Hidden homeownership cost in US is nearly $16K a year, Zillow analysis finds
FILE-Homes are shown in a neighborhood in Hercules, California, on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Owning a home can get pricey considering all the costs associated with it, including mortgage payments.
And while the management of household expenses can be a challenge, a new analysis from Zillow and Thumbtack reveals that the hidden costs of owning a house, like maintenance, insurance, and property taxes is now $15,979 annually in the U.S.
A breakdown of homeownership cost
Why you should care: Zillow noted in its report that homeowners on average are spending $10,946 annually on maintenance, $2,003 on homeowners' insurance, and $3,030 on property taxes. And this accounts for over $1,300 monthly in extra costs on top of mortgage payments.
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These costs rose by nearly 5% in the past year, while household income increased only 3.8%, which can contribute to making buying a home less affordable.
Hidden costs are higher in some cities
Local perspective:
While the hidden costs are impacting homeowners across the country, some are feeling the financial squeeze even more with Zillow reporting that these costs were highest in already expensive coastal metro cities, like New York City ($24,381), San Francisco ($22,781) and Boston ($21,320).
Home insurance premiums soaring
Dig deeper:
Zillow found that home insurance premiums are one of the fastest growing homeownership expenses nationwide, with the average premiums having increased 48% since 2020.
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These spikes in home insurance premium costs are happening across Florida, with Miami homeowners paying an average of $4,607 a year, representing a 72% jump since 2020. Jacksonville homeowners also saw their premiums rise by 72%, while Tampa and Orlando these premiums soar 69% and 68%.
Additionally, home insurance premium costs also increased 79% in New Orleans, 59% in Sacramento, 58% in Atlanta, and 56% in Riverside, California.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by a new analysis from Zillow and Thumbtack on hidden homeownership cost. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.