there is more to consider, such as closing costs, property taxes, ongoing maintenance, and homeowner’s insurance. You might assume that insurance is pretty standard, but sometimes you’ll discover along the way that the home you wish to purchase will cost too much to insure. Th e best thing to do here is to start shopping around and getting insurance quotes a ft er you’ve made an o ff er so that you’ll know your total monthly housing costs. Sometimes you’ll fin d considerably high quotes for insurance. Some of the reasons for this could include the home having spe cifi c features considered “liabilities” by insurers, or the home is located in a high-risk area (like a fl ood zone). Th e latter is one of the more common reasons for higher quoted insurance costs. Do you want to live somewhere where there is an ongoing risk of disaster, evacuation, and having to live with the damage a ft erward? Home insurance is something you’ll have to pay for the duration of the time you live in a home, so if you can’t fin d an a ff ordable quote for the property in which you’re interested, then consider that perhaps this isn’t the right home for you. On the other hand, some buyers are willing to pay a higher premium if the conditions are right — such as “breathtaking views of open water and three places,” says Bieber. “But if not, try to fin d a comparable house A home that is “unusual” — meaning the structure, design, and/ or décor is something not necessarily found in other homes — can really appeal to a very spe cifi c type of buyer, and even be the deciding factor in the sale, but these highly customized homes are also mor e diffi cult to sell down the road. Maybe the home of your dreams contains that “unusual” or 143 with more reasonable insurance costs.” 8. Th e Home Is a Bit Too “Unusual”
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