"Wayne Boatwright" wrote... For myself, I would only buy a new home
You must be joking, Wayne. New houses these days are notorious for being just that---problems, issues, and over-priced cheap crappola. As my researching niece said, "Buy only after 10 years old. Then, someone else has dealt (or not) with all the shoddy so-called workmanship." I cannot believe the garbage in the $500K houses in the TC (MN). Since Phoenix is probably more expensive, well ...
As to all-electric, here in the northern climes, well, it just isn't efficient or reliable or a very sane choice (and a large portion of Texas, and for that matter, northern Arizona, falls into that neighborhood). In Arizona, the electricity goes, gas just ain't going to air-condition the house, now is it. In the north, on the other hand, gas appliances-heating give you options when the electricity goes out and it's colder than hell outside. If it's -10 degrees and the electricity goes out, one does NOT fire up the grill in the back yard---it never gets hot enough to cook. On the other hand, if one has a gas stove, one can cook and warm up at least one room in the house.
Pam
