What is affordability really?

We can probably agree: cost is the most important concern for everyone involved in building and buying a home. New technologies not only change the way people build and live in homes, but they also directly affect costs. PATH-profiled technologies can reduce the cost of building or remodeling a home. They can reduce maintenance costs. They can reduce insurance premiums.

Then again, a house built with a strong package of advanced technologies could be as much as 5 percent more expensive than an average house. A bad deal?

Look again. You can still come out a winner even with a higher mortgage, as your gains in energy savings reduce your total monthly out-of-pocket expenses. As a bonus, your efficient home will be far more attractive in the resale market. How smart is that?

(Pretty smart.)

Content updated on 2/27/2007