The Hidden Cost of Homeownership

The Hidden Costs of Homeownership

By Emily Doxtator at comsumeradvocate.org

Before you jump at the substantial opportunity the real estate and financial markets may present you with right now, take a step back and consider all the costs of homeownership. There are many expenses—like one-time versus ongoing costs—to take into account when figuring your homebuying budget. Many first-time homebuyers overlook these costs, so we’ve put together a list of some of the larger ones you may be missing in your budget calculations.    

Homeowner’s insurance

Homeowner’s insurance generally falls into two categories: property damage and liability. Property damage insurance protects the investment you’ve made in your home in the case of unexpected events like fire or natural disasters. It also provides coverage for your belongings, for example in the event you are burglarized. Liability insurance, on the other hand, protects people who may be injured while visiting your property.

When you borrow any amount of money to buy a home, your mortgage lender will insist that you purchase homeowner’s insurance that’s sufficient to cover the amount of your loan. While lenders mandate homeowner’s insurance to protect themselves, the best homeowner’s insurance policy will also protect your financial interests. 

When purchasing a homeowner’s policy, it’s important to pay close attention to the coverage limits selected. While your mortgage lender may only oblige you to purchase the minimum coverage required to protect its own investment in your home, it’s wise to elect coverage that far exceeds the amount remaining on your loan. With every dollar you pay against the principal of your mortgage, the need for robust liability coverage increases. A serious accident on your property could make you liable for thousands, or even millions, of dollars. Taking a more altruistic view, your homeowner’s policy ensures that a visitor who is injured on your property will be compensated for medical and other costs arising from the accident. And that visitor might even be someone you love very much. 

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

Private lenders will typically require you to carry Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) for the entire length of time that you have less than 20% equity in your home. The amount you pay for PMI is determined by your PMI interest rate (usually somewhere between .55% and 2.25%), the amount of you borrow to buy your home, and your home’s value. For that reason, we can’t estimate how much PMI will add to your monthly costs. But finding out is imperative when creating a monthly budget. 

Real estate taxes

Real estate taxes are a given, no matter where in the US you live. Communities depend on real estate taxes to fund indispensable services, from education to police and fire protection. If you love your neighborhood playground and public library, you can thank real estate taxes for those, too. Real estate taxes in California are based largely on the purchase price of real property. 

Unlike the other expenses we have mentioned, the real estate tax on any home is relatively easy to estimate, by looking at previous tax records. But bear in mind that the government periodically re-evaluates a home’s appraised value and your tax rate may go up or down each year. By the same token, property tax rates are subject to change. Real estate tax is often collected in monthly increments by your lender (who in turn pays the government) along with your other mortgage expenses. The same may be true of your homeowner’s insurance premium.

 Maintaining your home and its value

Paint peeling, failing furnaces, and leaky roofs are inevitable in homeownership. Depending on the age and condition of the home you buy, you can expect to spend a significant sum on home maintenance each year. And you should spend it. Taking care of repairs in a timely manner not only keeps your home safe, it also maintains its value. Over time, as you build equity, your home may likely become your largest asset. And that’s something worth protecting, indeed.