By David McMillin
Bankrate.com
After a lot of saving and a lot of stress, you’ve just bought your first house. You’re thrilled! But soon, the reality of homeownership hits. You start to notice wear and tear and things that need to be fixed. You wonder how much it will cost, and how you can afford to maintain the property and pay all your other bills, in addition to your monthly mortgage payments. The next thing you know, you’re thinking, “What was I thinking?”
