10 Hidden Costs of Buying a Home

With existing home sales rising 24.7% month-over-month, and 8.7% year-over-year in July, home buying and de-urbanization have been on my mind. Is it on yours? Are you joining the permanent-to-long-term remote based working ranks and need some more space for your home office? Are you looking to get out of the city and get some extra square footage by pulling the trigger on a home purchase? Or none of that, and just looking to buy your first home? Well, this is for you!

Buying a house is, and ought, to be exciting. After-all, it could be your #foreverhome. But, it’s also important to be realistic about what you should expect to pay. Beyond mortgage and insurance, there are additional costs all new homeowners need to factor into their short-term and long-term budgets. 

So, before you go too far down your homebuying journey, there are some things to consider (10 to be exact) that every new homebuyer should be aware of when it comes to purchasing their next home. 

Cost #1: Property Taxes

Some lenders may roll your property taxes in with your mortgage, meaning they can be easy to forget about. But, you still need to account for them in your budget. Property taxes may be of little concern in some areas, and a huge expense in others. Do some digging into what you can expect to pay when moving to a new area - as this could be a deciding factor when relocating.

In some cases, property owners may be hit with a supplemental property tax bill at the end of their first year of ownership. This would happen if the county determines your house was undervalued at the time of sale and you’re responsible for making up the tax difference in it’s new appraised value.

Cost #2: Closing Costs

Closing costs includes a wide range of fees that are paid at the end of a real estate transaction. While this isn’t a comprehensive list, you can expect to pay fees including:

• Cost of inspection
• Lawyer fees
• Recording costs
• Appraisal fees
• Document fees
• Surveyance fee
• Title cost 
• Sales brokerage commission
• Mortgage applications
• Home warranty

Make sure to ask your realtor to go over what will be included in the closing costs to avoid any unpleasant surprises. 

Cost #3: Earnest Money

Almost like a security deposit, earnest money is what you put down upfront before even filling out paperwork - it's meant to prove your seriousness in purchasing the property. Like a security deposit, you will get your earnest money back if the transaction goes through. If you end up backing out of the deal, there’s a chance you may not get that money back. This should be clear in any contract you sign.

Earnest money can run anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to a thousand or more.

Cost #4: Paying for the Escrow

It’s common that buyers will be asked to pay for their escrow account upfront to cover expenses like property taxes and insurance. Some lenders will require that extra money remains in the account, making escrow an important part of the homebuying budget.

Cost #5: Homeowner’s Insurance

Similar to property taxes, homeowners insurance may be included in your monthly mortgage rate. And while they may be lumped in with other expenses, it’s important to remember it’s there - and that there’s a possibility it could go up or down depending on your coverage needs.

Cost #6: School Taxes

School taxes will differ depending on the district. If you have school-age children, you may be happy to pay more in school taxes if it means a quality education for your child. If you do not have children in or heading to school, you may want to pay close attention to what school taxes you will be expected to pay. Depending on the area, it could vary quite a bit from district to district. This may be a factor in determining where you’re willing to move.

Cost #7: Interest Rates

Interest rates are almost always unavoidable. But remember, having a good credit rating will likely result in a lower interest rate - which could save you big over time.

Cost #8: Moving Costs

Moving vans aren’t cheap - not to mention the boxes, packing supplies, time off work and labor (if hiring a company). 

Account for these expenses in your home buying costs, especially if you’re making a long-distance move. Typically the farther away the move, the more costly it’ll be.

Cost #9: Utilities

Remember to account for what utilities you’ll be paying for, especially if you’re moving into a bigger place:

• Electricity
• Gas
• Sewer
• Water
• Cable & internet

The installation of these services can start to really add up. Make sure you’re aware of the costs ahead of time. 

Cost #10: Home Maintenance and Repairs

Home repairs or renovations are almost inevitable, especially if you are purchasing an older home. If you know you’ll want to get in there and start renovating as soon as you get the keys, you won’t have much time to save after closing the deal. Remember to account for the cost of renovating your new home when building out your budget. If you aren’t planning on doing repairs or renovations right away, start building up an emergency fund to prepare for any unexpected home repair costs later down the line.

It can seem daunting, adding up all of the hidden costs of buying a home to truly understand what you can afford and how it affects your entire financial circumstance. However, facing the numbers head-on can help you, and your financial advisor better prepare for what’s to come in the next chapter of your life. 

If you are looking for help in deciphering how becoming a homeowner fits into your financial picture, I would be glad to help out. Please do not hesitate to reach out! You can contact me directly through my contact information below, or book an initial conversation through my "Schedule a Call" feature.

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Matt Faubion, CFP®

Founder - Wealth Manager