NOW LOADING

For the city to officially acknowledge they lived there.

To ensure no long-lost cousin could claim the backyard.

The story ended with them sitting on the floor of their new living room, eating pizza off a cardboard box because they couldn't afford a table yet. They were homeowners, but they had learned the ultimate truth: the price you see on the Zillow listing is just the opening chapter.

Altogether, closing costs added another 3% of the home price—roughly $12,000—to their bill.