(NewsNation) — A new study finds that homeowners in the United States spend over $21,000 a year on hidden expenses.
Those “hidden costs” include home maintenance, property taxes, homeowners' insurance, utilities, internet, and cable bills. They are referred to as “hidden” because they’re often overlooked or unforeseen by homeowners, especially when budgeting to buy a place.
“The squeeze on wallets intensifies after one becomes a homeowner,” the study says. “Higher home values mean bigger property taxes and homeowners' insurance policies (and premiums). And in the last five years, inflation has also been rearing its ugly head in the rising cost of everything, including construction/home improvement materials, goods and services, and labor.”
The study also uncovered that home maintenance costs are the highest hidden expense at $8,808 a year, nearly double the next closest cost. Utilities and energy equal $4,494, property taxes came in at $4,316, home insurance made up $2,267, while internet/cable averaged out to $1,515.
Hawaii, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Washington topped the study's list of the expensive states for hidden home costs.
West Virginia, Mississippi, Indiana, Missouri, and Arkansas rounded out the five least expensive states for the same costs.
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