Home cost guide library
Understand every number before you estimate
These permanent guides explain the 15 decisions and cost categories in the Your Home Cost calculator. Each one defines the field in plain language, shows how it changes an estimate, works through a concrete example, and links to the government or industry references behind the guidance.
Published and maintained by Kevin Song for Your Home Cost. Guide library last reviewed: .
Complete worked example
See every cost line work together
Follow three fully specified, fictional purchase scenarios through the calculator. The comparison isolates the effect of a smaller down payment and shows how HOA dues can narrow the savings from a lower purchase price.
Read the complete case study- Baseline monthly estimate
- $3,305.95
- Baseline upfront estimate
- $95,450.00
- Decision paths compared
- 3
6 guides
Purchase and financing
Understand the price, cash contribution, mortgage structure, and financing charges that shape the estimate.
Loan type
Compare eligibility, down payments, mortgage insurance, guarantee fees, and calculator treatment across conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans.
Home price
Learn which purchase price to enter, how it differs from asking and appraised value, and which monthly and upfront costs depend on it.
Down payment amount
See how a down payment changes loan size, monthly payment, starting equity, and mortgage insurance, and which homebuying costs it excludes.
Interest rate
Learn which note rate to enter, why APR differs, and how interest rates, discount points, loan type, and term affect estimated payments.
Fixed-rate loan length
Compare common fixed-rate mortgage terms and see how loan length changes monthly principal and interest and total lifetime interest.
Mortgage insurance and program fees
Understand conventional PMI, FHA MIP, VA funding fees, USDA guarantee fees, and how the calculator treats recurring and upfront charges.
6 guides
Ongoing ownership costs
Plan for the recurring bills and reserves that continue alongside—or after—the mortgage payment.
Property tax
Understand how a property-tax estimate works, why area effective rates differ from actual bills, and where to get property-specific figures.
Homeowners insurance
Learn what an annual homeowners insurance premium covers, what it excludes, how deductibles work, and when to replace estimates with quotes.
Homeowners association (HOA) dues
See when HOA or condo dues apply, what they may cover, how to convert billing periods, and how to avoid double-counting included services.
Utilities
Build a monthly estimate for electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash, and internet while accounting for seasonality and included services.
Maintenance reserve
Set a maintenance reserve using home age, condition, inspection findings, and real repair plans while understanding percentage-rule limits.
Other monthly costs
Capture recurring parking, ground rent, alarm, pest-control, and similar home costs without double-counting another calculator category.
3 guides
Upfront cash beyond the down payment
Account for closing, inspection, moving, setup, and other one-time costs before getting the keys.
Closing costs
Understand the common 2% to 5% planning range, what closing costs can include, and when to use Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure figures.
Home inspection
Budget for a general inspection and optional tests, understand how an inspection differs from an appraisal, and know when to use actual quotes.
Other one-time costs
Plan for moving, deposits, locks, appliances, immediate repairs, and cash-paid program fees without double-counting another upfront field.