How Buying a Home Left Me with $9.5K in Unexpected Debt

Last year, I packed up my belongings, converted my first home into a rental property, and chose to settle 50 miles away to be closer to my parents. My husband and I chose a $179,000 house in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, as our second home. This wasn't our first time buying, so we were aware we'd spend a bit more money over the sticker price. We'd need to buy a few new appliances (and add in closing costs, of course)--but after planning it out, I thought it was going to cost $5,000 more, at most. We...