Homes
The full cost of the biggest decision most people make — buying versus renting, and what a home really costs to own over the years you'd keep it.
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Guides & cost data
- Closing Costs: What You Can Shop For Closing costs run 2–5% of the price — but some you can shop for and some you can't. What's actually in them, where you can save, and how to read the Loan Estimate. cost-data
- Home Maintenance and Replacement Costs by Age How long a roof, furnace, water heater, and other home systems last — and roughly what replacing each costs. Why home maintenance is lumpy, not a smooth yearly percentage. cost-data
- New Construction vs Existing Home: The Full Cost Compared New build or existing home? In 2026 the price gap has largely closed — the real difference is cost shape: new front-loads price and tax, existing back-loads maintenance. comparison
- Property Tax by State The U.S. average property tax is $4,271 a year (0.89%) — but the highest rate isn't the highest bill. Why property tax varies so much by state, and how to find yours. cost-data
- The Full Cost of Buying a Home What buying a home really costs beyond the price — closing costs, property tax, maintenance, PMI, the day-one selling-cost trap, and the 2026 tax reality — with current figures from NAHB, Fannie Mae, the CFPB, and the IRS. cornerstone