The expense of owning a home is higher than ever, according to new research from Zillow and Thumbtack, a home services website. New research shows that affordability is the number one challenge for first-time homebuyers, so knowing exactly what the cost will be, including less obvious expenses, is crucial.
- The research reveals that homeowners can expect to pay around $14,155 a year in hidden costs related to owning a home.
- These include utility bills, property taxes, insurance and essential home maintenance.
- That $14,155 comes out to an additional $1,180 a month, on top of a typical mortgage payment.
- Of course, that figure is higher in some cities, and fortunately, it’s lower in others.
- Zillow and Thumbtack analyzed 39 metro areas to find the hidden homeownership costs and where they’re highest and lowest.
- Unsurprisingly, the highest hidden annual costs of homeownership are already pricey areas, with the highest in the country found in the San Francisco metro area at more than $22-thousand.
- The lowest costs are in Las Vegas ($9,886), Asheville, North Carolina ($11,318) and St. Louis, Missouri ($11,824).
- New Yorkers pay the highest property taxes at more than $9-thousand a year, while utilities cost the most in Hartford, Connecticut, where they average $4,443 a year.
The Top 10 Metro Areas With the Highest Hidden Annual Homeownership Costs
- San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, California - $22,791
- New York City - $22,776
- Los Angeles, California - $22,347
- Seattle/Tacoma, Washington - $20,915
- Boston, Massachusetts - $20,879
- San Diego, California - $18,978
- Austin, Texas - $18,401
- Chicago, Illinois - $17,880
- Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - $17,862
- Portland, Oregon - $17,681
Source: Zillow
Photo: Getty Images