900k decision on new construction, need your feedback please

[Pavel Sakurets]

Hi all. Would like to get your feedback: I'm building a house in Edina MN starting in 2 weeks, it will sell b/n 900k-1m

All houses that are new construction in this neighborhood have two car detached or attached garage. I was planning to build like everybody else (2 car detached or 2 car attached) but my architect says that he would rather choose a house that is not super good looking from the front, because it will have 3 car garage, than building a better looking house with 2 cars garage. Please share your opinion and respond:

 2-which means 2 car garage or 3-which means 3 car garage.

Also how would you pay 43k more for the house to implement energy efficient improvements if the payback period for these improvements is 12 years or less.

See, most builders in that area build to code, which is the minimum standard of construction, and this house will bit the code by at least 200%

[Keith Bloemendaal]

I hate to say this, but I lost $20k in profit on my first build trying to build energy efficient. Waste of money and my home(s) would sell without it...