My cousin closed on a 3-bed in 2018 for $312,000. Put 10% down. Mortgage was $1,680 a month. He and his wife both still work the same jobs. Combined take-home is $6,420. This year the tax assessment came in. Property taxes went from $2,900 a year to $7,640. Homeowners insurance jumped from $1,100 to $2,850 after two claims in the neighborhood. They refinanced once already. New payment is $2,410. Daycare for the youngest is $1,640. One car payment left at $385. Groceries and utilities run about $1,100. They sit down every month and have $235 left before any repairs or kids’ activities. The house is now “worth” $580,000 on Zillow. They can’t sell because anything comparable is another $1,200 a month and farther from both jobs. So they stay, fix nothing, and watch the equity number go up while the bank account stays empty.