Hidden Costs First-Time Home Buyers Must Know

Are you a first-time home buyer? If so, it’s crucial to be aware of the hidden costs that can significantly impact your budget.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the key topics related to “Hidden Costs First-Time Home Buyers Must Know.” From pre-approval fees and closing costs to home inspection fees and ongoing maintenance expenses, we’ll shed light on the often overlooked expenses that can catch you off guard.

• Pre-approval Fees
• Homeowners insurance
• Home Inspector Fees
• Closings Costs
• Maintenance Fees

By understanding these costs, you can make informed financial decisions and protect your pockets throughout your home buying journey. Don’t let unexpected fees strain your budget—take control of your finances and ensure a confident start to homeownership. Enter your zip code now to compare rates from the best insurance providers and secure your financial well-being.

The Hidden Cost of Pre-Approval Fees

When you have a general idea of what you’re willing to spend on a house, it’s important to get a mortgage pre-approval letter from a lender. This is typically your first step in the home buying process because it helps you do two main things.

• It increases your odds of finding a realtor
• It makes you appealing to sellers because they know your offer will be legitimate

Getting pre-approved from your lender is like proving to the bank you are in a financially good spot to take out a mortgage. Your lender will go over your credit score, verify your income, and check out your DTI (debt-to-income) ratio to determine the likelihood you will make payments faithfully.

It’s smart to visit a few different banks to get a feel for which lender can most closely meet your needs.

Buying a house is a big decision. You’ll want to make sure you are choosing a lender that meets your needs best. Start by comparing different mortgage lenders.

Cost: If you get pre-approved expect to pay about $200—$400 to your lender for the application, but some banks do not charge anything.

The Hidden Cost of Homeowners Insurance

When you purchase your first home you’ll be required to get homeowners insurance. Basic homeowners insurance will help you financially protect your home when costly accidents and dangers arise.

Homeowners insurance works similarly to car insurance or life insurance. You pay a monthly or annual premium, plus a deductible when house damage fees arise.

However, you don’t get a monthly bill as you do for car insurance. Instead, it’s tagged on to your mortgage statement since your bank technically “owns” the home. So your insurance payment is part of your mortgage payment.

Homeowners insurance is tricky to put a price on because it is so customizable. For example, you can choose to pay a lower premium with a higher deductible versus paying a higher premium with a lower deductible.

Those who opt to pay a higher homeowners insurance premium will typically save money in the long run.

However, not every family can afford to pay a higher monthly/annual premium, hence the need for alternative options.

In addition, homeowners insurance varies by the type of house as well as the state that you reside in. Also impacting your premium are the results of a 4-point home insurance inspection. To help you comparison shop for the best rates, check out this homeowners insurance tool.

Cost: As a general estimate, the average annual premium cost for homeowners insurance is around $1,200 annually. Plus you’ll pay a deductible fee on a case by case basis.

The Hidden Cost of Home Inspection Fees

Even though you may be in love with a house, it is important to get it inspected by a professional before you sign the dotted line. Home inspections should either persuade you to move on from a house or commit to it.

You may want to move on from a house if the inspection raises red flags that could end up costing you a lot of money in repair fees down the road.

You may be tempted to overlook that old roof now, but when the next heavy rainstorm comes in, you may find yourself spending thousands of dollars repairing the roof on your new home.

On the other hand, the inspection may show the house is perfectly fine. You may have reassurance there are no hidden dangers or money pits lurking beyond what you originally saw.

Cost: Home inspection fees can range anywhere from $200—$400 depending on the size of the home and will ultimately give you peace of mind on your decision to either purchase or walk away.

The Hidden Cost of Closings Costs

Closing costs complete the financial and legal transactions for your new home. They’re the costs of all the services and documentation needed to close the deal on your home to make it legally yours. Some of the items included in closing costs are:

• Appraisal fees
• Title insurance
• Title searches
• Deed-recording fees
• Credit reports
• Taxes

What is great about closing costs is that it is not always the buyer who is expected to pay these fees. Closing costs can fall on the buyer, the seller, or both, depending on the circumstances.

For example, if a person is trying to sell their home quickly, buyers often negotiate and ask the seller to cover closing costs in exchange for a quick home sell. Either way, it is wise to keep in mind that you could be needing a few extra thousand dollars to secure your new home.

Cost: On average, closing costs will typically be approximately two to five percent of the home’s value.

The Hidden Cost of Maintenance and Upkeep

Whether you’ve purchased an existing home on the market, or you’ve built a new one, there’s no doubt about it — you’re making a sizeable investment. But it doesn’t end there.

When you invest in a home, you become responsible for everything on your property. You’re responsible for keeping up with the general maintenance of your home, including landscaping fees, updating appliances, weather damages, etc.

Think of your house’s potential annual maintenance cost. This can help you make an accurate decision of what you can truly afford, or what might be a stretch.

Those houses with pools and a luscious garden may be beautiful, but can you afford the extra $2000 in annual maintenance?

You should note that maintenance fees can be significantly reduced if you choose, or are capable of handling certain repairs and upkeep services on your own.

Cost: It is typical that you will spend about one to two percent of the value of your home to cover home maintenance fees each year. It’ll all depend on what you hire out and what you can DIY.