As the adage says, there's no free lunch, and that's certainly true when it comes to homeownership. Renters seeking to transition to home ownership need to understand that a down payment and mortgage are just the beginning of the costs involved with the American dream. 

And the expenses that follow can be a tough lesson, particularly for many first-time homeowners to master. Even before they settle in, new homeowners—and others–face the cost to move, then, maybe paint and wallpaper, mow the lawn, plow the driveway and walks of snow in winter and replace aging parts and systems.

To make the learning curve tougher is that the everyday expenses of owning are now higher than ever, according to a new analysis from Zillow and Thumbtack. Specifically, utility bills, property taxes, insurance and essential home maintenance may add up to $14,000-plus a year for the average homeowner. That's $1,180 per month on top of a typical mortgage payment.