Hidden Homeowner Costs

The article below is for real estate professionals to use on their own blog or website copyright free.

Budgeting for buying a home can be difficult enough when you're just weighing mortgage options and a purchase price. But there are many other factors that go into the cost of home ownership. Some of them are one-time expenses that you'll pay during the home buying process, while others will be recurring costs for as long as you own the home.

Closing costs

There are several smaller fees that add up to a rather large sum when you're going through the closing process-loan fees, attorney fees, underwriting fees, and more. They typically add up to 2-5% of the purchase price. For a $300,000 home-roughly the national median-that's in the neighborhood of $10,000, so be sure to budget for it.

Appraisal

Your lender will require an appraisal, and the appraisal fee (a few hundred dollars) comes out of your pocket. Inspection

The few hundred dollars you'll pay for a home inspection is money well spent, but it's something you have to keep in mind during the purchase process. You'll have the peace of mind of knowing the house is free from any major issues, and you're making a smart, solid investment.

Insurance

Although homeowners insurance isn't legally required, it'll almost certainly be required by your lender. Further insurance, such as flood insurance, may also be required (depending on your location).

Home Owners Association

If you're living in a property or community with shared spaces, you'll almost certainly have an HOA fee. This pays for things like trash removal, maintenance of common areas, and for recreational facilities like gyms and swimming pools.

breakthroughbroker
Technology, marketing, & strategy your real estate business needs!

Being a Real Estate Professional is challenging. Finding the time and technology to stay top of mind and generate new business is a full-time job. Breakthrough Broker is here to help.

Equipped with features such as:

Workbooks, checklists, playbooks, and workshops to support the growth and management of your business.
Easy-to-use marketing technology to create and customize professional marketing designs.
Direct mail marketing services and engaging social media content.

Create your free account and join over 600,000 other real estate pros.

Create Free Account

A guide to your advanced real estate marketing tool kit.
Click through the menu on that left to see all the incredible perks of your BB Plus membership, as well as tutorials for using them to save more time and sell more homes.
MLS Lookup
Automated Postcard Campaigns
Social Posts
Team Designs
Preset Brand Color
Headshot Library
Other BB Plus Benefits
Using MLS Lookup
Create marketing for your listing in seconds
  1. Find a marketing template you love.
  2. Enter your listing’s MLS number in the left sidebar.
  3. Watch as your listing’s information and photos instantly populate the item.
  1. Double check for accuracy.
  2. Download for free, share on social media, or use our printing and shipping services.
  3. Create marketing for your listing in seconds.
Select a template and try the MLS Lookup!
Using Automated Postcard Campaigns
Take care of your sphere marketing for the year with just a few clicks.
  1. Choose a postcard set.
  2. Customize your postcards with your information and special message.
  3. Upload your contacts’ addresses or purchase a mailing list.
  1. Purchase your direct mail campaign.
  2. Sit back and relax! Each postcard will be automatically sent at the right time throughout the year.
Create your Automated Postcard Campaign!
Setting up team and two-agent branding
Market as a team.
  1. Visit your BB Plus profile using the waffle icon in the top right corner.
  2. Upload your teammate or team’s information, headshot, and logo.
  3. Open your desired marketing template and select two-agent or team in the left sidebar.
  1. Whatch your teammate or team's information instantly populate the item.
Try team branding by editing a template!
Selecting your preset brand color
Say good bye to “Frankenstein” marketing.
  1. Visit your BB Plus profile using the waffle icon in the top right corner.
  2. Click the Edit Primary Brand Color widget.
  3. Select your brand color with the color picker or enter the Hexcode and click Select.
  1. Moving forward, every customizable marketing template you edit will automatically load with your brand color.
Using your headshot and logo library
Put your best look forward.
  1. Visit your BB Plus profile using the waffle icon in the to pright corner.
  2. Upload additional headshots and logos.
  3. Click Update to save changes.
  1. Edit your favorite marketing template and click on the headshot or logo image slot to pull up your library of images and select.
Other BB Plus Benefits
Premium Designs & Content
Eye-catching, exclusive marketing material and print collateral branded for you.
Unlimited Downloads
Every standard & premium content piece downloaded as much as you.
10% Off Print Orders
Receive 10% off all print orders, including our direct mail services.