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A couple speaking with their realtor while looking around the empty living room of a home.

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They have their reasons, and they’re valid ones.

Key points

  • For some people, homeownership costs more than expected.
  • For others, the work involved can be overwhelming.
  • Many people also had to make a lot of compromises to be able to buy in 2022.  

Buying a home within 2022 was no easy feat. Not only was real estate inventory limited, yet mortgage rates rose sharply last year compared to where they sat in 2021. In fact, by the end associated with 2022, borrowers were looking at mortgage rates that were twice as high because what they would’ve paid a year prior.

In spite of that will, many people did manage to purchase a home in 2022. But according to a new report by Hippo , 78% of those who did wound up having regrets. Here are usually some of the reasons why.

1 . Too much associated with an expense

With regard to 49% of respondents, homeownership has been more expensive compared to they expected it to be. Most home buyers know to anticipate expenses like mortgage payments , homeowners insurance, plus property taxes. But many don’t realize exactly how expensive it can be to maintain a home.  

As a general rule, maintenance can cost anywhere from 1% to 4% of the home’s value. So if you’re buying a $400, 000 house, budget at least $4, 000 a year for upkeep. And if that home is older, you may want to budget closer to $12, 000 in order to $16, 000 annually.

2. Too many unexpected issues

Unexpected issues have left 47% of respondents regretting their own decision to make a home purchase. The reality is that even in case you hire an experienced home inspector before closing on a home purchase, you could still get stuck with hidden issues. That’s the reason why it’s so important to go into homeownership with a solid emergency fund . That way, sudden repairs avoid have to cause the particular same level of financial stress.  

3. Too much work

Home maintenance isn’t just expensive. It can also be time-consuming. And so 47% of participants point in order to it since the reason they regret buying their particular homes.

More: Check out our picks for the best mortgage lenders

It’s important to be realistic about property maintenance. Plus if you know your schedule doesn’t possess much wiggle room, you’ll need to pad your own maintenance spending budget to allow yourself the option in order to outsource the lot associated with your home’s upkeep.

4. A lot of compromises

The housing market has lacked stock in a serious way these past few years. That’s forced many buyers to settle for a home that may not have got checked off all the right boxes.  

A good 46% of respondents who repent homeownership say they compromised on things they really wanted for their home. To avoid similar misgivings, order your wishlist simply by priority when you’re in the process of searching for a home. If there are 12 items on your list, and item No . 1 is the most important, don’t budge on this. But if a person can’t get items 11 and twelve, that’s the different story.

The last thing you want in order to do is buy a home only to lament your decision afterward. By budgeting with regard to maintenance from both the financial plus time-related perspective, boosting your own emergency fund, and knowing what not to settle for, a person can prevent landing in the same position as the particular 78% of people who wish they wouldn’t have purchased a house in 2022.

Our Research Expert

Maurie Backman writes about current events affecting small businesses regarding The Ascent and The Motley Fool.

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