A new study by Realtor.com®, powered by Pearl SCORE™ data, quantifies how home performance shapes the true cost of homeownership, revealing that buyers of newly built homes can save an average of $25,335 over the first 10 years compared to buyers of 20-year-old homes. The savings stem from fewer surprise repairs, better safety and comfort, and lower operating costs. The full report is available at Realtor.com research.
Realtor.com is introducing an interactive total cost-of-ownership experience on new construction listings, providing personalized 10-year savings estimates. This tool, powered by Pearl SCORE data, helps buyers understand future utility, maintenance, and replacement costs before making a purchase decision. Robin LeBaron, Pearl's President of Standards and Policy, noted, "All homeowners want to know what a home will actually cost to live in. Pearl built the dataset that makes that possible."
The analysis found that savings vary by geography, climate, and building standards. New England states lead in long-term savings, with Massachusetts ranking highest at nearly $39,000 over 10 years due to stricter building codes and energy efficiency demands. The research identified 16 metropolitan areas, including San Diego, Salt Lake City, and San Antonio, where savings from new construction fully offset upfront price premiums.
Pearl SCORE rates every U.S. single-family home across five performance pillars: Safety, Comfort, Operations, Resilience, and Energy. These ratings are available free at pearlscore.com. Tim Stanislaus, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Pearl, stated, "Our team has built the industry’s richest home performance dataset. We’re thrilled to have Realtor.com introduce Pearl to US homebuyers."
The study underscores how home performance shapes the true cost of ownership, helping buyers make informed decisions. For more information on Pearl SCORE, visit pearlscore.com.
