Dave Ramsey Calls A Woman’s Ex A ‘Clown Show’ After He Wants $157K Back From Home Now Worth $1.2 Million

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A messy breakup is one thing. Adding a real estate deal to the mix made it much harder to untangle.

That was the position Lisa in Phoenix described on “The Ramsey Show” after a home project she entered with her ex-husband turned into a fight over timing, money and control as the property’s value climbed to about $1.2 million.

Lisa said she bought the house for $675,000 and spent another $200,000 renovating it. Her ex put in $157,000 with the understanding that they would sell, split the profit, do similar deals again and eventually become mortgage-free.

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Instead, he wanted out early. Lisa said her ex was demanding the $157,000 back rather than waiting, leaving her to figure out how to raise the money months sooner than planned.

Lisa said the deal was never put in writing because her ex could not qualify for the mortgage, leaving the home solely in her name.

“It’s a complete handshake, and so everybody just gets to freaking make it up as they go,” personal finance expert Dave Ramsey said.

The dispute escalated when her ex hired an attorney and asked to be added to the title. When she refused, he demanded his money back.

“So he has no more right to decide he wants the money now than you do to deny it to him legally,” Ramsey said. “Tell him to pound sand.”

Lisa said she was weighing whether to tap equity to raise the cash.

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Lisa said she had not yet lived in the home for the full two years needed for the primary-residence tax break, so selling would likely cut into her profit.

She also said her ex appeared to be under financial pressure and preparing for a kidney transplant, and seemed worried that if something happened to him in surgery, she would keep his money, though it would go to their son.

“This guy’s a clown show, man,” Ramsey said.

“Go hire an attorney,” Ramsey said, urging Lisa to stop letting her ex dictate the terms through pressure.

If she wanted to end the arrangement early, he suggested a discounted buyout instead of paying the full $157,000.

“If you want to be bought out early, you’re going to have to do it at a discount,” Ramsey said. “I’ll give you $100,000.”

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Co-host Ken Coleman took the same view and told her to hold her ground, saying the legal threat looked more like a bluff than real leverage.

Ramsey said the timing also worked in her favor and that her ex would not get paid any sooner unless she gave in to the pressure. “Because he can’t get it through courts that fast,” he said.

Situations like shared real estate investments, buyouts, and potential tax implications can quickly become complex, especially when agreements weren’t formalized upfront. Tools like AdviserMatch connect users with financial advisors who can help evaluate options, from equity decisions to tax considerations, based on their specific situation.

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