Budgeting & planning

Plan for total first-year homeowner costs to run 1% to 4% of the home's purchase price beyond the mortgage — typically $3,000 to $15,000 in maintenance, repairs, and setup costs on a median-priced home. Routine maintenance runs $1,500 to $3,000.

Replacing a tank water heater typically costs $900 to $2,500 installed; tankless runs $1,400 to $5,600. See cost drivers and how to delay it.

Furnace replacement averages about $4,771, with most paying $2,825 to $6,846. Costs by fuel and efficiency tier, plus a clear replace-vs-repair guide.

Replacing a central air conditioner usually costs $4,500 to $12,000 installed, most homeowners $5,500 to $7,000. See costs by size and repair vs. replace.

Mold remediation runs $1,500 to $9,500, with most jobs $2,500 to $3,900. See costs by location and scope, plus when you can clean it yourself vs call a pro.

Water damage repair commonly runs $1,400 to $6,400, averaging near $2,566. See costs by water category, the first steps to take, and what insurance covers.

Foundation repair averages about $5,179, typically $2,224 to $8,134. See real costs by method, the warning signs, and cheap water fixes that prevent it.

Siding replacement runs $3 to $12 per sq ft for vinyl, $5 to $30 for wood, and $11 to $57 for fiber cement. See full cost and lifespan by material here.