Willow Creek Home Finance
FIRST-TIME BUYERS

Expenses First-Time Home Buyers Need to Save For

Beyond the down payment - what other costs to plan for before you buy.

Learning Center

5 min read · Updated May 18, 2026

Before closing

Earnest money (1-3% of price, credited back at closing), the home inspection ($400-$800), and the appraisal ($550-$900) are paid during the contract period. None are optional if you want to buy safely.

At closing

Closing costs run roughly 2-4% of the purchase price: lender fees, title insurance, escrow, recording, plus prepaid property taxes and a year of homeowners insurance. Your Loan Estimate itemizes all of it within three days of applying.

The move itself

Movers or truck rental, utility deposits and transfers, locks, and the immediate-need items every first home demands: a lawnmower, ladder, and the curtain rods nobody remembers. Budget $2,000-$5,000 for the transition month.

After you own it

The expense that separates comfortable owners from stressed ones is the maintenance reserve. Plan for 1-2% of the home value per year. A water heater fails on a Saturday; owners with a reserve call a plumber, owners without one call a credit card.

Key takeaways

  • Inspection, appraisal, and earnest money come due before closing.
  • Closing costs: budget 2-4% of the price on top of the down payment.
  • Reserve $2,000-$5,000 for the move-in month.
  • A 1-2%/year maintenance fund is what keeps ownership comfortable.

Questions about your own situation?

A licensed loan officer will walk you through your numbers - no pressure, no obligation.