Homeownership continues to be a mirage for many Americans, as high real estate prices and mortgage rates have proven challenging for first-time buyers. And about 40 percent of those who can afford a home say that maintenance and other hidden costs put a significant strain on their finances, as many Americans spend over a third of their income on housing.
And while states like Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts have some of the highest housing costs in the country, if you’re looking for affordable real estate, consider West Virginia.
Home experts at Cinch Home Services analyzed data on average property taxes, mortgage payments, and maintenance fees for median-priced homes in each state. It concluded that homeowners in the Mountain State have the lowest annual housing expenses in the nation.
“The average household [in West Virginia] retains 76.6 percent of their take-home pay, which translates to a substantial $47,500 left over after expenses,” the report states. However, it also highlights the fact that “West Virginia also has the lowest take-home salary in the U.S., 27.4 percent below the national average.”
The study estimates that homeowners in the Mountain State spend $2,458 on maintenance, $888 on property taxes, and $11,160 on annual mortgage, for a total of $14,506, which is 53 percent below the national average.
According to U.S. Census data, West Virginia has the highest percentage of homeownership of all 50 states. The average home value there is $167,282, compared to $361,282 nationally.
However, some regions remain more affordable than others. The Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, for example, which is less than an hour and a half from Washington, D.C., has seen an influx of urbanites and remote workers driving home prices up. In towns like Summit Point, Shenandoah Junction, and Shepherdstown, real estate prices have increased over 50 percent in the last five years.
Mississippi is second on Cinch Home Services’s report on the states with the lowest housing expenses, where total average annual costs stand below $16,000, while Louisiana is third with $17,944.
“In Mississippi, homeowners spend 24.7 percent of their take-home household salary on housing expenses, with 19.1 percent on mortgage costs alone. The median-priced property here costs $172,654, making it the second-most affordable option in the nation,” the report reads.
Arkansas and Oklahoma round out the top five, with the latter having particularly low property taxes — 0.89 percent, which accounts for $1,771 annually.
On the other hand, in Hawaii, the most expensive state for housing on the list, homeownership costs $65,185 in annual expenses, which is a whopping 75 percent of an average paycheck, according to Cinch Home Services’ data.
