Earlier, I blogged about how my husband and I chose to purchase a new home, thinking we'd save on maintenance costs and avoid having to pay for redecorating to undo previous homeowners' design decisions. But now, I am learning that there are hidden costs to buying a new home, expenses one might not think of when purchasing a brand-new house. When you buy a newly built home, of course everything is brand new, but if you are getting a non-custom home in a standard housing development, you are likely to find that unlike existing homes that owners have already upgraded on their own over the years, your new home will lack: Landscaping. Sure, the builder might plant a small bush or tree here or there, but the plantings are unlikely to be extensive, and you'll most likely want to upgrade your yard over the years. A deck or patio. If the new home is like mine, it will only come with a small slab of cement that they call a "patio." Privacy trees or fencing. Outdoor lighting -- the single light... - Reggie Nicolay