We are selling our house in nine months. Our old laminate kitchen countertops are damaged and must go. I found someone who will install a new kitchen countertop using large (13x13) stone looking ceramic tiles with a decorative backsplash for the same price I was quoted for replacing the countertop with laminate. My question is which countertop should I have installed for resale value? I cannot afford granite or other solid surfaces at this time.
Thanks to those who have answered my question. I think I will look a little closer at the laminate countertops and see what they have now.

I have looked at granite tile. It is indeed cheaper than a slab of granite and looks nice but is still over my budget.

I have installed granite counters and kept the ceramic tile backsplash in place. There is now an approx .5 inch gap between counter and bottom of backsplash tile. A friend has suggested that I use construction adhesive and add a decorative border over the existing tile. I would use a deco border with a finished edge on top. Is this something people do and what are the drawbacks, if any of doing this? Will it hold?