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Hidden Costs Of Owning A Home
The Complete Home Buyer's Guide to Success
The Hidden Costs of Owning a Home
Though the perks are many, watch out for these extra expenses
Relatively low mortgage rates and soft prices in some residential real estate markets are creating renewed interest in home ownership, especially among young people who are tired of seeing their rent costs rise every year and like the idea of having equity—an ownership stake—in the place where they live.
A residence can indeed be a valuable asset and a path to a greater financial future. However, novice buyers may be shocked by the bite home ownership can take out of their wallet: In addition to their mortgage payments, the true cost of owning property involves a multitude of hidden expenses. Let's look at the most common, and how to deal with them.
The first three hidden costs are strictly financial; the rest add to money woes the extra stress of home maintenance and repair.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Though home ownership has many perks, there are some extra and unexpected expenses to watch out for.
- Some costs are strictly financial and beyond your control to a large extent: property taxes and HOA fees.
- Homeowners insurance can cost more than you expect if you live in a natural-disaster–prone area.
- The most costly part of home ownership typically relates to upkeep and repairs of the roof; the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems; the grounds; and prevention of mold and termite damage.
Property Taxes
As a homeowner, you'll need to pay property taxes, a monthly or quarterly fee to the town and/or the municipality in which you reside. It's not the bank that determines the property tax, it's the township, city, or county in which the home is located. An ad valorem levy, assessed according to the value of your residence, a property tax payment can easily total $500 to $1,000 or more a month, particularly in the northeast United States, where real estate values have soared in recent years.
Property tax is basically a guaranteed annuity in perpetuity at the homeowner's expense. Although you don't have much say in how much it is, as with any tax, strategies exist for lowering it.
HOA and Condo Fees
If you buy a residence within a homeowners' association or a condominium association, you'll be required to pay a monthly or quarterly fee. This charge often includes costs for things that benefit the entire neighborhood, like garbage collection or snow plowing, if your association has contracted with a private company to perform these services. These fees can rise, or your association may need to charge a special assessment for projects such as repaving the parking lot, installing a new security system, or revamping common areas or buildings.
Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance may not be that unexpected an expense: Banks and mortgage companies often require it before issuing you a loan, and the premiums may even be included in your mortgage payments (if your lender helped you obtain the policy). Bear in mind that premiums can and often do, rise annually—or if you increase coverage to reflect the rising value of your property or possessions (which you should periodically do).
What can also afford a nasty surprise: What your policy doesn't include. Typically, homeowners insurance does not cover "acts of God," meaning that you will need to purchase extra coverage against disasters like floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Even water damage from storms is very rarely covered in a basic homeowner's policy.
Unfortunately, this extra insurance can be expensive or have an unusually high deductible. For example, separate flood insurance typically costs between $1,000 and $4,000 per year over and above the $500 to $1,000 a year that most homeowners typically spend on their basic home policies.
The Roof
Water is your home's biggest enemy, and one of the roof's primary jobs is to keep water out. A leaky roof can cause cosmetic damage to the inside of a home and, depending on how severe the leak is, destroy the belongings inside, cause health problems and structural issues.
Roof damage usually results when the asphalt shingles (the most common roofing material in the U.S.) become loose, cracked, blown off by the wind or damaged by hail. The nails that fasten them to the roof could also raise, allowing water to get underneath and into your home if any part of the shingles or roof had been poorly installed in the first place. Asphalt shingles also have varying expected maximum life spans, depending on the quality of the shingle. Under normal circumstances, the roof will need replacement once at least every 20 years. However, roofs have varying life spans, depending on the type of shingle used, installation quality, climate, and weather.
The Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System
Because of its complexity, your home's HVAC system—which controls heat, cooling, and the circulation of air throughout the residence—is not something you'll be able to inspect, repair or replace yourself. Unless you're an HVAC professional, you should be prepared to hire one from time to time.
You'll probably need to buy new units at some point, as the existing ones wear out over time. Replacing the furnace and air conditioner filters frequently helps keeps the machines running efficiently. Homeowners with gas furnaces should have them inspected once a year. In many areas, this service is provided at no charge.
The Electrical System
Arc faults, faulty wiring, and electrical shorts cause a fair number of electrical fires that burn down homes. All homeowners should have a basic understanding of how electrical systems work to keep homes and families safe, but should also understand the limitations of their skills. Why risk electrocution or damage save a few bucks? Whenever there's a systemic problem, or you're doing significant rehab work, call in the pros—trusted, trained and licensed electricians to make sure things are installed properly and according to current codes and safety standards.
Plumbing
Small plumbing problems (like clogged drains) happen from time to time no matter where you live, and they aren't a big deal to fix with basic plumbing knowledge.
Some older homes present larger problems when it comes to plumbing, though. These homes often contain galvanized iron water pipes, which become clogged with mineral deposits over time and gradually reducing the water pressure in your home. These pipes cannot be repaired; they have to be replaced. Trust us: You do not want to deal with the issues of frozen or burst pipes after the fact.
Also be sure to research whether your water could be contaminated with lead related to your plumbing. Sometimes the problem is pipes in the home and sometimes it is the pipes from the municipal system to your home.
Termites
Termites are attracted to wood and moisture, and they can get into your house through even the tiniest of cracks. You don't want your home turning to dust right under you.
To prevent expensive structural damage to your home, make sure there is no wood touching the ground near your house (like lumber, firewood, or tree stumps). Prevent any moisture from accumulating around your foundation by making sure the ground slopes away from your house, and hire an exterminator to regularly perform a pest inspection.
Mold
Mold can grow in humid or damp areas and can cause health problems. If your HVAC system is contaminated, you can spread mold throughout your home every time the furnace is running.
Preventing mold problems is a matter of keeping water out and fixing any leaks to eliminate any environments conducive to mold growth. If your home is very humid, an air conditioner or dehumidifier will help prevent mold growth. Mold is not always visible; it can be hidden behind wallpaper, under carpeting and in a variety of other places. Mold can cause allergic or irritating reactions and asthma attacks.
Landscaping and Lawn Care
Whether you handle your yard work yourself or hire a professional, you will have to pay something to keep your landscaping in check. Lawn equipment can be costly and, if you have a lot of acreage, you may need items such as a snowblower or a leaf blower, too.
This isn't just cosmetic. Hanging tree limbs can fall and damage roofs and windows; a plethora of leaves or overgrown plants can clog gutters, impacting drainage and plumbing systems—both yours and your neighbors. Many HOAs require members to maintain the grounds of their homes for these reasons.
The Bottom Line
When most people think about the costs of home ownership, they think only about the monthly mortgage payments on their residences. But there are also property taxes and insurance to consider and budget for. But maintenance and repair costs will eat up their fair share of your (not-so) disposable income, too.
In fact, unexpected repairs—think replacing or repairing the roof, fixing loose tiles in the shower, removing an overgrown or dead tree, or paying for mold mitigation in a damp basement—typically leads to the highest bills. The list of possibilities is endless, so the best thing homeowners can do is to set aside savings for an emergency. Some financial experts suggest budgeting for 1% or 2% of your mortgage balance as a yearly maintenance and repair fund, but the amount you should save depends on the age, condition, and size of your home.
Mortgage lenders won't factor this into their equations when determining a loan amount, but you should. It's a good thing to own your own home—but before you buy, make sure you're prepared for the true cost of your castle.
