On his road to homeownership, Scott Leibfried has learned one thing: Expect the unexpected.

He and his wife had an offer accepted on a home, only to later find that foreclosure proceedings were about to begin on it. That’s after they considered another home that was aesthetically pleasing but had major issues that came to light upon closer inspection.

In the meantime, they’re trying to estimate the money they will need for closing costs and any future expenses, hoping that they won’t eat too much into their financial cushion.

Full story is available on The Wall Street Journal