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He sounds like he lives WAY beyond his means, just obtw. Is this a lifelong pattern?
He's a very stubborn, proud, obstinate, young man. I challenged him in a subsequent email to tell me about the parents of any of his friends who loaned their child that much money with similar conditions, and .... here's the part that upsets me the most, I don't recall him EVER expressing any gratitude for what I did to lighten his student loan burden. I told him that the loan changed our relationship from father/son to lender/debtor & that it was his fault that things have deteriorated. No response to either email. Time will tell....
Does he, by George.
Well. If the rental amounts to upwards of $8,900 net of tax per annum - which unless it is a very small house in a very unfashionable area it surely must? - Bob's your uncle. He can divert it to you.
Now that we see more of the picture I wouldn't say your son is being disrespectful. I would say he is taking the piss.
The only remaining question is, have you told him what you've told us about how you feel? Or are you maintaining a dignified but hurt silence?
He needs to be reminded that he himself proposed a formal arrangement and set the terms. If he is in fact operating on the assumption that you wouldn't seriously hold him to it, he needs to explain the basis of that (incorrect) assumption, and revise it.
You could allow him to renegotiate the terms to more practical ones if he has already overcommitted himself financially for the time being. But you are completely right to believe that, if only for the sake of his own self-respect, he must be required to remember his obligations.
I borrowed money from my folks for a downpayment on a house 40 years ago and when I wasn't making payments on time, I got a letter from my mom chastizing me. I felt awful and I got right on it. Paid it off super fast after that. So your son isn't being respectful of you or your wife and your generosity.
I certainly wouldn't make any more loans to him. Maybe he'd do better with monthly repayment schedule instead of the annual balloon payment? Maybe that seems too large? That's another option I'd suggest.
Think about changing the terms of your estate plan so as to take your generosity into account, i.e., reduce what he would inherit by the amount of the loan. Is that possible?
If he wasn't so damn smug & unappreciative about it, I'd probably just write it off. But, we have 2 other children who treat me with a lot more respect.
Thanks again.
3.2% now, though... base rates having done what they've done and all that...
A generous father might like to see if he felt like giving his son a bit of wiggle room on the interest. Or not. As you please.
For your own and your wife's sake, aside from any connected issues and worries that I expect make the whole thing emotionally much more complicated, I'd be tempted to regard any repayments as a bonus and try not to *expect* them, as such. Otherwise the money becomes a token for more important issues which are perhaps the ones you and your son ought in truth to be talking about?
When you say has " noncommital", what does that mean? That he doesn't seem to be taking this seriously? Does he work? Have you had a serious, not warm and fuzzy talk with him? Do you have a lawyer who can send a letter to nudge him?
No Medicaid application in my future. Perhaps for my wife, but all of our assets are held in a Trust & I'm the sole trustee.
Thanks for your responses.
Are you the father? If you are, it's up to you. You can take your son to court. But unless you're confident that he's got the money, what's the point? It depends on whether you're interested in the cash or the principle of the thing, I suppose.
And if you're not the father but a sibling, be sure that in attempting to protect your father's financial interests you're not merely making him miserable.
Unless there's a Medicaid application ahead...
I'm sorry for the situation. Money and family can make a very unhappy, stressful combination. I hope you're able to resolve it with no harm done.
How a "crime"?
Who is the debtor?
Why did the elder person in question agree to loan the recipient this money? How much money, in total?
Have repayments to date been honoured? If so, has there been a change of circumstances?