If you are on your way to becoming a homeowner, let us be among the first to say congratulations. Becoming a homeowner is one of those life milestones that we all hope to achieve. It takes a lot of years of preparation, sacrifice, and hard work, but you finally have accomplished most of the hard steps and are close to seeing the hard work pay off. There are many positives to being a homeowner and tons of benefits that being a renter will not get you. However, with positives always come a few negatives. In this case, the negatives are extra responsibilities. While some of the things our team at Ace Mortgage Loan Corp. are going to talk about are expected, we are sure there are a few items that may come as a surprise. Anyway, it’s good to know now before you get an unpleasant surprise in the future.
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Landscaping Duties
Now that you have a home that is all yours, you get all of the responsibilities. When you are renting an apartment or a house, all you have to worry about is cleaning the interior of the home and doing whatever else you do to keep things orderly. The exterior is on the landlord to maintain. But now it’s on your shoulders. And most neighborhoods have some sort of standard when it comes to how your lawn should look. Remember, this is going to cost you. Your two options are to either get a lawn service or buy the supplies needed to maintain a lawn.
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Home Repairs and Maintenance
Similar to the landscaping responsibility, home repairs and maintenance is now your task. You no longer have the luxury of relying on a landlord or an apartment complex to keep everything in tip-top shape. The problem is yours. And not only is it costly when things break, but things also need to be fixed promptly. Sure, the leaky roof in your apartment was a priority for you, but if it got worse, that was on the landlord. Now, if you let a leaky roof sit, you may develop other issues, including water and mold damage, which cost you more money.
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Property Taxes
One of the more vital responsibilities is property taxes. Before you close on your home, or when you get settled in your new home, you should try and do as much research as you can on this subject. Many people know they have to pay property taxes now but are not so sure how it works. The thing about property taxes is that they are always subject to change. One year you may pay more, and the next year you may pay less. Allowing an appraiser to evaluate your home will give you the best-estimated amount to pay. However, if you let them evaluate your home and you still think you are paying too much, you can always dispute it.
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HOA Fees
Something you want to keep in mind is that you may have to pay HOA, Homeowners Association, fees. If you aren’t sure if this applies to you, take a look at the neighborhood you are moving into. Those with amenities such as a community pool, gym, and common area are most likely going to have HOA fees. Making sure to budget those in every month will save you from falling behind on bills and keep you financially stable.
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Decor and Smart Home Features
Another fee people fail to consider is the price of furniture and smart home features. Or maybe you have budgeted for furniture, but many forget that they are more than likely going to want to have some form of security installed. When you first move in, getting these features are going to be a priority so you can feel safe and comfortable while adjusting. Making sure to budget for this before you close on the home will save you some stress later down the line. It’s also smart to over budget for furniture because you never know how things are going to look and the true cost of the items you need
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Owning a home is a huge accomplishment; however, it is also one that people do always prepare well for. Having a home budget isn’t enough. You need to also prepare for extra fees and potential rainy day fees. If you do all of this, though, we know you will have a great experience and love everything homeownership can give you. For more tips on homeownership, be sure to check out the Ace Mortgage Loan Corp. website or give our team a call at (954) 777-4774.