Buying a home is only the beginning—owning one means ongoing upkeep. A good rule of thumb is to set aside 1–3% of your home’s value each year for maintenance and repairs. So if your home is worth $400,000, that’s anywhere from $4,000 to $12,000 annually. That range depends on the age of your home, the climate you live in, and whether you’re dealing with major systems nearing the end of their lifespan (like HVAC, roofing, or plumbing).
In 2025, with the rising cost of labor and materials, budgeting for maintenance is more important than ever. Smart homeowners treat this as a non-negotiable line item—just like their mortgage or property taxes. In the full post, I’ll break down common maintenance expenses, ways to plan for them, and how to avoid getting caught off guard by surprise repairs. Whether you're a first-time buyer or longtime owner, a solid maintenance fund = long-term peace of mind. Read the full post over on Financial Best Life.
P.S. Before becoming a licensed Atlanta real estate agent, I spent nearly a decade as a personal finance expert and blogger, helping thousands of readers navigate everything from credit scores to closing costs. I’m now opening up the archives of my former blog, Financial Best Life, to share some of the most valuable and still-relevant content from my years in the money space. So if you see a link to FinancialBestLife.com, know it's part of the same mission—helping you live well, buy smart, and build a life (and home) that’s truly your own.
