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Expenses of homeownership

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The cost to own a home is more than just your mortgage payments. It also includes insurance, utilities, maintenance and more. Here are a few examples of, and advice on how to manage, costs related to owning a home.

You’ve made your down payment, you know what your mortgage payment is and when it’s coming out of your bank account – that should be it for costs for the year, right?

When my boyfriend and I bought our house, it felt like all we were doing was spending money related to our house and paying bills.  We were fortunate to have negotiated some furniture in the sale and were each bringing some pieces with us, which helped us financially, but what we didn’t realize were a lot of extra expenses, we hadn’t anticipated for.  Having lived at home with my parents for my whole life, except for when I lived in Australia, I didn’t really understand all the additional annual costs that exist when you own a house.

When it comes to homeownership, there are many expenses that may come your way, without you realizing. Here are a few examples, and advice on managing these expenses, from my personal experience.

Expenses you don’t have a choice about

  • House insurance – protected for the unexpected: If you own a house, you need house insurance which will protect you if something bad were to happen such as a fire or flood. Even if it wasn’t a requirement of a mortgage, which it is, you definitely want to have house insurance in place and ensure you’re continually renewing your insurance so that you’re covered if the unexpected were to happen. Tip: You can set up a separate bank account to transfer money into every month so when your insurance comes due, you have the money ready to pay it.
  • Property taxes – we have to pay to play: Every year, you’re required to pay an assessed amount to the city or town you live in. This money goes to help pay for education, libraries, road repairs, and other city/town projects. For more information check out https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/municipal-administration/taxation-and-service-fees/municipal-property-tax-tools. Tip: Paying a lump sum can be tough, but in Regina and Saskatoon, you have the option to pay monthly instalments through the TIIPS program which can make it a bit easier. If monthly payments aren’t an option for you, set money aside each month into a separate account, helping you to save and prepare for the large annual expense.
  • Utilities – keeping the lights on and water running: Water and heat are essential and typically when you move into your new home you’ll have to pay a fee to install these services. Additionally, as a first-time homeowner, you may be required to pay a deposit for your utilities. Tip: Prior to moving into your home, contact your local utility companies to schedule these services and ask what fees they charge for installation. Be sure to add these expenses into your budget for the month you move in.

Expenses you may not expect

  • Water softener – I prefer soft hair: Depending where you live in Saskatchewan and whether it’s a new build or not, your new house may not come with a water softener. A water softner is optional, and if you prefer to have one there are several options available to you: rent, finance or buy. All three have benefits and it’s comes down to what will best fit your needs.
  • Water heater – what’s an anode rod?: You have hot water every time you turn on the tap. That should be all you have to worry about, yes? What some don’t realize is there’s annual maintenance that needs to be done to keep you enjoying those hot bubble baths. Although some things you can do yourself, sometimes its best to leave it to the pros if you’re not too handy, and call in a professional to do the maintenance work, which will be an additional annual expense for you.

Expenses you can choose

  • Cable and internet – Grey’s Anatomy still on and gets me every time: When we first moved in, I didn’t think we really needed anything more than a basic tv package and basic internet. While that’s true, we ended up wanting more after realizing how many great tv shows are on – thank goodness for PVR. Tip: When choosing a cable package, pick one that’s best for you and works within your budget. If needing to reduce expenses within your budget, consider re-looking at your cable package and downsizing to free up some extra money.
  • Landscaping – flowers are so pretty: Our house was a new build, so our backyard was bare at move in. After pulling all the weeds that were the size of shrubs, the first thing we did was bring in soil to raise and even out the yard, so we could lay sod, and then gravel to build a parking pad. We hired someone to build a fence – as stated earlier, some things are better left to professionals – and planted some trees in the front. We were fortunate to have friends and family help us with this, but it was an expense we hadn’t thought about. Tip: Yard maintenance will be an annual expense. Save money throughout the year to help cover yard maintenance costs including unexpected costs like having to replant trees in the front because the rabbits got to them.

These are just a few examples of homeownership expenses I’ve come across in the last year. There are many other expenses, such as home maintenance, and it’s crucial to budget for these costs – especially the ones you don’t have a choice about first -so that you have a realistic idea of what you can afford and are prepared when these expenses are incurred. This is especially true for those months that you will have a bigger payment like your insurance or property taxes, etc.

Are you a homeowner? What are some expenses you’ve come across that you may not have anticipated? What advice do you have for first-time homebuyers? Share with me in the comments below so I can learn more and proactively prepare.

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Tips for first-time homebuyers

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Purchasing your first home is a big life decision. Our Mobile Mortgage Specialists share advice for first-time homebuyers on what to know and consider when purchasing your first home.

Buying your first home is a huge life event and can sometimes cause a bit of stress. Figuring out where to start can also become a bit overwhelming. All the questions you begin to ask yourself – how much can I afford? Who should I talk to? How much money do I need to put down? To help get you started, and reduce some of that unnecessary stress, we sat down with our Mobile Mortgage Specialist Team to give us their advice on what to know and consider when purchasing your first home.

Planning

As it’s one of the biggest decisions of your life, planning is essential to ensure you don’t get in over your head. Planning early is key and includes asking yourself some important questions including:

  • What type of home do you want to buy? A condo, residential home or perhaps one that has a legal suite in the basement allowing for potential income – or what some like to call a mortgage helper?
  • How long do you plan to live in this home? Is it your starter home? Forever home? What does your life look like in the next 5-10 years? Family, pets, etc. – will this home need to be able to grow with you?
  • What can you afford? What payment would you be comfortable paying that allows you to still live comfortably? Does this amount include all home-associated costs such as utilities, maintenance, etc.? What other expenses impact your affordability such as debt repayment, etc.?
  • How much money do you have saved for a down payment and what will you need?

When starting to think about purchasing a home, these are just a few of the questions you need to be asking. We recommend speaking with an expert, such as a Mobile Mortgage Specialist, to walk you through these questions and to help you come up with a plan. Doing so will allow you to become focused and help you understand exactly what you need to do to get you where you want to be.

Pre-approvals & affordability

Once you have an understanding of what you’re looking for, it’s important to determine how much money you can borrow. Getting pre-approved sets parameters for the amount of loan you’d be approved for and helps ensure you’re not looking at homes outside of your price range.

When getting approved for a mortgage a number of factors are considered including your income, length of employment, credit history, monthly obligations, assets, liabilities, etc. Debt is also a big factor when it comes to being approved. Credit cards, lines of credit, and loans can have a huge impact on how much you’re approved for.

Also, it’s important to understand how your pre-approved amount equates to your payment cycle. Is this amount something you can afford each month, bi-weekly or weekly? And how long do you want to be paying this mortgage off? Twenty years? Twenty-Five? A longer length of time may make your payments lower but can cost you more interest in the long run.

Remember, whatever you are pre-approved for doesn’t mean you need to spend the full amount on a home. Purchasing a lower-priced home means you’ll need to borrow less money, potentially smaller payments, and the ability, if it works within your budget, to potentially pay off your home more quickly.

Down payments

First-time homebuyers are required to put down a minimum of 5% of the purchase price – for example, if you’re looking to purchase a $300,000 home, you’ll need to put down $15,000. Seems like a lot, right? And another reason why planning is essential.

Start saving for a down payment as early as you can. Consider putting into a savings account, Tax-Free Savings Account or RRSP. Take the ‘pay yourself first’ approach and put a certain amount of money into a separate account each payday. Label the account something that means something to you such as ‘down payment’ or ‘house account’ as you’ll have a better chance leaving the money alone. Also consider putting any extra money you receive such as a work bonus, gift money, money you make selling some of your own personal items, income tax refunds, etc. into this account to help grow your savings faster.

Programs and incentives for first-time homebuyers

There are several programs and incentives for first-time homebuyers that you should be aware of.

  • The Home Buyers’ Plan allows first-time homebuyers to withdraw money from your RRSP to buy or build a qualifying home. You will need to repay these funds back into your RRSP within 15 years.
  • Saskatchewan’s first-time home buyer’s tax credit provides first time homebuyers with a provincial non-refundable income tax credit of up to $1,075 to eligible taxpayers on qualified homes.
  • The Head Start Equity Builder Program allows first-time homebuyers to take a personal loan as a down payment to purchase a new home constructed by the HeadStart on a Home Program.

Also, consider looking at what local builders have to offer homebuyers. During certain times of the year, or in certain community developments, builders offer incentives such as no down payments or down payment grants to encourage homebuyers to purchase through them.

Other considerations/things to know

There is a lot to know when it comes to purchasing and owning a home, and it can be hard to think of it all by yourself. Along with the advice above, here are a few additional things to know and consider.

  • Lean on your experts. Don’t try to do this alone and work with people who are experienced and have your best interests in mind. Your realtor and mortgage specialist are there to offer you a wealth of information to help guide you step by step and ensure as little stress as possible during this exciting time.
  • Set money aside for all the additional fees associated with purchasing a home such moving expenses, inspection fees, home and life insurance, utility hookups, taxes, lawyer’s fees, etc. We recommend setting aside 1.5-2% of the purchase price to help cover these different costs.
  • Filling your new space can come with a cost. The great part about planning in advance means you can also start setting money aside for furniture, household items and your first grocery trip to fill your cupboards with all of the staple items. Another great tip is to create a list of items you’ll need, watch for sales and purchase throughout your planning timelines, putting anything into storage until you move. Be sure to share this list with family and friends for ideas on what to get you for birthdays and Christmases.
  • Use www.expressaddress.com to have your mail forwarded to your new address, update your address within existing companies and even set up your utilities for your new home. It’s free and will help you save time.
  • Budget. Budget. Budget. With new home ownership comes new expenses, and it’s important to have an understanding of your money and budgeting for your newest life chapter. When setting a budget, be sure to put money aside for some of those unexpected expenses such as maintenance or breakdowns. Check out our Setting a Budget blog to get you started.

Buying a home for the first time can be stressful but with a bit of planning, and working with a team of experts, your transition into home ownership can run smoothly. Remember, you’re not in it alone. We’re here to help.

Ready to start your first-home plan today or have additional questions? We’d love to talk to you – contact one of our mortgage specialists today and let’s start planning your future today!