How to Plan Your Expenses for Your First Home

Buying your first home can be an exciting process, but with so many different expenses to account and plan for, it can also be overwhelming. Not sure where to begin with it comes to saving for your first home? There are a few expenses you won't want to overlook.

Down Payment

First, make sure you have enough money saved up for a down payment. This amount can vary depending on the sale price of the home you purchase and the type of mortgage you take out. For a conventional home loan, for example, you'll be expected to make a minimum 20% down payment. FHA loans, however, only require 3.5% down. Meanwhile, if you qualify for a VA loan or a USDA loan, you might not have to make a down payment at all.

Closing Costs

Closing costs are another notable expense that can vary based on the sale price of the home and even where you live. However, expect closing costs to account for about 2-5% of the sale price of your home. This means if you're buying a home for $150,000, you can expect to pay between $3,000 and $7,500 in closing costs.

Appraisals/Inspections

Having a home appraised and inspected is par for the course for most home sales. An appraisal determines the current value of the home to make sure that you're not paying more for it than what it's worth. Meanwhile, an inspection looks for underlying issues with a home (such as a leaky roof or a short-cycling HVAC unit) that you'll want to be aware of before closing.

Appraisal and inspection costs can vary, but you should typically expect to pay between $400 and $600 for a home appraisal. Meanwhile, home inspections cost an average of about $500. There may be additional inspections that become apparent from the home inspection ie roof, HVAC, radon, that will average $100 for each. If the home is on a well and septic system, this inspection is imperative and can cost an average of $650. I tell my clients to expect to spend $1000 to $1500 on inspections. 

Furniture and Lawn Care Equipment

Once you buy your home, you'll probably need to buy your fair share of furniture. Likewise, if you're coming from an apartment-living situation, you may also need to purchase some lawn care equipment such as a lawnmower, weed eater and other gear. As you can see, these costs can add up quickly—so it' important to plan accordingly and make sure you've saved up enough money to purchase your first home comfortably.