The largest financial commitment most people will ever make is also one of the least explained. Buying a home is a transaction. Owning one is a job. The two are not taught together.
The numbers behind that gap are documented. According to the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, citing American Home Shield data, 46% of first-time buyers did not understand the true cost of homeownership before purchasing. 56% had no repair budget. 51% reported anxiety about things breaking in their home.
