Chas wrote:
I recently learned that our local (Charlotte, NC) Habitat for Humanity has
purchased land on which to place homes.

I am curious as what effect (if any) this would have on home values in the
immediate area.

If H-F-H builds out of concrete sandwich (3-D Panel, Tridipanel, or other
encapsulated insulation system), the new "frugal" homes will be more
durable, low maintenance, and a higher quality than the pre-existing homes.
That may definitely hurt your resale value, when the po' folk live in
better houses.

H-F-H built some homes that Hurricane Andrew couldn't bust up, while
$,$$$,$$$ luxury homes were turned into toothpicks.

From http://www.penasco.com/newhom.html

" Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is using Tridipanels to build homes in
the Habitat for Humanity program. 14 houses were built in a week, using it.

" Tridipanel buildings survived Hurricane Andrew in Florida ... "

From http://www.threedee.co.nz/real.html

" One group of new houses that came through the storm virtually unscathed
was built in 1991 by Habitat for Humanity, the international volunteer
organization whose best-known house builder is former president Jimmy
Carter. The habitat dwellings were all constructed using a new process
involving prefabricated polystyrene and wire panels sprayed with concrete.
All 14 houses built in Liberty City in North Miami were structurally
intact. And so was the house of Irma Cordero of Homestead, the site of the
worst destruction."

Here's an article about H-F-H using their own process for making sandwich
walls (thus saving on buying premade panels) :
http://concreteproducts.com/ar/concr...habitat_homes/

" Project officials note that concrete homes are 66 percent quieter than
comparable wood frame units and can save owners up to 44 percent on energy
bills ? two benefits that make concrete homes a solid investment for any
family."