When Will Hudson bought his condo in Golden, Colo., two years ago, the last thing he expected was to be trapped with the real-estate equivalent of a lemon. With fond memories of living in the condo complex in his 20s, the 43-year-old public employee decided to buy a two-bedroom unit, sight unseen, for $260,000 in July 2024. At the time, he was living with his fiancée in Bordentown, N.J., and wanted to give Colorado a try.
That purchase quickly turned out to be “the greatest mistake of my life,” Hudson told MarketWatch. Within a year of moving in, he wanted to sell, because multiple issues — from water shutoffs to flooding in common areas — made living there difficult. Chip stocks have been on a wild ride.
What comes next?Play video: Chip stocks have been on a wild ride. But a similar property in the complex was already on the market and wasn’t selling, prompting him to hold off on listing his. After cutting their asking price from $270,000 in May 2025 to $149,000 in mid-September 2026, the other owner is finally under contract, but the sale has yet to close.
Hudson is now watching that listing closely while he decides whether to put his unit on the market. Don’t Short Yourself offers weekly money tips to help you earn it, stack it and grow it. I would like to receive updates and special offers from Dow Jones and affiliates.
I can unsubscribe at any time. Hudson said he wants to sell in part because he’s fed up with his condo. His homeowners association fees have been creeping up to nearly $470 per month, and that’s on top of expenses stemming from special assessments he’s had to cough up.
Living conditions haven’t been great; over one recent weekend, his unit had no water or sewer for two days. Hudson’s frustration mirrors the plight of many condo owners in America. As home-insurance premiums hit new highs, condo owners are seeing surging HOA fees as their buildings’ rising insurance costs are passed on to the residents.
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