With budgets already stretched thin along with higher interest rates, today’s buyers are more selective than ever regarding homes they’re willing to purchase. They don’t want to get stuck with a home they’ll need to sink even more money into after closing. In fact, according to a recent report from Zillow, buyers are willing to pay up to 4% more (an average of $13,000 for the average American home) for a move-in-ready listing that doesn’t need renovations or repairs. 

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In line with many other living expenses, home insurance has been rising over the last several years. According to the Consumer Federation of America, the average annual home insurance premium for a typical homeowner increased by an average of $648 across the country from 2021 to 2024. Home insurance in Missouri increased by an average of 12% during that time span, while Illinois home insurance increased by a whopping 50%.

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If you plan on selling your house in 2026, you shouldn’t have much trouble. Affordability is expected to improve as interest rates drop. Inventory, however, is limited, so sellers need to use every available tool to attract buyers and get top dollar. Home staging is one of those tools. 

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Homeowners who locked into near-3% interest rates during 2020–2021 are now hesitant to sell, because it means buying another property that could require a 6% rate or higher. This “mortgage lock-in effect” is causing many would-be sellers to stay put, which means a smaller housing supply in St. Louis — and fewer options for eager buyers. 

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One of the first questions people ask when getting ready to sell is “What is my home worth?” Setting the right asking price is crucial. Price it too high and it could be left on the market with no buyer in sight; ask too little, and you’re leaving money on the table. 

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Do homes sell in the winter? They sure do! In fact, last December in St. Louis, more than 1,200 homes sold within about a month, and almost all of them sold at or very near list price. Many sellers are reluctant to list in colder months, but if the price point and size of the house are right, buyers are willing to move any time of year.

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Scrolling through Instagram and TikTok can certainly make homeowners nervous if they’re thinking about selling. It seems that every home on social media is straight out of a Magnolia magazine, with trending paint colors, perfect decor, and kitchen remodels that must have cost a fortune. Not everyone has the budget, time, or energy to make their home look like that in order to attract buyers.

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Everyone knows that buying a house is expensive, but few buyers are well-aquainted with the laundry list of expenses involved. Even if you’ve saved up for a nice down payment on your home, you’ll still have to consider all of the hidden costs to budget in before going through with the purchase.

Here’s a look at some of the costs buyers encounter when buying a house, and some tips for staying within budget.

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Unless you are a first-time homebuyer or opting to sell your house and rent instead, chances are you will need to navigate buying and selling a home at the same time. According to Zillow, roughly 71% of buyers and sellers end up going through this process. 

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Every buyer has a dream neighborhood or dream home, but not everyone has a dream budget. If you’ve been driving by houses for sale that you can’t afford — and feeling defeated — it may be time to figure out what it is that makes it appealing to you. Chances are, there’s a neighborhood in St. Louis that offers something similar to what you desire for a more manageable price. 

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