To answer your other questions, yes, we do have a well, the well is 420 feet, but the water level is at 120 feet. We've factored in the cost to run the well.
We plan on 'regular' Energy Star rated appliances (not the ones that run on just solar, at 12-volt, or the ones that are super-duper insulated).
Our nearest neighbor has 3 trackers, and a 12-battery array. Their house is 4000 sq ft, and is rammed earth construction. They have normal applicances, two computers, a wine cellar, a swamp cooler, a large-screen TV.... in other words, all the comforts. Their system cost $65K 3 years ago. We've talked with the designer of their system, and he indicated that they went way above what was necessary and that they have a premium system. During the summer, their battery array is full by 10am, and in the winter, the backup generator runs about an hour a day.
Our house will be smaller (about 3000 sq ft), but a more normal construction. But we'll have a 10 ft covered deck, so the sun doesn't heat up the house in the summer, and a basement under the living room. We're planning on radiant heat under the floors for the couple of months in the winter that we need it.
I guess one factor that I should mention is that we're in Central California, which is a mild climate. Summers have a week of really hot (100 degree) weather, but other than that, it's not usually hotter than the low 90's, and it's dry. We have a great breeze. The winters are mild - it's snowed once in the last 75 years. We have an occasional frost during the coldest months.
We expect we'll run the heater for maybe 2 months out of the year, and only for a few hours. Same thing for whatever cooling we use.