‘Hidden Costs’ of Homeownership Raise Questions About the Value of Buying a Home

‘It catches many homeowners off guard,’ home finance expert Linda Bell said.

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A house provides shelter, comfort, and security—and when lived in long enough, it can become a home. 

And for most Americans, houses are also the most valuable asset they possess, according to a 2024 Federal Reserve report. Home equity provides a lasting source of wealth that they can pass on to their children.