AITA for not letting my son and DIL buy one of my rental properties at a reduced price?

A retired couple’s cozy nest egg faces a family feud when their son demands a steep discount on a rental property. Fresh into their 50s, they’ve traded desk jobs for a frugal life fueled by rental income, their lifeline until retirement funds kick in. Their son and daughter-in-law, scraping for a home, plead for a 50% cut on one of their properties—a non-starter for the couple’s financial future. Offering a discounted rental or a $10,000 boost instead, they’re stunned when he threatens to cut ties. Is this a stand for stability or a cold shoulder to kin?

This isn’t just about a house—it’s a tug-of-war between family ties and hard-earned plans. Reddit’s mostly got their back, but whispers of entitlement and economic woes stir the pot. Readers, settle into this retirement riddle and decide: were they right to hold firm, or too stingy with family? The verdict’s yours.

‘AITA for not letting my son and DIL buy one of my rental properties at a reduced price?’

The couple laid out their dilemma on Reddit, spilling the details of their son’s bold ask and the fallout that followed. Here’s their candid take on balancing retirement dreams with family demands.

Family and finances make a volatile mix, and this couple’s refusal to slash their rental’s price for their son sparked a fiery clash. Their son’s 50% discount demand, as Reddit’s NTA crowd notes, ignores the properties’ role as their retirement lifeline. His threat to cut contact smacks of entitlement, especially after they offered a generous 20% rent discount or $10,000 for a cheaper home. Yet, the ESH vote raises a point: soaring housing costs fuel desperation, though it doesn’t justify his tantrum.

This taps into generational housing tensions. A 2023 report from the Urban Institute found that 70% of under-40s struggle with homeownership due to inflated markets, often leaning on family aid. The son’s frustration is real, but leveraging emotional blackmail crosses a line.

Financial planner Suze Orman says, “Helping family shouldn’t sink your security; set boundaries with love”. Her wisdom backs the couple’s stance—preserving their income stream trumps a risky sale. Their offers were fair, balancing support with self-preservation.

The couple should hold firm, perhaps exploring a rent-to-own option if feasible. The son needs to save diligently or seek affordable markets.

These are the responses from Reddit users:

Reddit tackled this property tussle with gusto, dishing out takes as bold as a bidding war. From praising the couple’s prudence to eyeing the son’s outburst, here’s a lively batch of their quips, sprinkled with spice.

These Reddit jabs hit like a market crash, but do they price out the truth? Are the parents savvy savers, or too rigid with their son?

This rental row is a gripping saga of family versus finance. The couple’s stand to protect their retirement, backed by Reddit’s applause, holds firm against their son’s entitled plea for a half-price home. As his threat to cut ties hangs heavy, one question looms: can they mend the family fence without selling their future? Readers, what would you do when kin demand a deal that risks your nest egg? Drop your stories and verdicts below—this drama’s still on the market!