Here's How Much Money You Really Need to Buy a House
First-time homebuyers tend to think that buying a house requires coming up with the down payment and being able to afford the monthly mortgage amount. But after closing on a house and spending some time living in it, there are oftentimes hidden costs many homebuyers didn't anticipate.
For example, according to NerdWallet's 2021 Home Buyer Report, 41 percent of those who bought homes in the past 12 months said that affording home repairs and maintenance is one of their biggest financial stressors for the next two years. Even the known costs of homeownership can be more challenging than expected. In the same survey, 28 percent reported that making their monthly mortgage payment was their top financial stressor for the next two years.
In a Porch survey of homebuyer regrets, almost 44 percent of respondents said they regret the loan amount they took out for their home, while 40 percent regret the price of their home. Once homeowners factor in the cost of decorating, maintaining, and fixing up a home, they may wish they opted for a less expensive house or that they had saved more money before buying. To avoid the buyers' remorse on perhaps the biggest purchase of your life, here are some of the additional costs to consider when calculating exactly how much money you need to buy a house.
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Closing Costs
Unless they've been prepped by their realtor, many first-time homebuyers are totally unprepared for closing costs. "Closing costs are generally about 2 percent of the purchase price of the home," explains Yawar Charlie, director of the estates division at Aaron Kirman Group/Compass, and a series regular on CNBC's Listing Impossible.
Closing costs include everything from appraisal costs and attorney fees to homeowners insurance and credit report fees, to application and underwriting fees.
"This can come as a rude awakening to a lot of buyers, because many people think that the purchase price is all they have to worry about, when in fact, closing costs, depending on the purchase price, can add up to tens of thousands of dollars." And Charlie says lenders want to make sure that buyers have these funds in reserve before approving the loan.
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Real Estate Transfer Tax
Most people understand that they have to pay property taxes, but they may not know that they will also have to pay a real estate transfer tax. "It's also known as a conveyance tax, and it occurs whenever there is a transfer of real property," explains Tyler Forte, CEO at Felix Homes in Nashville. "It is imposed by state and local governments, so depending on where you live, you may have to pay a conveyance tax to the state, county, and city." It's a one-time tax, and it is usually a percentage of the property's sales price, but governments may handle this differently. For example, in Tennessee, Forte says the state charges a transfer tax of 0.37 percent.
HOA Transfer Fees
If you're purchasing a home in a subdivision with a Homeowner's Association (HOA), you may be subject to HOA transfer fees. "It's important to read the bylaws to determine if there is an HOA transfer fee, and if so, how much it costs," Forte explains. In most cases, he says the amount ranges from $300 to $500. "This is a one-time payment made to the homeowner's association whenever there is a transfer of ownership of a property." Note: this is different from the monthly HOA fees that you will have to pay, which is another important expense to keep in mind.
Moving Costs
If you haven't moved in a while, you may discover that even the cost of transporting your furniture and other belongings to your new home could be more than you anticipated. "Prices have steadily gone up over the years, and sometimes it can cost you several thousands of dollars to move within the same town," Charlie says. The actual cost will depend on several factors, such as how many items you're moving, how far you're moving, and how much assistance you'll need during the move. However, according to data from Move.org, a full-service move can cost anywhere between $1,200 and $29,000. For the best rate and lowest stress experience, it's a good idea to shop around and get estimates in writing from several different moving companies before you commit to one.
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Start-Up Costs
As soon as you get to the new home, you'll want to change your locks. So you'll need to pay for a locksmith and also the cost of new keys. "You'll have to pay out of pocket sometimes for general start-up costs when you move into a home," Charlie says. A home security system and the cost of hiring someone to install it would also fall into this category.
Changes to Utilities
In addition to deposits for your utilities, be prepared for any possible changes in the amount you pay for them. For example, you may be coming from an apartment complex where it cost a couple of bucks to maintain the complex's trash compactor or haul the trash away. However, you could now be paying $15 or $30 a month for the garbage collection service in your new neighborhood.
Likewise, you may be paying $5 a month for the apartment complex's internet. But once you move into a home, you could be paying $30 to $50 a month—in addition to a router rental fee. Before you think of how much house you want, Elizabeth Dodson, co-founder of HomeZada, recommends considering all of the expenses needed to keep the home running. "You will need to remember utilities like gas, electric, water, sewer, internet or cable access, and any other type of utilities you may have, like a landline phone or a TV service," she advises.
Lawn and Pool Maintenance
Depending on the type of home, you may also have additional costs. For example, if you have a yard, the grass and landscaping will need to be maintained. Either you'll need to purchase a lawnmower and pay for gas to put in it, or you'll need to pay someone to maintain your lawn and yard. Ditto for buying a house with a pool or hot tub. Call around to a few local specialists to get estimates for the service, then factor that in when creating your budget. "If you do not hire for these services, you have to allocate time to perform them—and time also costs you something," Dodson says.
General Home Maintenance
Dodson says you'll usually need to allocate between 1 to 4 percent of the home's purchase price for home maintenance. "The newer the home, the less you need to allocate for maintenance," she notes. "However, annual maintenance means buying air filters, cleaning out dryer vents, cleaning windows, and so much more." And if you fail to perform regular maintenance, she warns that this negligence could lead to unexpected repair costs that could be significantly more expensive later on.
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