When buying an apartment, many homebuyers focus solely on the purchase price, overlooking the importance of lifetime maintenance costs. Monthly maintenance fees, which can average around ₹5,000, can become burdensome, especially during periods of unemployment or retirement. Pramod Kathuria, founder and CEO of Easiloan, emphasizes the need to consider all recurring costs, including GST, property taxes, and future repair expenses. For instance, GST applies if monthly maintenance exceeds ₹7,500 and the society's annual turnover exceeds ₹20 lakh. Buyers should calculate total ownership expenses over the duration they plan to hold the property, as this can lead to a more accurate understanding of financial obligations. A common rule of thumb suggests that every ₹1 per square foot in maintenance translates to an implied capital cost of roughly ₹1,000 per square foot over time. While higher maintenance fees may support better amenities, they can also reflect unsustainable facilities in smaller projects. To ensure long-term affordability, buyers should treat maintenance as a critical component of their overall expenses, benchmarking against similar developments and planning for future cost escalations.