Ah, Florida—where the sun shines bright, the gators lurk, and family drama is always extra. Meet Wade, a Sunshine State resident who just wanted to sell his house without turning Thanksgiving into a passive-aggressive war zone. But alas, his wife had other plans—specifically, hiring her brand-new real estate agent mom to handle the sale.
Cue the record scratch.
Wade, sensing disaster, called into The Ramsey Show for advice. His dilemma? His mother-in-law has zero experience selling homes, but his wife fears a family feud if they don’t give her the listing. Dave Ramsey’s response? “Wow, you’re screwed.”
The Lose-Lose Situation
Ramsey laid it out like a Florida highway pileup:
1. Option A: Let the rookie MIL list the house, risking financial chaos.
2. Option B: Politely decline and brace for a lifetime of awkward family dinners.
Neither choice was good, but Ramsey—ever the financial Gandalf—offered a few Hail Mary solutions:
- Co-Listing Compromise: Let Mom-in-Law tag-team with a seasoned agent. That way, she gets the experience, and Wade doesn’t end up selling his house for three magic beans.
- 90-Day Trial: Give her a shot, but with a hard deadline. If the house isn’t sold by then, sorry, Mom, we’re calling in the pros.
- Full Rejection: Rip off the Band-Aid. “We love you, but no.” (Good luck with Christmas.)
Family + Money = Chaos
Ramsey’s golden rule? Get on the same page with your spouse before dropping the bomb. And maybe bring a mediator—like a pastor or a very brave friend—to the inevitable discussion.
Wade’s best move? Frame it like this: “Selling a house is like performing surgery—we’d prefer someone who’s done it before.” Then throw in some free promo for Mom’s new career to soften the blow.
The Takeaway
Mixing family and money is like mixing bleach and ammonia—technically possible, but why would you? If you’re in Wade’s shoes, proceed with caution, a written agreement, and maybe a stiff drink.
Because in Florida, the only thing hotter than the housing market is the drama.