First time homebuyers should understand the fact that each kind of home has different maintenance costs associated with them. Knowing what these costs are can certainly help buyers make an informed decision.
Some homes are imposed with special fees such as neighborhood association fees and even additional taxes depending on the town or city government. These fees must be factored in when buying any home especially if you are working on a budget. I’ll enumerate the basic fees bundled with some common types of homes.
Condominiums: Condos or flats are increasingly becoming popular for first time house buyers. Condominiums are a form of real property wherein individual units in a multi-unit complex or building may be owned but each owner has access to common facilities such as hallways, main entrances, stairs and elevators. As such, you’ll need to pay fees depending on your stake in the building.
Ilyce Glink, who is the author of the book ’100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask’ says that each owner must pay maintenance fee equal to his total share of ownership in the condominium. This is calculated by first getting the total expenses in operating the building and dividing this to an owner’s percentage of ownership. The total expenses of a building may include a reserve account used for emergencies and this may vary anytime.
Town homes or row houses: The fees associated with town homes are the same as any independently owned homes incur. Some town homes reside in a homeowner’s association wherein every member pays a monthly fee. These monthly association fees usually comprise of repair and maintenance costs of common exteriors and landscapes.
Mobile houses: These are pre-fabricated houses built on factories and are then taken to the build site. Normally, mobile home owners are solely responsible for their own maintenance expenses that include electricity, water service, and sewage and garbage disposal. Mobile houses can also be located in mobile parks. Some parks charge homeowners for a fee to lease the land they locate in.
Single-Family House: Detached home maintenance costs are typically the responsibility of the homeowner. Even if the home is within a community setting, the homeowner will be responsible for maintenance and upkeep, landscaping, lawn services and other fees associated with maintaining a home. You will also be responsible for all real estate taxes and government fees; check with the Realtor and a financial advisor to get an estimate on what this may be.
If you are considering to get a loan, remember that some lenders might package some of these maintenance fees into your loan. I advise that you first talk with your Realtor and determine the maintenance costs for the house you’re interested in. Only then should you deal with a lender so that you can get the best possible loan package that is within your budget.
Any house has maintenance costs attached to it. When you are comparing homes you are interested in, always understand what the financial implications are for owning each house. Compare and contrast the costs for each house by pitting them side by side with the use of a simple table or chart. Practicing this will help you arrive at an excellent decision.
If you’re searching for homes for sale in MN, there’s no faster way to find what your looking for then online. Homebuyers can look the Minnesota MLS listings to find properties and real estate throughout the state.
