Affordability of Homes in Ecovillages, Cohousing or Intentional Communities

Why do we have a survey?

The survey is a research tool that is compiled, then guides us in: 
1. Planning meeting locations.
2. Seeking land for future ecovillages.
3. Knowing what people seek in their own personal lives and ideal communities.

It also adds you to our mailing list for information regarding ecovillage/cohousing in the DFW area and invitations to our meetings.

Please fill out the survey here. It is quickly done. Thank you.

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How much does it cost--OR--Can I afford it?

Those seem to be everyone's first questions and understandably so.

The truth is that no one can answer that question until they know many details of your new home and even where that new home will be located.

Why?

1. A large portion of the cost is determined by the land cost.

2. Choice of materials will influence the cost, sometimes only because it is a new or unknown material.

3. Some features cost more.

For example, the most expensive rooms in your home will probably be the bathrooms and the kitchen. That cost will vary depending upon the fixtures and appliances you choose as well as the flooring, lighting, cabinets, and wall coverings chosen. 

In fact, the entire house will go up or down in cost depending upon the flooring, lighting, and wall coverings you choose.

Everything else being equal:

1. The cost per square foot of a small home will be higher than the cost per square foot of a larger home. The cost of expensive items such as the heating and air-conditioning system, the baths, the kitchen are spread over more square footage in a larger home.

2. It generally costs less per square foot to build a two-story home than a one story--less roof and foundation plus a more compact ventilation and plumbing system in a two-story home.

3. Design makes a difference, too. Homes that have a rectangular or box shape cost less to build per square foot. Angles and corners can increase the amount of labor and materials needed to build your home. Vaulted ceilings and high roof pitches are also examples of features that will be more expensive. 

There are other variables:

1. Once the home is constructed and you are ready to close, financing and closing costs kick in. The mortgage you have on your home will determine your monthly payment. In addition to the dollar amount of the loan, monthly payments depend upon the interest rate and the length of loan repayment. An energy-efficient home may qualify for an energy-efficient mortgage, allowing you to borrow more.

2. Expenses after you move in vary with utilities. It seems that natural gas prices are rocketing and electricity demand is soaring. For that reason, or maybe just general utility company greed,  Dallas-Fort Worth has seen its share of rising utility rates. That is one reason it is so important to build an energy-efficient, passive-solar home and to choose a builder who can do this well.

3. Maintenance cost of your new home and yard will vary, too, depending upon the materials chosen and the expertise and reliability of your builder/architect/landscaper.

As frustrating as it is to a new homeowner, no one can give you a quick answer for affordability. 

 

 

 

Questions? Please come to our next introductory meeting. In the meantime, call metro 972 251-1532 for answers. 

Next Ecovillage Meetings

General information about meetings here and here

Please call 972 251-1532 or 817 545-0140 for locations.

Please fill out the short survey here for an invitation to speaker/special meetings. Thank you.

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