a new roof--a bit of a tangent

[Account Closed]

for you folks who actually know:
My own 3/2 house of about 1200sq' is in a lower to mid-middle class hoa subdivision. I like everything about it, but would sell if I could get the money out I need to purchase someplace else, and after having actively been looking for about 2 years, have cooled on _that_ along with the economy.
The roof and the evaporative cooler on my own house need replaced, and of course people have varying opinions, from next spring to two years from now.
The cooler _may_ last to the end of this season, may make it one, or even two more seasons. Same with the composition shingle roof.

I do not have any idea of how long I'll stay in this house.
If I replace only the cooler in February, There is risk of further damage to the roof shingles in that area, which may/may not foster leak problems during the rainy season.

A roofer will come out soon to give me an estimate on both a composition shingle and a stone coated steel roof. The steel roof, more expensive by about 25%, has a 50 year guarantee, and the guarantee goes with the house, is not pro-rated. He also said with the roof I'm interested in, it would be okay to put a swamp cooler on it.

This subdivision is more transient, I think, with numerous resales over the years.
Is it worth it to go to the added expense of the better roof? Will a buyer understand that not only will _he_ not have to re-roof, but that the roof is good for 50 years, and he can pass that value on whe HE sells?
Can I add that added cost on to the price, will I make my money back at sale time? Will prospective buyers go for that additional cost, when a similar house down the street is less money?

All thoughts gratefully aaccepted.
ofgift