The true cost of owning a home

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  • Barefootsies
    Choice is an Illusion
    • Feb 2005
    • 42635

    #1

    The true cost of owning a home

    Your mortgage payments are only a fraction of what you'll pay out after you become a homeowner. The total? For this writer, $43,555 in four years, not counting house payments.
    By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com
    ? Images.com/Corbis

    * Kiplinger.com: Buying your first home
    * Kiplinger.com: Don't rush into a new home
    * Kiplinger.com: What your home is, and isn't

    If you're entertaining thoughts of buying your first home now that the housing market is cooling off and prices are coming down, take note: The cost of home ownership might be a lot more than you think.

    I'm not talking about the down payment or monthly mortgage payments. Although buying a home is a big investment, owning one comes with a new set of expenses you may not have had while renting or living with Mom and Dad. These extras can put a strain on your daily finances if you aren't prepared.

    I know the temptation to buy a house can be strong, especially if you've been renting for a while, have gotten married or are ready to start a family. When my husband, Alex, and I moved to Kentucky four years ago from Washington, D.C., where we rented an apartment for six years, I couldn't wait to buy a house. Since then, we have sold our first home, bought our dream home (well, at least it will be after we do a lot of work on it) and learned plenty about how much it really costs to be homeowners.

    So to help you estimate your own cost of ownership and come up with a realistic housing budget, I offer my experience as an example. Below, I itemize the expenses Alex and I have paid over the past four years, complete with dollar amounts. Your own costs will vary depending on the size, condition and location of the house, but this should help you anticipate what you're getting into. Homeownership comes with a bevy of benefits, but you'll want to make sure it's the right move for you at this point in your life before making that long-term commitment....

    continued
    http://realestate.msn.com/buying/Art...0274&gt1=10130
    Should You Email Your Members?

    Link1 | Link2 | Link3

    Enough Said.

    "Would you rather live like a king for a year or like a prince forever?"
  • latinasojourn
    Confirmed User
    • Oct 2003
    • 3191

    #2
    Originally posted by Barefootsies
    Your mortgage payments are only a fraction of what you'll pay out after you become a homeowner. The total? For this writer, $43,555 in four years, not counting house payments.
    By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com
    ? Images.com/Corbis

    * Kiplinger.com: Buying your first home
    * Kiplinger.com: Don't rush into a new home
    * Kiplinger.com: What your home is, and isn't

    If you're entertaining thoughts of buying your first home now that the housing market is cooling off and prices are coming down, take note: The cost of home ownership might be a lot more than you think.

    I'm not talking about the down payment or monthly mortgage payments. Although buying a home is a big investment, owning one comes with a new set of expenses you may not have had while renting or living with Mom and Dad. These extras can put a strain on your daily finances if you aren't prepared.

    I know the temptation to buy a house can be strong, especially if you've been renting for a while, have gotten married or are ready to start a family. When my husband, Alex, and I moved to Kentucky four years ago from Washington, D.C., where we rented an apartment for six years, I couldn't wait to buy a house. Since then, we have sold our first home, bought our dream home (well, at least it will be after we do a lot of work on it) and learned plenty about how much it really costs to be homeowners.

    So to help you estimate your own cost of ownership and come up with a realistic housing budget, I offer my experience as an example. Below, I itemize the expenses Alex and I have paid over the past four years, complete with dollar amounts. Your own costs will vary depending on the size, condition and location of the house, but this should help you anticipate what you're getting into. Homeownership comes with a bevy of benefits, but you'll want to make sure it's the right move for you at this point in your life before making that long-term commitment....

    continued
    http://realestate.msn.com/buying/Art...0274&gt1=10130


    the true cost of home ownership has to be figured after factoring in the income tax bracket of the owner(s) and whether or not it is owner occupied, or a rental (different taxing structures, depreciation, etc)

    for most people (at least in USA) the major benefit is in the taxes.

    for example, if you are single, have a high income, and rent a luxury 2br apt for $2000 per month you have no tax advantage.

    buy the same property and have a mortgage of $2000 per month and change your federal income tax withholding to get more exemptions and keep an extra $1000 month in take home pay which makes your true out of pocket living charge $1000 per month.

    plus you get the upside in any appreciation.

    if you don't own property you need to if you want to acquire an estate.

    Comment

    • Snake Doctor
      I'm Lenny2 Bitch
      • Mar 2001
      • 13449

      #3
      True the cost of being a homeowner is more than just the mortgage payment.

      However all things being equal, it is cheaper to own a home than to rent one.

      Unless you live in a weird housing market.
      If being a landlord is a profitable business, and the landlord has the same expenses as the average homeowner (usually more expenses) then logic dictates that it's more expensive to rent.
      sig too big

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      • Peaches
        Old broad
        • Oct 2002
        • 13933

        #4
        I usually spend an extra $7-10K a year on my house:

        Generator
        Fence
        Paint all the exterior
        Paint all the interior

        Next year I'm either redoing the kitchen or the dock. Probably the kitchen ;)

        But in 6 years, the appraisal on my house has more than doubled. The things I've put $$$ will all help the value. Very few repairs - maybe $500 a year average.

        Comment

        • IllTestYourGirls
          Ah My Balls
          • Feb 2007
          • 14311

          #5
          Originally posted by Peaches
          I usually spend an extra $7-10K a year on my house:

          Generator
          Fence
          Paint all the exterior
          Paint all the interior

          Next year I'm either redoing the kitchen or the dock. Probably the kitchen ;)

          But in 6 years, the appraisal on my house has more than doubled. The things I've put $$$ will all help the value. Very few repairs - maybe $500 a year average.

          Great your house has doubled! But so has all the other houses just like yours. So really your house has not done much for your bank account unless you want to downgrade your house the next time you buy.

          Comment

          • Peaches
            Old broad
            • Oct 2002
            • 13933

            #6
            Originally posted by IllTestYourGirls
            Great your house has doubled! But so has all the other houses just like yours. So really your house has not done much for your bank account unless you want to downgrade your house the next time you buy.
            Actually that is my EXACT plan I plan on getting a small house in a smaller town.

            Comment

            • IllTestYourGirls
              Ah My Balls
              • Feb 2007
              • 14311

              #7
              Originally posted by Lenny2
              True the cost of being a homeowner is more than just the mortgage payment.

              However all things being equal, it is cheaper to own a home than to rent one.

              Unless you live in a weird housing market.
              If being a landlord is a profitable business, and the landlord has the same expenses as the average homeowner (usually more expenses) then logic dictates that it's more expensive to rent.
              It is almost always cheaper to rent than to own. I rent right now, and if I were to buy the house I am renting I would be paying close to double what I am now. How? Because the landlord bought the house years ago and has a low payment. That is the case with most houses for rent.

              Comment

              • IllTestYourGirls
                Ah My Balls
                • Feb 2007
                • 14311

                #8
                Originally posted by Peaches
                Actually that is my EXACT plan I plan on getting a small house in a smaller town.
                then woot woot enjoy the cash haha

                Comment

                • latinasojourn
                  Confirmed User
                  • Oct 2003
                  • 3191

                  #9
                  Originally posted by IllTestYourGirls
                  So really your house has not done much for your bank account unless you want to downgrade your house the next time you buy.

                  not exactly.

                  the equity in the house is the same as money in a savings account at the bank.

                  if the homeowner dies and his children sell the house they get the real cash (less estate taxes) to go buy something with real money.

                  after the mortgage is paid the homeower can live in the house and just pay taxes, insurance, and repairs. he can move out and rent out the house on a triple net lease and pocket most of the cash.

                  lots of misinformation about renting vs buying.

                  the ONLY time it makes financial sense to rent is when you are renting SHORT term while looking for a good deal to BUY.

                  there are other advantages to buying real estate, and have to do with leverage, refinance to pull cash out, tax deferred exhanges, deductions to reduce your income tax, pride of ownership, insulation from rental increase, etc etc.

                  the tax incentives are real, and you should own instead of renting to acquire any real wealth in america.

                  i get a kick out of the kids that put pix of their BMWs and MBs in gfy.

                  if they want show some financial sense they should put the pix of the run down 2 flat they just bought and are fixing up. because in 10 years time they won't have to lease the beemer, they can pay cash for it.

                  and the renter will still be renting.

                  Comment

                  • Snake Doctor
                    I'm Lenny2 Bitch
                    • Mar 2001
                    • 13449

                    #10
                    Originally posted by IllTestYourGirls
                    It is almost always cheaper to rent than to own. I rent right now, and if I were to buy the house I am renting I would be paying close to double what I am now. How? Because the landlord bought the house years ago and has a low payment. That is the case with most houses for rent.
                    No it isn't the case with most houses for rent.
                    Perhaps that's true in your area, for now, but that scenario will never hold up long term.

                    Otherwise owning rental property would be a horrible investment. You're supposed to take a loss on the rental for the first 10 years until the market catches up with you?

                    Hogwash.

                    Right now there are alot of areas where the housing bubble has yet to pop, and housing prices aren't in line with market fundamentals (average income for the area, average rent for the area, etc) but those things will all line up eventually.
                    sig too big

                    Comment

                    • Barefootsies
                      Choice is an Illusion
                      • Feb 2005
                      • 42635

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Lenny2
                      No it isn't the case with most houses for rent.
                      Perhaps that's true in your area, for now, but that scenario will never hold up long term.

                      Otherwise owning rental property would be a horrible investment. You're supposed to take a loss on the rental for the first 10 years until the market catches up with you?

                      Hogwash.

                      Right now there are alot of areas where the housing bubble has yet to pop, and housing prices aren't in line with market fundamentals (average income for the area, average rent for the area, etc) but those things will all line up eventually.
                      True.

                      However for my market, I have been spending the weekend's cruising neighborhoods, and I see the prices falling like a boulder in some of them. They are roughly $20-30k still over where they should be (except lake front which is still insane but falling) but they are coming down.

                      By the end of the summer there should be some sweet deals for me to snag up.
                      Should You Email Your Members?

                      Link1 | Link2 | Link3

                      Enough Said.

                      "Would you rather live like a king for a year or like a prince forever?"

                      Comment

                      • tranza
                        ICQ: 197-556-237
                        • Jun 2003
                        • 57559

                        #12
                        Just passing by.........
                        I'm just a newbie.

                        Comment

                        • tony299
                          lurker
                          • Aug 2002
                          • 57021

                          #13
                          Now that Im a home owner, I miss being a renter to tell you the truth.Anything breaks they come to fix it, I miss having a dumpster and now I feel like my life options are fewer that Im in a house. I cant just pack up and go.

                          Comment

                          • Peaches
                            Old broad
                            • Oct 2002
                            • 13933

                            #14
                            Originally posted by tony404
                            Now that Im a home owner, I miss being a renter to tell you the truth.Anything breaks they come to fix it, I miss having a dumpster and now I feel like my life options are fewer that Im in a house. I cant just pack up and go.
                            Sell your house and rent again. It's easier to go from owner to renter than the other way around.

                            Comment

                            • Barefootsies
                              Choice is an Illusion
                              • Feb 2005
                              • 42635

                              #15
                              Originally posted by tony404
                              Now that Im a home owner, I miss being a renter to tell you the truth.Anything breaks they come to fix it, I miss having a dumpster and now I feel like my life options are fewer that Im in a house. I cant just pack up and go.
                              Really? Wow.

                              I thought that whole "home owners pride" was supposed to make you feel like a king..

                              Should You Email Your Members?

                              Link1 | Link2 | Link3

                              Enough Said.

                              "Would you rather live like a king for a year or like a prince forever?"

                              Comment

                              • pornask
                                So Fucking Banned
                                • Aug 2006
                                • 6518

                                #16
                                Originally posted by Barefootsies

                                If you're entertaining thoughts of buying your first home now that the housing market is cooling off and prices are coming down, take note: The
                                This is definitely not the case of Alberta where economic boom's been causing the prices of houses go up like never before. It's been growing steadily for past 3 years, but now it's at the pace of $500 a day. That means that any house you could have bought today will cost you $150 000 more next year. And it just keeps growing like that. Sad part is - powerful economy makes way too many people move in, which causes lack of places to stay so rent is astronomically high. Sucks for me who doesn't own a house

                                Comment

                                • Barefootsies
                                  Choice is an Illusion
                                  • Feb 2005
                                  • 42635

                                  #17
                                  Originally posted by pornask
                                  This is definitely not the case of Alberta where economic boom's been causing the prices of houses go up like never before. It's been growing steadily for past 3 years, but now it's at the pace of $500 a day. That means that any house you could have bought today will cost you $150 000 more next year. And it just keeps growing like that. Sad part is - powerful economy makes way too many people move in, which causes lack of places to stay so rent is astronomically high. Sucks for me who doesn't own a house
                                  Should You Email Your Members?

                                  Link1 | Link2 | Link3

                                  Enough Said.

                                  "Would you rather live like a king for a year or like a prince forever?"

                                  Comment

                                  • LiveDose
                                    Show Yer Tits!
                                    • Feb 2002
                                    • 25792

                                    #18
                                    There are so many benefits to homeownership.

                                    Scammer Alert: acer19 acer [email protected] [email protected] Money stolen using PayPal

                                    Comment

                                    • Snake Doctor
                                      I'm Lenny2 Bitch
                                      • Mar 2001
                                      • 13449

                                      #19
                                      Originally posted by Barefootsies
                                      True.

                                      However for my market, I have been spending the weekend's cruising neighborhoods, and I see the prices falling like a boulder in some of them. They are roughly $20-30k still over where they should be (except lake front which is still insane but falling) but they are coming down.

                                      By the end of the summer there should be some sweet deals for me to snag up.
                                      Yeah if you know what to look for and are patient you can make a killing.

                                      It's all about the fundamentals. If it's significantly cheaper to rent in your area than it is to buy, then the house prices are too high (or the rents are too low and will be raised soon)

                                      If the average house in your area is 500K and the average family income is 50K, then there's a bubble waiting to pop.
                                      People who understand the fundamentals got out of alot of their real estate holdings during the recent run up, and are waiting like vultures to pounce on the bankrupt speculators once the bubble pops.

                                      Same thing with stock market fundamentals. Some people were smart enough to know that the S&P 500 wasn't going to keep trading at 30 times earnings, and the NASDAQ wasn't going to trade at infinity times earnings, and they got out well before the bottom came out.

                                      Kind of got off track here but bottom line is unless the market you live in is FUBAR at the moment, owning is superior to renting in almost every way.
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