<prompt> Human: I am doing some calculations on the total cost of maintaining a home 15 year old, 350K SFH, on a 8000 sq.ft lot. Home owners insurance: 0.2 per year Maintenance costs: 1 per year HOA etc: 0.2 per year Prop taxes after tax return : 0.75 per yearThese amount to about 2.15 a year. So, if home prices increase by 2.5 a year on an average, I am barely gaining any equity due to appreciation.So, for a 350K home, I am spending about 7500 per year 2.15, which is about 625 per month over the mortgage amount. Also, for a 350K home, if I have a 80 loan of 280K, the mortgage interest I am paying is about 630 after tax benefit. So the total cost of operation is 1255. Does this sound right? Am I over estimating any number?Thanks.Edit: For states like NJ and IL, the property taxes are higher and the 2.15 above will be close to 3.  <response>: Obviously, the biggest part of that calculation is the 1 in maintenance costs. Thats not a set amount that you will be spending year over year, but rather an average of what you can reasonably expect to spend i.e. nothing one year, new roof the next, nothing for five, then a pipe bursts, etc.. Your math sounds about right, but if youre trying to gauge the real cost of owning a home, youre forgetting yard upkeep, pest control, furnishing the home, PMI if your loan is under 20 down, and utilities. 