04/26/2026
Made Daughter An Offer, She Declined and Now Wants It Back as $$$?
My dad passed away a few years ago. Not long after, my mom had a disabling stroke and I had to put her in an assisted living facility. This is all in my hometown about 500 miles from where I've now lived for many years. I was co-owner of their house.
I knew Mom wouldn't be coming home and proceeded to clean out the house, did extensive repairs, kept the taxes and insurance paid, kept it from looking deserted by making sure the grass was cut and bushes trimmed, lights on timers, neighbors parking in driveway, etc. Mom's health declined and she passed at some point. During this time my daughter was in high school and looking towards college. She considered my alma mater in my home town (an excellent University) and I told her if she chose to go there, she could live in the house (which was looking like new) and I'd cover the costs - utilities, grass cutting,
groceries. She could if she wished get a roommate. It was about 20 minutes from campus in a beautiful neighborhood - nice lot, beautifully landscaped, two car garage, all new high-end appliances and carpeting, remodeled bath, new HVAC and roof, etc. After graduation, if she chose to seek and find a career there (lots of opportunities and growth in that city) I'd give her the house. So at 22-23, she'd be off to a good start plus she'd own a great house free and clear. She chose a university in our state. A very fine school. We'd funded her college account as our wish is to have her graduate with no debt.
Since she wasn't going to use the house and it was too far to run as a rental, I sold it, netting about $550K which I channeled into other investments. Daughter goes off to college. We'd talked for years about careers and I advised her to pick something she can love and be excited about, to explore opportunity and growth in that field and think where it will take her. She's chosen a pretty...