Are you guys for real?

Nothing much.
My grandpa’s got a tenant paying about $220 a month. During the summer, I usually head out to stay with my old man and rent out my apartment to make a little extra cash on the side.

Are you paying rent? Like, are you living with a roommate or something, or do you have the whole place to yourself?

Me, my wife, and our kid. And yeah, I’m footing the bill—not like there was any other choice. My dad and his mom are on tiny Social Security checks, so this helps them out, even if they live like royalty right now. Whatever. It’s all going to me eventually anyway. We did have to dump about $27k into the place because it was a total wreck—tiny balconies, bad insulation, the whole bit—but we expanded the outdoor space, fixed everything up, and insulated it properly. Between the rental income and the tourism side of things, the place basically pays for itself and covers my mortgage.

My grandpa's staying with my uncle.

He didn't inherit a damn thing, so I guess he decided to go playing adventurer across the globe... Now I'm stuck dealing with the headache of managing tenants for eight different properties from halfway across the country.

The grave at Arlington National Cemetery.

Honestly, this thread was basically built for trolls. I don't see any chance of a decent conversation happening here.

Nancy Howard4 said:I honestly feel like I owe my ancestor a massive thank you every single year because all he ever did was pour his earnings into buying up land that wasn't worth much at the time. Between 2000 and 2010, the value of that property just exploded from maybe $30 a square foot—since most of it eventually got rezoned for development—to an insane $350 per square foot. Of course, getting paid was always a huge headache since those construction companies would try to haggle you down constantly; they’d basically demand compensation because if you were selling, say, 10,000 square feet at $300 a pop, that's $3 million on the table, which is a massive sum they didn't actually have sitting in the bank. They figured they could just build some cheap apartment complex and try to sweeten the deal by throwing in some commercial space or a few condos, but you'd never actually see the actual cash
Once we finally subdivided the parcels, things got way smoother because the guy would just finish a building on the other side of town, grab his profit, and then circle back to pay me for the next phase of construction
Everything ran pretty smoothly until the whole "crash" hit

I’ve got an even better example from a coworker of mine who’s from out by the coast in Palm Springs; apparently, his old man was considered the "bad son" because he ended up with this worthless stretch of beachfront land where nothing would grow, while his uncle got the prime land 6.2 miles closer to the water that was perfect for farming, back when tourism wasn't even a real career path yet
So now, the "bad son" is living large off interest and rent from about 30 vacation rentals, while the "good son" is still out there breaking his back working in a vineyard
Sometimes, being the "bad" one really pays off😁

In my great-grandfather's case, it wasn't that he was a bad person—he was simply poor and lacked any land to work. It wasn't until the very end of his life that he managed to clear some rocky terrain and plant olive trees. For most of his life, though, he was a fisherman, so he built his house right on the water—literally designed so he could pull his boat inside to keep it protected. Today, the situation is entirely different; that house and the lot are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. It isn't for sale, though—family ties matter more than paperwork.

P.S. I think I get what the poll question is asking, but man, does it sound harsh? "I inherited this through great effort"—it makes it sound like you poisoned your own mother, father, or sister just to get the money.

Rachel Turner2 said:Me, my wife, and our kid. And yeah, I’m footing the bill—not like there was any other choice. My dad and his mom are on tiny Social Security checks, so this helps them out, even if they live like royalty right now. Whatever. It’s all going to me eventually anyway. We did have to dump about $27k into the place because it was a total wreck—tiny balconies, bad insulation, the whole bit—but we expanded the outdoor space, fixed everything up, and insulated it properly. Between the rental income and the tourism side of things, the place basically pays for itself and covers my mortgage.

My grandpa's staying with my uncle.

I get that. It’s really kind of you to help out Grandpa and Grandma—it might not be breaking the bank for you, but I'm sure it means the world to them. And man, using the rental income to cover the mortgage and the tenant? That's just smart business! 🙂

Everything I own is just stuff... 😁
Does that even count?

feraljackal2 said:In my great-grandfather's case, it wasn't that he was a bad person—he was simply poor and lacked any land to work. It wasn't until the very end of his life that he managed to clear some rocky terrain and plant olive trees. For most of his life, though, he was a fisherman, so he built his house right on the water—literally designed so he could pull his boat inside to keep it protected. Today, the situation is entirely different; that house and the lot are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. It isn't for sale, though—family ties matter more than paperwork.

P.S. I think I get what the poll question is asking, but man, does it sound harsh? "I inherited this through great effort"—it makes it sound like you poisoned your own mother, father, or sister just to get the money.

I personally took that "through much effort" part to mean spending endless amounts on lawyers just to make sure the rest of your relatives don't screw you over, or maybe that you actually stepped up to take care of the person you inherited from
For example, my brother spent years looking after his mother-in-law, who had never worked a day in her life and was honestly about as pleasant as a demon—if such a thing exists. She got sick, and man, it was brutal; she was impossible to live with, and while she was still lucid, she refused to go into an assisted living facility. Between all the chaos with the kids, the mortgage, and everyone playing nurse because she ended up with bone cancer and couldn't move, it was a total nightmare
In the end, they had to take her to the hospital where she finally passed away
Now that he’s sold her condo and the old house where his wife grew up—which is basically a construction site now—it turns out that nasty woman left a will stating they can only inherit and sell everything after her death, so compared to two years of absolute mental torture, they basically got nothing for their trouble

Got some inheritance from my grandmother—a mix of property and cash about 14 years ago. I ended up keeping most of the real estate, mostly the coastal ones, while selling off the inland stuff. I used what was left to invest in two different businesses. Looking back, I can say I'm doing pretty well for myself thanks to that. I’m glad I didn't listen to those people preaching about getting rich quick; I'd probably be out on the streets by now.

Your use of "somewhat" feels a bit understated—for you, it actually comes across as quite a lot. It’s just not the same inheriting a state like Wyoming where even the wolves don't wander around anymore, or a coastal spot like Miami 😉.

rowdyviper42 said:Got some inheritance from my grandmother—a mix of property and cash about 14 years ago. I ended up keeping most of the real estate, mostly the coastal ones, while selling off the inland stuff. I used what was left to invest in two different businesses. Looking back, I can say I'm doing pretty well for myself thanks to that. I’m glad I didn't listen to those people preaching about getting rich quick; I'd probably be out on the streets by now.

Look, this "little scheme" you're talking about is basically my old way of trying to strike it rich, unless your definition of getting wealthy involves playing in the same league as those massive corporate fraudsters or the big-time political crooks we see on the news. Honestly, we were sitting way too far away from the high-stakes table when they were dealing out the winning hands, so I guess we just have to make do with the tiny crumbs we've managed to scrape together ourselves.😉

When I say "get rich quick," I’m talking about those guys who can't even cover two rounds of drinks at a bar, yet they'll sit there telling you exactly where to dump $300k or $500k if you want to turn it into millions in a couple of months.🤣They always seem to have brilliant ideas for spending someone else's money.😵

It’s always easy to talk big when you're spending someone else's money.🙄 I have no intention of listing what I might inherit because, frankly, most people throwing numbers around here seem more interested in bragging than sharing reality. To claim you'll inherit a few apartments and houses and then act like it's nothing—well, if those people actually used their own two hands to build something, who is stopping them from achieving even more? As for their own children, they probably won't leave behind anything more than what they were given in the first place.

Honestly, there is nothing more distasteful to me than people who just sit around waiting for their parents to pass away so they can move into the family estate with their spouse and kids.😵 Look, if you’re single, fine—maybe it makes sense. But once you’ve started a family and gotten married, then just hovering around waiting for your folks to kick the bucket so you can take over the house?🙄 It’s completely baffling to me, and frankly, it feels incredibly irresponsible. After all, parents have every right to sell everything and leave nothing behind; they aren't obligated to pass the torch to you. And don't even get me started on the absolute gutter behavior of dragging families through the courts, contesting wills, and fighting over assets. If I ever found myself in a position where I was suing my own kin over an inheritance, I’d be too embarrassed to show my face in public. If they wanted to leave you something, they would have. Personally, I’m an only child, but I don't spend my time dwelling on it or expecting a windfall. I’m focused on building my own life and acquiring my own things from scratch.

silverhawk9 said:Honestly, there is nothing more distasteful to me than people who just sit around waiting for their parents to pass away so they can move into the family estate with their spouse and kids.😵 Look, if you’re single, fine—maybe it makes sense. But once you’ve started a family and gotten married, then just hovering around waiting for your folks to kick the bucket so you can take over the house?🙄 It’s completely baffling to me, and frankly, it feels incredibly irresponsible. After all, parents have every right to sell everything and leave nothing behind; they aren't obligated to pass the torch to you. And don't even get me started on the absolute gutter behavior of dragging families through the courts, contesting wills, and fighting over assets. If I ever found myself in a position where I was suing my own kin over an inheritance, I’d be too embarrassed to show my face in public. If they wanted to leave you something, they would have. Personally, I’m an only child, but I don't spend my time dwelling on it or expecting a windfall. I’m focused on building my own life and acquiring my own things from scratch.

I guess Ico hit the nail on the head there... coming into a massive inheritance can really ruin the next generation. People just turn into total loafers because of it...

In my opinion—just my two cents—the general rule should be that whatever you inherit, you shouldn't blow through it; you should pass it down to the next generation. Anything you actually earn yourself? Well, feel free to blow that on whatever you want.

Sure, if you've got the means, you should definitely make sure your kids get the best education possible... But once they've graduated? They need to find their own way. You can still keep things friendly and supportive, obviously, but they need to stand on their own two feet. 😉

Richard Lewis16 said:Everything I own is just stuff... 😁
Does that even count?

It doesn't work like that, man—actually,

everything I own is a total fraud; I basically just bought my degree.

silverhawk9 said:Honestly, there is nothing more distasteful to me than people who just sit around waiting for their parents to pass away so they can move into the family estate with their spouse and kids.😵 Look, if you’re single, fine—maybe it makes sense. But once you’ve started a family and gotten married, then just hovering around waiting for your folks to kick the bucket so you can take over the house?🙄 It’s completely baffling to me, and frankly, it feels incredibly irresponsible. After all, parents have every right to sell everything and leave nothing behind; they aren't obligated to pass the torch to you. And don't even get me started on the absolute gutter behavior of dragging families through the courts, contesting wills, and fighting over assets. If I ever found myself in a position where I was suing my own kin over an inheritance, I’d be too embarrassed to show my face in public. If they wanted to leave you something, they would have. Personally, I’m an only child, but I don't spend my time dwelling on it or expecting a windfall. I’m focused on building my own life and acquiring my own things from scratch.

Well, look, since you're an only child, once your parents get older, the whole weight of caring for them falls squarely on your shoulders, and you'll likely inherit whatever they managed to hold onto (unless they were total jerks and left everything to the government, which does happen sometimes).
A buddy of mine actually managed to get both his parents moved into an assisted living facility while they were still relatively sharp. His dad had bone cancer, so things went south pretty fast, and he ended up passing away in the hospital wing of the facility.
His mother dealt with diabetes her entire life, and that was ultimately what got the best of her.
I'm not sure if you realize how much specialized care costs here in the States, but they were paying $3333 every single month for a private facility, and even then, it was actually considered pretty affordable.
Then, once the will was read, this brother of his shows up—a guy who got into a huge fight with his father and my friend like fifteen years ago. He’s basically a total loser, a thug, and a borderline junkie who drifted off somewhere and disappeared, and that's exactly when the drama starts.
The piece of work actually had legal rights to all the properties, but since he hadn't done a damn thing for them, my friend set up a formal support agreement with his parents back when they were alive. It turned into a three-year legal nightmare, and the lawyer actually managed to shut this jerk down by using some loophole regarding unpaid taxes and failure to provide care for his parents. Luckily, the judge had gone through the exact same hell with her own parents, so she ruled in favor of my friend and slapped that guy with all the legal fees, plus the lawyer hit him with a lien for his services.😁
Just imagine how you'd feel if you spent your whole life looking after your folks, only for some absolute parasite—even if they're your own brother or sister—to swoop in and demand a cut after doing absolutely nothing while the law protects them.
My advice? While your parents are still sound in their minds, get them to sign a support agreement that includes access to their assets; that way, you protect yourself in court from all those little leeches and parasites looking to grab a piece of your😉

Go ahead and be a sweetheart if you want, but when it comes to common sense and preventing someone from playing you for a fool, only a complete idiot would let those scammers win.

silverhawk9 said:Honestly, there is nothing more distasteful to me than people who just sit around waiting for their parents to pass away so they can move into the family estate with their spouse and kids.😵 Look, if you’re single, fine—maybe it makes sense. But once you’ve started a family and gotten married, then just hovering around waiting for your folks to kick the bucket so you can take over the house?🙄 It’s completely baffling to me, and frankly, it feels incredibly irresponsible. After all, parents have every right to sell everything and leave nothing behind; they aren't obligated to pass the torch to you. And don't even get me started on the absolute gutter behavior of dragging families through the courts, contesting wills, and fighting over assets. If I ever found myself in a position where I was suing my own kin over an inheritance, I’d be too embarrassed to show my face in public. If they wanted to leave you something, they would have. Personally, I’m an only child, but I don't spend my time dwelling on it or expecting a windfall. I’m focused on building my own life and acquiring my own things from scratch.

Beyond the moral issues being discussed, there’s another practical side to this that puzzles me. Let's say the average person has kids around age 30, and let's assume a life expectancy of about 75. That child—assuming they aren't one of many siblings—won't actually inherit that property until they're 45. And if the situation is different—say, my grandmother lived to be 95—they might not see that inheritance until they're 60.

That's a hell of a long time to be holding your breath, isn't it?