Before closing
Earnest money (1-3% of price, credited back at closing), the home inspection ($400-$800), and the appraisal ($550-$900) are paid during the contract period. None are optional if you want to buy safely.
At closing
Closing costs run roughly 2-4% of the purchase price: lender fees, title insurance, escrow, recording, plus prepaid property taxes and a year of homeowners insurance. Your Loan Estimate itemizes all of it within three days of applying.
The move itself
Movers or truck rental, utility deposits and transfers, locks, and the immediate-need items every first home demands: a lawnmower, ladder, and the curtain rods nobody remembers. Budget $2,000-$5,000 for the transition month.
After you own it
The expense that separates comfortable owners from stressed ones is the maintenance reserve. Plan for 1-2% of the home value per year. A water heater fails on a Saturday; owners with a reserve call a plumber, owners without one call a credit card.
