Totally agree—Zillow's handy for ballpark figures, but never rely on it fully. A few things I've learned:
- Property taxes can fluctuate way more than expected.
- Insurance premiums vary widely depending on location and home age.
- Always check recent HOA meeting minutes...they reveal hidden drama (and costs) you'd never guess from listings.
Good points, especially about HOA minutes—I've seen some wild stuff hidden in there. I'd also add:
- Utility costs can sneak up on you big time, especially older homes.
- Renovation surprises...always budget extra.
Curious, anyone had unexpected easement issues pop up? Those can get messy fast.
Easements can definitely throw a wrench in things. Had a client last year who bought a nice little ranch-style home, everything seemed straightforward until about two weeks before closing. Turns out there was an old utility easement running right through the backyard—right where they planned to put in a pool. It wasn't clearly marked on the survey we initially got, so it blindsided everyone.
Long story short, we had to scramble to negotiate with the city and utility company. Eventually, we got permission to shift the pool location slightly, but it cost extra time and money. Lesson learned: always double-check those surveys and title reports carefully, even if they seem boring or routine. If something looks off or unclear, don't hesitate to ask questions or get clarification from the title company or your agent. Better safe than sorry...
Had something similar happen when we bought our place. Easement wasn't obvious at first glance, but luckily we caught it early. Curious, did your client end up needing a lawyer to sort it out or just handled through the city?
We ran into something kinda similar, but honestly, hiring a lawyer felt like overkill for us. Ended up just chatting with the city's planning office directly—they were surprisingly helpful, and it saved us a chunk of change. Guess it depends how complicated your situation is though...
