This first series is the first DVD player. High end, priced at a premium and for early adopters. It'll help us push the edge of our product and fund development of tech/engineering that pushes future price down.
We should be able to launch homes in the $225K range next year that can be built spec and start helping that average family. That is no easy task and nothing else is commonly available anywhere. The early adopters will pave the way for everyone else, just like the Roadster and Model S is doing for the Model 3 and spurring on the rest of the industry to pay attention.
Currently Net-Zero homes start around $250/sqft, with many that push well above that. We aren't really targeting the mid west, where this does tip the scales (we are originally from Kansas City, so appropriate the gap). In major metros in CA, OR, CO, WA, etc, this is actually a good deal for a normal home and a steal for a turn key zero energy home. Our current home in Redwood City, CA is zillowed at $1.6M and would be $220K in KC. It's all relative.
I'll disagree on the resale. The principal of the home is based on passive heating/cooling, good design and great materials, so performs well regardless. Solar will last 30, quality is significantly better than par and even the software can be updated.
Keep posted, we will have a model home available via AirBnB late summer and you can see how truly different (better) these homes are. By the time you are ready to buy, we should also have our next series available.