>> Houses that are paid off and have no mortgage and have been built efficiently can easily get to 1%/year Property taxes differ by state, but the median is ar

>> Houses that are paid off and have no mortgage and have been built efficiently can easily get to 1%/year Property taxes differ by state, but the median is around 1% a year of the property value. So for most people, taxes alone will get you to 1%. Illinois is 2.3% a year, New Jersey is 2.5%. Insurance also differs by state by 0.5% to 1.0% is typical, higher percentage for properties with lower values. Looking at how much a new roof or HVAC system costs, you're likely going to have at least 1% a year in maintenance if not higher in the long term. Most people even with their mortgages paid off will pay at least 3% a year without including renovations.