What this helps you avoid

Your mortgage payment is not your full housing cost. This checklist gives you a simple way to budget the first year before surprise expenses start stacking up.

• Real monthly housing cost beyond principal and interest
• Insurance deductibles, renewals, and flood-risk decisions
• Property-tax changes and escrow shortages
• First-year maintenance, repairs, tools, and setup costs
• A printable worksheet for your first-year budget