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In our latest white paper, “Redefining Cost: A Beacon of Hope Shines through Housing Market Gloom”, we explore what is likely to be the silver lining of the housing market collapse: a shift toward thinking of housing costs in real monthly terms, terms that will most often favor green homes.  The recent turmoil in the housing market and the economy in general has opened Americans’ eyes to the flaws in our traditional way of evaluating the cost of a home.  Except in rare cases in which a buyer can pay cash upfront, one of the least relevant numbers to consider during the buying process is that of a house’s cost in dollars per square foot.

Fortunately, we are beginning to appreciate that the real cost of a home is not revealed in its sticker price but in the combined monthly costs of ownership, including mortgage payments, utility bills, property taxes, and insurance premiums. As we come to understand the important difference between upfront and monthly cost, a change in the way we discuss housing expenses is almost certainly on the horizon, a change that will establish monthly cost as synonymous with true cost. The positive impact of that change will be twofold. First, homeowners will be less likely to find themselves living in homes they cannot afford. Secondly, buyers will be able to see that despite the premium attached to its sticker price, a green home is likely to be more affordable than a conventional home in the long-term.

Download and read the whole white paper to find out why:

Redefining Cost: A Beacon of Hope Shines through Housing Market Gloom.