The amount of “communal” also varies not only in different states, but also in different cities. This is especially true for electricity rates, parking costs and various subsidies from the state.
At the same time, several companies are engaged in the supply of resources in each state, so there is plenty to choose from.
The maintenance of even the most modest apartment will cost at least $ 150 per month, excluding insurance, parking, management company fees and real estate tax (if the housing is yours). In states where the minimum wage is higher than the national average (for example, in California, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts), this amount is higher.
How to pay. The client independently informs the company about the indicators of the counters, after which the supplier sends an invoice. Payment is mainly online, through personal banking or the website of the management company, the last option is mail. It is almost impossible to meet a long queue of pensioners at the bank who want to pay bills.
Interesting
Some companies, along with your indicators in the bill, also indicate the “expense”, for example, of your neighbors (anonymously) or on average across the state. This way you can understand how economically you use resources – the policy of the state is aimed at this. For the same purpose, utility companies offer different packages of services and tariffs (for example, night or designed for “unpopular” hours).
– Electricity
One of the largest items of expenditure. There are several supplier companies, because there is no single tariff grid. The average rate per kilowatt hour is $0.13, but this figure can vary greatly depending on the state. According to the website of independent statistics and analysis of US energy, in October 2020, the rates were as follows.
Connecticut – $0.22
New Hampshire – $0.19
New York – $0.19
Pennsylvania – $0.14
Indiana – $0.14
Minnesota – $0.14
Nebraska – $0.11
Florida – $0.11
Texas – $0.12
California – $0.21
Washington – $0.10
Hawaii – $0.29
If we proceed from the calculation of 150 kWh per person per month, then a family of two people will cost from $30 to $87, depending on the state. This is without taking into account air conditioning, so in summer and sometimes in winter the amount can increase significantly. For example, living in Arizona, you will have to “cool down” all the time, so get ready to pay about $120 for electricity in the hottest months. The same can be said about New York, but in winter, because it’s cold there and people often turn on the air conditioner in heating mode.
Americans who purchase private homes often install small wind turbines on the territory. The energy generated is enough for the family, and there is no need to pay for electricity at all.
– Gas and heating
The situation is similar with natural gas, but the payment for it will depend on the presence or absence of central heating, as well as a specific state. For example, in the central states you will pay much less than in the northern ones. In houses where there is central heating, the amount for the expense is fixed, does not depend on meters and is included in the rent. If a boiler is installed in the house, then on average you will pay $ 80-100 per month for heating.
In many homes in the southern states, heating is not provided at all, because split systems are most often used for heating in cold periods of the year, which are more expensive than boilers.
Gas is also used for cooking, heating water. If we limit ourselves to these two items only, $8-15 will be released per month. Plus, you will have to pay a monthly subscription fee of about $ 10.
– Water and sewerage
Water costs are very low, even though rates vary depending on the region. The average cost of a cubic meter of water is $ 0.6. Thus, a family of two people costs $ 10-12 per month. You will have to pay extra $15-30 per month for sewerage separately.
– TV, telephone, Internet
This item pulls in quite a large amount. The average cost of a package is $100-150 per month. In New York, the amount reaches $180-200. Moreover, Americans watch TV all the time, and use a home phone much more often than a mobile one. There are often situations when the Internet is divided into several apartments.
– Garbage collection
Depending on the house, the staff and the number of people in the apartment – $17-35 per month.
– Insurance
Real estate insurance in the USA is a common service, although optional. Almost every American has fire insurance; often houses are insured against earthquakes, floods, natural disasters. Additionally, air conditioners, electrical wiring, plumbing are included in the policy. The annual cost of insurance is 1-5% of the cost of housing (depending on the services included).
– Owners’ Association
If you bought an apartment in a residential complex, the homeowner’s Association (HOA), or, more simply, the HOA, will most likely be responsible for the improvement of the adjacent territory. The organization is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the common space. Depending on what is included in their package of services, the monthly fee will vary from $50 to $ 4 thousand. Sometimes the amount of the subscription fee already includes garbage collection, fire insurance, water and sewer charges, parking, so you will not need to pay separately for all this.
Find out in advance where your future apartment is located – in a cooperative or in an ordinary house. A share in a cooperative costs two to three times cheaper, but the list of mandatory monthly expenses will usually include a considerable HOA fee. In general, the more elite the complex where your apartment is located, the higher the subscription fees will be.
Feature.
Please note that the Association of real estate owners in the USA is a body for which there is no regulation at the municipal level. That is, each association sets its own rules. For example, the association of the house may decide that residents do not have the right to have pets or decorate windows for holidays. Such nuances should be found out in advance, because for violating the rules – a hefty fine.