I don’t know about you, but I can barely wrap my head around the idea of making some plastic trinket with 3-D printing, much less turning out a whole home! But it’s happening. The country’s first 15 home Community of 3-D printed homes will be built in Rancho Mirage, CA and are scheduled for completion by next spring.

The project is a collaboration between Beverly Hills green homes developer Palari and Oakland based housing technology company Mighty Buildings. According to the LA Times, each of the 15 homes will be 1450 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on 10,000 square foot lots, complete with a swimming pool and deck (it is the desert after all!).

Homes went on the market for pre-sale in February for $595,000 and quickly sold out. Millennials are cited as the primary buyers and it was noted that two of the buyers made their deposits in Bitcoin. A few of the properties will also have an additional 2 bedroom 1 bath ADU and sell for $850,000.

Why This is so Cool

Cost effective material. Mighty Buildings has created a proprietary material called Light Stone Material. This is a synthetic stone that hardens with exposure to UV light. It is formed by 3-D printer robots into panels for assembly on site. Because of its light weight, transportation costs are less, and being manufactured by robots construction costs and waste expenses are greatly reduced compared to a traditional wood framed home.

Shortened build time. The developer will work on roads and foundations while panels are being printed. The homes will take only one month to install on site, compared to three to six months using traditional building techniques.

More affordable housing. Especially since the Pandemic, the desire for single family homes has risen across the country and prices have become out of reach in many areas. There has also been a rise in recent years in the demand for ADUs. Mighty Buildings has nine move-in ready models ranging from a studio with prices starting at $186,750 to 1 bedroom, 1 bath homes starting at $221,500 and on up to the 3 bedroom homes planned for Rancho Mirage.

Obviously, one needs a plot of land, but apparently Mighty Buildings takes care of foundation, permits, utilities and interior finishes like kitchen and bathrooms. I’m sure there are other companies exploring this opportunity, and I have no vested interest in this company but just had to share as I find it fascinating. I can’t predict where this will lead but I think 3-D printing for home construction could be one of the biggest innovations in housing we have seen in decades.

Photos courtesy of Mighty Buildings and the LA Times