Homeownership costs drive widespread buyer remorse
Taxes, repairs and maintenance are weighing on owners even when they remain glad they bought.
Eight in 10 U.S. homeowners can name a significant disappointment with their property. The financial burden after closing is the central issue. Among owners whose total expenses surpassed their assumptions, 65% pointed to property taxes and 65% named maintenance. A separate Bankrate 2025 analysis put yearly non-mortgage expenses above $21,000 for a typical single-family house nationwide, a 26% increase over four years.
Unexpected trouble is also common. At least one surprise property issue has affected 87% of owners. Plumbing led at 39%, followed by heating and cooling trouble at 37% and failed appliances at 36%. Renovations brought their own strain: half of owners regretted an earlier project, while 49% found the final bill exceeded their initial estimate. Higher prices for workers and supplies prompted 46% to postpone needed fixes.
Purchase timing and pressure shaped other regrets. Among people who bought during 2022, 32% later viewed that period as unfavorable for purchasing—the largest portion among cohorts dating to 2000. Still, dissatisfaction does not equal rejection of ownership. Becoming a homeowner remained a decision that 91% did not regret, and 92% considered their purchase financially worthwhile. Moving may not offer an easy reset: among owners wanting another home, 60% said higher property values made relocation harder to achieve.
Why it matters: Buyers’ housing budgets may face substantial taxes, upkeep and surprise repairs long after the down payment and closing expenses are covered.
- Mortgage Professional America