If you own land, or are able to purchase a buildable lot, there are many opportunities for building your own home. Generally called “factory-built homes,” most of the work is completed in a climate-controlled manufacturing facility. Delivery and completion timetables let homebuyers move into their new home much sooner than with a traditional “stick-built” home.…

You can finance energy improvements with your mortgage with programs from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, and Rural Housing. Also, most state-chartered housing finance agencies offer “green mortgage” programs and incentives for refinancing or new purchases. Mortgage qualifying rules for energy-efficient homes have been expanded by mortgage agencies due to the potential savings in…