" Money really does bring out the uncollectible in mass . "
Welcome to the latest episode of"Am I The Asshole"— where Reddit users share an anecdote and ask the internet if they’re in the wrong.
Recently,u/KeyAwareness3064— let’s call her Key —wanted to knowif she’s the A-hole for tearing down her family home and building a fourplex. Here’s the full story:
“My mom and dad divorced when I was young. My brother loved the fact that our mom had no rules for him, so he went with her. I abided by the custody agreement because I had no choice in the matter. My mom loves us both, but she dotes on my brother like he farts perfume. My dad kept the house and had to buy my mom out. It was an old house built in 1953. It had old wiring and was really less than suitable for modern life. What it did have though was a huge yard that was great growing up.”
Key’s father passed away, leaving everything equally for her and her brother. She told her brother they should tear down the house and turn it into a fourplex, since the neighborhood is zoned for it. But he just wanted the money, so she bought him out. He spent it on a car, vacation, and saved some of the money.
“I had the house demolished and built a fourplex. Each unit has three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a small yard, and a garage. I kept one unit for myself and rent each of the other units for $2,000/month. My mortgage is $1,800/month for the entire thing. So basically, I live free and bank $4,000/month. My brother is pissed that I didn’t give him a unit to live in since it was his home, too. I actually offered to sell him one at cost, and he said no.”
Key said she feels “lost” as she offered her brother a partnership in the beginning, bought him out as he wished, and then offered to sell him a unit. However, he thinks she “tricked him” because she gets “free money” every month.
“Our mom said she would be cutting me out of her will and giving everything to him if I didn’t give him a unit or the income from one. I agreed that was fair and said that I would no longer feel the need to contribute to her upkeep or retirement when the time came. I am being bombarded by the two of them, but I took the risks. I took on the debt. This is my money now,” she concluded.
As you can imagine, there were a lot of thoughts about this one! Most people said that Key is not the A-hole:
" NTA . You bought his one-half of the theater , you pay him , he wanted the money . His share of the money was spent buying cars and go on holiday ; your share of the money was spend investing . He ’s just pixilated and bitter because he made spoiled choices , and you made better choices , and now he ’s acting like he is entitled to your ripe conclusion because ' he ’s your brother . ' Money really does bring out the bad in hoi polloi . "
— u / Wrong_Midnight_1618
" Let me get this straight : you buy out his share , put up your money to build this fourplex , he did not impart a dime , yet wants you to give him an apartment rent - costless ? NTA . You owe him nothing . Sorry you have to put up with these people . "
— u / FunnyAnchor123
" You both beat adequate parcel of the house . There was no trick . Your chum want the money , and he got it . He want to spend it on a railroad car and a vacation , and that ’s what he did . Meanwhile , you chose to indue it ( and credibly a shipload more of your own money and labour ) into something that could generate value in the long terminus . He did n’t invest a centime into that nor lifted a finger to put up , yet he feel entitled to the benefit ? This is n’t ' barren ' money ; it ’s the gain from your investment funds , risk , and hard employment . "
— u / Helpful_Hour1984
Many commented on Key’s mother, too:
" So , your brother and mother have demanded 25 % of your investment . Worse , mom is examine to blackmail you into give 25 % to him . NTA . Your comrade is a covetous A - mess . Your momma enable that repulsive conduct . "
— u / AbleRelationship6808
" get me imagine : when you were kids , your blood brother would eat his delicacy quickly , then demand that you divvy up yours with him . And your mother draw you to do it , because ' fellowship . ' Your response to him and to your female parent ( who is enable this stinky behavior ) was perfect . Stick to those bound . And do not , under any lot , let either of them move into one of your units . They wo n’t pay rent , and you wo n’t be able to get them out . "
" NTA . Your mom and golden child brother deserve each other . Congrats on the wise investment . "
— uranium / ramaru115
But quite a few people took issue with Key turning an old home into a fourplex:
" You kind of lost my fellow feeling once you outed yourself as a landlord . I ca n’t stand when people charge down historic menage just to sour them into rentals , so I have to go with YTA . "
— u / kanna172014
" ESH . Your sidekick had every fortune to get in on it and as such has no rightfulness to complain now , your mother is wrong for taking his side , and you are a landlord . "
— u / YukiSpackle
" NTA for refuse your chum a detached unit . IMHO , YTA for being a landlord . You are profit from the systems that foreclose your tenants from own their own homes , and you are , in your own words , charging $ 2k / monthper unitwhen your mortgage is only $ 1,800 .
These are newly work up unit of measurement and , as such , will not have significant sustenance issues for years . With enough investment , even just using certificate of deposit , you could charge $ 1k / building block / month , still make almost double up your mortgage , and endow the rest in a monetary fund to make up for future sustainment publication and/or cover when a whole is temporarily vacant . You did n’t create these problems , but you ’re profiting from them . "
— uranium / failed_novelty
Note : reply have been edited for length and pellucidity .
