Hidden Costs Many First-Time Homebuyers Have Never Heard Of

September 15, 2021 Tammy Gordon

Many of today’s homebuyers are suffering from sticker shock—and not just over astronomical home prices.

Nearly half of homeowners, 44%, report they weren’t aware of the costs associated with buying a home, according to a Realtor.com® survey in July of nearly 3,000 adults, including 1,800 homeowners. (About 400 of the respondents were buyers who purchased a home within the past 15 months.) This includes paying for things like a home inspection, document fees, property taxes, home insurance, and title fees. About 11% weren’t even factoring in moving expenses.