The Real Estate Deal That Almost Died Over 3 Pounds of Dog
Years ago, I had buyers fly down to look at homes in Boynton Beach. After seeing several properties, they found a house they absolutely loved.
We went back to see it twice. We asked all the right questions. And because the listing mentioned pet restrictions, my buyers specifically told the listing agent they had a Wheaten Terrier.
“No problem,” the agent said.
So we moved forward.
The offer was accepted, the first deposit was made, and the home officially went under contract.
Because my buyers lived out of town, they asked me to attend the home inspection for them. Assuming everything checked out, they planned to send the second deposit immediately afterward.
At the inspection, the listing agent handed me the HOA documents, which I overnighted to my buyers.
That’s when the phone rang.
The buyer sounded panicked.
“The documents say one pet, maximum 25 pounds,” he said. “Our dog weighs somewhere between 28 and 30 pounds. What am I supposed to do? Put her on a diet?”
After we both stopped laughing, I started making calls.
First, I called the listing agent.
“I don’t know,” she said. “Call the management company.”
So I called the management company.
“I don’t know,” they said. “Only the Association President can decide that, and she’s out of town until Monday.”
And around and around we went.
Meanwhile, this was during a slower market. The sellers wanted to sell. My buyers wanted to buy. And somehow the entire deal was hanging on three pounds of dog.
Seriously? Hard to believe but true.
Something about that just felt ridiculous.
Over the weekend, my buyers became increasingly frustrated and nervous. And honestly, my concern wasn’t just whether the dog would be approved.
What happens later if a neighbor complains?
What if someone decides the dog is “too big”?
That’s not the kind of stress people should have after buying a home.
Pet Rules of the Association
By Monday, the Association President finally called. She said they would “consider” approving the dog if my buyers immediately submitted a photo along with veterinary records documenting the dog’s weight.
The buyer had had enough.
He was in the middle of working in New York City when he called me.
“Is she serious?” he asked. “I’m supposed to leave work, go home, take the dog to the vet, and prove she’s three pounds lighter than their rule?”
Then he said the magic words:
“Cancel the contract.”
I promised him I’d find something better.
He told me his wife would “cook my goose” if I didn’t.
So the search started again.
Eventually, I found another home in Boynton Beach that checked almost every box — except one.
It had a pool.
My buyers insisted they didn’t want a pool.
Still, I told them:
“You don’t have to buy the house, but you ARE going to see it.”
The house was fabulous. Fully upgraded. Extra bedroom. Whole-house generator. Beautiful 40-foot pool. And the moment I asked about pet restrictions, the association’s response was unforgettable:
“Is the dog smaller than an elephant?”
Now THAT’S my kind of pet policy.
The buyer walked through the front door, looked around, called his wife from the living room, and said:
“We’re buying this house.”
And according to them, they owe it all to Chelsea the dog… and me.
The lesson?
If you’re shopping for a pet-friendly home in South Florida, don’t assume every community views pets the same way. HOA rules can vary dramatically — and sometimes those little details become very big deals.
As someone who specializes in pet-friendly homes throughout Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and surrounding areas, I always tell buyers to look beyond the house itself and understand the community rules before making an offer.
Because sometimes three pounds of dog apparently matters.
Until it doesn’t.
