NWR- Ladies living on your own or with FH...

don't laugh... I have NO IDEA how much it costs to own a home.. I try and ask my father what the average bills are, but he doesn't discuss finances with me. my brother usually gives me short answers that aren't helpful.

FH and I have been looking online at homes, trying to figure out what we can afford.
We figured out that my paycheck might cover the mortgage payments... and his will cover EVERYTHING else.. heat, electric, water, cell phones, cable, cars, insurance, etc. -- well we ASSUME it might, but we're not 100% sure... heck we're not even 50% sure
so... if you feel comfortable enough, please give me a roundabout estimate of what you pay.. besides rent/mortgage. please break it up by heat, electric, etc. basically ALL other expenses (excluding wedding).

THANKS GIRLS

yea I know, but just a general.. $400-600... for this, $100-150 for that... we like to highball everything, but have no idea what the average is for anything.
we went from arguing over wedding stuff to arguing over a house.. and now we're arguing over BOTH..

I dont live alone or with FH...we both still live with our parents until october.....

I can give you a price range from my parents, if that helps?


Phone/internet/tv w fios = $175 a month
landscaping - 100 a month
Electric = appx 160-200?
gas = no idea
cell phones for both parents = appx 140 a month

I'm in FL and things are cheaper here but I can tell you my parents pay $300-400 on electric a month ...and their house is average size IMO...water is like $120....oil is CRAZY, I think during the winter its around $400 every other month

Cable - $180

Electric - Winter $50 Summer $100-$150 with AC running

Gas (which is a lifesaver to have!) Summer $40 Winter $90 (fh doesn't keep it very high!)

Insurance - my homeowners is with my mortgage, but figure around $800-$1000

Groceries - $300 - $500/month

What am I missing?

ETA: Water $150/quarter

I live in Ohio, and my rent is $500 (VERY LUCKY, I know! It's the only perk of living here). We rent a two bedroom/ two bathroom duplex, and gas is probably $120-150/month and electric is $40 in the winter, and the opposite for the summer b/c of air conditioning. That price is probably WAY different in a larger house in LI, but that at least gives you an estimate of a gas/electric bill .

My sister pays like $3700 in mortgage alone on her house that isn't even that expensive; however, she did get her house at a bad time.
You have to factor in utilities, insurances for cars, groceries, phone bills, credit card bills, student loans, etc. I think you need to budget $4000-5000 a month, to be honest.
ETA: Don't forget taxes... Property taxes in Nassau alone can easily be $1000++ per month.

we live in a 1 bedroom apartment with a dining room and lr so obviously utilities will be higher for bigger places

electric in summer- 120 and up
in the winter- 70-100

cable, tv and internet, 85 (weve been with other companies where its much higher like 120 or 130)

we used to have a home phone- for the most basic plan it was like 40 or 50 per month

water- its included in our rent but its pretty cheap, like 10-25 per month

gas- not sure...thinking its around 70-100 a month
if you have only oil, you might spend over 100-2000 for the full winter to heat the house

oh yeah...food could run 300 or more a month

taxes- depending on queens, nassau or suffolk, it varies A LOT!

then theres your car insurance, cell phone bill, cc bills to think about

We have to live in Suffolk because of a program with his job.
I'm now REALLY nervous, I don't know if we can do it.
I guess FH is right, we need a small co-op... (I kinda wanted a house ASAP because of the market and because I want our first christmas to be held at our house... and we can't fit EVERYONE in a small co-op)

thanks for sharing

well this is going to really vary because the costs vary depending on size of house or condo, co-op, property TAXES and utilities.
I can give you estimates on what I pay and what FH pays for his house.

I own a condo in Queens. I paid 205K for it a few years ago. I got a mortgage for 200-205K at 5.9% interest and my mortgage PLUS tax escrow and interest comes to about $1,535.00 per month. I also pay homeowner's dues (required if you buy a condo or co-op) which is roughly $300-325 a month (its going up to $330/mo in 2010).

So my total HOUSING payment is $1850/month.
Utilities run me an extra $50-100 a month and of course, there is Cable/Internet added on top.

My FH bought his house in south Nassau County in 2004 - he got it through a relative so paid 315K or so for it and his mortgage was 30 year fixed for 5.375% interest. Property taxes in our area are all over the map - from a lot of $3K a year to 6 or 8K/year. His total housing is around $2K which includes the property taxes (but he does not escrow so only pays it every 6 months in lump sum).

A good rule of thumb is to basically multiply you and FH's income by 3 to see what you can afford. If you and FH made 50K each, then thats a combined income of $100K so technically you can be approved for a mortgage amount of at least $350K.

Check out Bankrate.com. It will give you Calculaturs and Cost Estimates to see what mortgage amounts you qualify for.

Good luck!