Costs to buy a house in Maine | Maine closing costs | Maine house buying calculator | Homeownership costs | How to save when buying a home in Maine
The average home buyer in Maine spends between $30,410 and $104,154 when purchasing a $369,767 home — the state median value.
Keep in mind, this is just the cost of buying a home. After you close, you'll still need to budget for all the ongoing costs of homeownership.
Luckily, Clever Real Estate can help make buying a home more affordable. Working with a Clever agent means you'll not only get great service from start to finish, but you could also be eligible for up to 0.5% cash back after closing. That's about $1,849 back on an average-priced home in Maine!
Average cost to buy a house in Maine
Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
$3,698 to $11,093 | |
$12,942 to $73,953 | |
$3,393 to $5,089 | |
$8,538 | |
$295 | |
$295 | |
$1,250 to $4,890 | |
Total | $30,410 to $104,154 |
Buyer closing costs in Maine
While the other costs to buy a house in Maine are pretty transparent, Maine closing costs are a bit more nuanced. They're actually a series of smaller costs lumped together into one total. Here's a breakdown of all of the Maine closing costs you'll likely pay when buying a home.
Closing cost | Amount |
|---|---|
Closing fee | $370 |
Recording fee | $60 |
Title service fees | $807 |
Origination fee | $1,849 |
Underwriting fee | $600 |
Discount points | $2,958 per point |
Lender's title insurance | $347 |
Owner's title insurance | $734 |
Prorated property tax | Varies |
Transfer tax | 0.22% |
Total | $8,538 |
Keep in mind, closing costs are often negotiable. However, to win the negotiation battle, you'll need a great agent who can work out a deal with the seller. Clever can match you with a top agent in your area that can get the seller to shoulder more of the above costs.
Contact us at Clever for top agent recommendations.
Cost to buy a house in Maine calculator
Ongoing costs of homeownership in Maine
Unfortunately, the cost to buy a house is just the beginning. After closing, you'll officially own the home and begin paying for the ongoing costs of homeownership.
Expense | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|
Mortgage (principle and interest) | $1,696 |
Homeowners insurance | $82 |
Taxes | Varies but averages $407 statewide |
Maintenance | $307 |
Utilities | $376 |
Total | $2,868 |
Note: All numbers are estimates based on state averages and a median home value of $369,767 and a down payment of 20%. | |
Besides the expenses outlined above, you'll also want to consider private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowner's association (HOA) fees.
- If you pay less than 20% as a down payment on your house, you'll probably have to pay PMI monthly until you get to 20% equity. For the average Maine homeowner, this is between $161 to $544 a month.
- Some neighborhoods have HOA fees for the care and maintenance of common areas. The national average is around $250 per month.
» MORE: The true cost of homeownership
Top ways to save money when buying a house in Maine
1. Look into better financing options
Paying off debts and getting your credit in the best shape possible before applying for a loan will help you get a better interest rate, which will lower your monthly payments for the life of the loan.
You can also shop around to compare lenders so you get the lowest fees and interest rates available. It may be a good idea to enlist the help of a mortgage broker if you're not sure how to go about vetting lenders.
Get Pre-approved Today!
Get matched with a lender who can tell you how much house you can afford. To get started, where do you plan on buying?
2. Participate in home buyer programs Maine
There are a few programs available to buyers in Maine to make owning a home easier. First-time home buyers can apply for Maine State Housing Authority’s First Home Loan Program, which offers favorable lending terms to eligible buyers.
Maine residents also have the option of using Habitat for Humanity, which gives low-income buyers access to affordable housing through the use of “sweat equity,” or acts of volunteerism. The state also has some city-specific programs you may be eligible for — check out the HUD website for more details.
» MORE: First-time home buyer programs everyone should know about
3. Partner with an expert agent
Some real estate companies, like Clever, offer home buyers a percentage of their home's price back after the sale finalizes.
That means if you work with a Clever agent, you'll not only get the expertise that helps you get the best deal possible — you could also get up to 0.5% of your home price back after closing!