Employing advanced energy-efficiency technologies, renewable energy systems, and cost optimization approaches, the transition to near-net zero energy (near-NZE) houses represents an important step toward more sustainable construction. This study appropriately utilizes BEopt software for modeling and designing near-NZE single-family homes, focusing on cost-effectiveness and sustainability. BEopt is highly capable of analyzing energy efficiency measures, renewable energy deployment, and economic trade-offs in residential buildings. The study analyzes design approaches for purely electric and hybrid energy homes across different climatic zones, considering rooftop solar photovoltaic installations and battery storage. Time-of-use energy valuation is incorporated to assess its impact on operational cost-effectiveness and energy performance. By implementing various scenarios, BEopt helps identify life cycle cost-optimal designs that minimize energy consumption and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The optimized model predicts an annual electricity consumption of 24.31 kWh and a gas usage of 1.6 MBtu, demonstrating better performance than standard Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) benchmarks. Future work includes refining energy-efficient and economical designs to promote sustainability and energy independence.