Bouvier, lived in the home after it was built in 1850. Michel Bouvier was a cabinetmaker and left France after the defeat of Napoleon in 1815. In Philadelphia he opened a cabinet and furniture shop where he made items for Napoleon's brother, Joseph Bonaparte.

Later, Michel Bouvier established himself in real estate speculation and the family fortune was further grown.

The Society Hill home is an Italianate-style house with over 8,000 square feet of living space. The 6-bedroom, 6.5-bath home retains much of its historic charm, but was completely renovated in 2009, giving the interior a modern and contemporary feel with clean lines and open spaces.

The living room boasts 13-foot-high ceilings and a massive floor-to-ceiling limestone fireplace. French doors open out to a mahogany deck with views of the Philadelphia skyline. The kitchen, as well as the bathrooms, all have new fixtures and finishes. The kitchen also features stainless steel appliances and no hint of the 19th century cook stove that would have been there when the home was constructed.

The second-floor master suite has walk-in closets, a fireplace and spa-like bathroom with Japanese soaking tub. The rest of the second floor holds a library with enough room for thousands of books.

Other features of the Bouvier home include an elevator with access to the upper three floors, a nanny or guest suite with separate entrance from street, exercise room, and sauna.

With current low mortgage rates, and 20 percent down on a traditional 30-year fixed loan, the home payment of this piece of history will be $12,152 a month.

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The kitchen has been completely redone in a contemporary style.

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The living room is dominated by a floor-to-ceiling fireplace.

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Built-in bookcases in the library have room for thousands of books.

See more photos of the home here.

The Zillow web site is filled with information on homes for sale and apartments for rent. We have data on more than 100 million homes in the U.S., so lots of properties catch our eye.