Buying your first home can be one of the most thrilling experiences, but while you determine the price range you’re willing to pay, don’t forget about the cost of home maintenance.
While visiting properties to possibly purchase, you’re already imagining how you’re going to decorate the house, what kind of furniture you want, and the moments you will create.
But there are more homeownership costs than you think. The cost of maintaining a house is quite different from just buying a house.
Before you look for properties, create a budget for not just the house’s cost but also its maintenance. Expect to spend at least 1% of the home’s cost in maintenance every year.
Porch.com studied ZIP codes with the highest home maintenance cost, lowest costs, and where you can expect to spend your money every year.
If you haven’t thought about how often you should be aerating your lawn or keeping your house intact, keep reading.
Average Home Maintenance Costs By State
Any home’s cost depends on where you live, and the home’s style, age, and type can also influence that amount.
From ranch-style abodes in Alaska to Craftsman homes in Alabama, the kind of residence you want to buy could be a factor into how much you will have to pay to maintain it.
The average cost of maintaining a home each year can be just over $ 16,000. In other states like Washington, D.C., you might want to factor in a little extra to cover the upkeep.
The study found that maintaining a house in New Jersey ($ 18,151) cost more than anywhere else across the U.S. In second place was Washington, D.C. ($ 18,119), followed by Connecticut ($ 17,782), and Maryland ($ 17,699).
On the other side, states like Arkansas ($ 15,115), West Virginia ($ 15,068), and Mississippi ($ 14,890), were the cheapest in home maintenance costs.
