When you start a family, there are a lot of big steps you’ll have to take. One of those is finding the perfect family home for you to live in. So, in this guide I’ll take you through all the costs of owning a home:
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The Home Itself
Obviously, the biggest cost will be the home itself. It’s always important that you shop around for the best-priced family home. At the end of the day, it will always be expensive, no matter how ‘cheap’ it is. It may be cheap, relative to the housing market. But, in general terms, a cheap house is still the most expensive thing you’ll buy. My advice is to make sure your family are financially ready to take the plunge and buy a house. You don’t want to end up struggling for the rest of your life.
Utility Bills
Another thing you’ll have to spend money on are your utilities. People will pay their water, gas, electricity and telephone bills. Each one of these will have to be paid once a month. The payment dates for each may be different, it depends on how you’ve got everything set up. It makes a load of sense to set up a direct debit, to ensure you pay things on time. You don’t want to end up missing payments and having a backlog of bills to pay.
Property Tax
When you purchase a home, you’re also required to pay property tax. The bad thing is, it’s more money out of your bank account. The good thing is, it’s only paid once a year. It’s important you try and pay property tax as soon as you get your tax bill. If you end up leaving it too late, you could miss the payment date. What happens when you don’t pay your property taxes? Bad things, that’s what. Reliance Tax Loans claim that your taxing authority could give you penalties that are worth as much as 44% of your overall tax bill. Also, they may take legal action against your home as a way of repayment. To put it simply, they may repossess your house. Don’t let this happen, always make sure your finances are in good shape so you can pay property taxes.
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Things For The Interior
After you’ve bought your home, you’ll want it to have stuff in. If this isn’t your first home, you may be able to move stuff from your old home. But, if it’s your first family home, you’ll need things for it. I’m talking about furniture for every room, sofas, chairs, beds. Then there’re all the towels and bedsheets you’ll need. Not to mention kitchen appliances, like a fridge, kettle and microwave. And, of course, any electrical appliances that you’ll have around the home. You’ll buy these things as you move into the house, and they’ll stay with you for years. There may be times where you buy newer versions of appliances, or a new sofa/bed. But, they’re not going to be a regular cost every month or year. However, they’re still a big part of the costs of buying a home. If you buy a house, you’ll need to purchase these things as well.
