About HomeownerCosts
HomeownerCosts is an independent website that explains what it really costs to buy and own a home in the United States. It was founded and is edited by Aritz Boveda.
Most cost articles online quote a single monthly payment or a national average and stop there. The real cost of a home depends on details people rarely see explained in one place: how property tax is actually calculated, what escrow does to your payment, when mortgage insurance comes off, what your insurance policy really covers. We wanted guides that explain those details clearly, show the math, and let you run the numbers for your own situation.
What we do
- We start from primary sources. Federal regulators and agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and FEMA, federal law and regulations, the housing finance agencies, state insurance departments and recognized research institutions.
- We build our own tools. Every calculator on the site is ours, and the worked examples in our guides come from those same calculations.
- We show our work. Every guide lists its sources and explains how we calculated any figure that isn’t copied directly from them.
- We keep guides current. When rules or data change we update the guide and the “Updated” date at the top of the page.
What we don’t do
We are not a lender, insurer, real estate brokerage or tax adviser, and we don’t sell your information. Our guides help you understand costs and ask better questions; they are not personal advice. Read our editorial policy and disclaimer for details.
How the site is funded
HomeownerCosts is supported by advertising. Advertisers have no influence over what we write or which data we publish.
Contact
Spotted an error or outdated number? We want to know. Write to us through the contact page and we’ll review it.