I Paid My Parents’ Mortgage for 8 Years — Am I Wrong for What I Did When My Sister Convinced Them to Leave Her the House

For eight years, I silently covered my parents’ mortgage and property taxes after their retirement. In return, I had an agreement with them: when the house sold, I’d get a larger share for my investment. Things changed when my sister, Susan, lost her job and moved back home. She quickly slipped back into her bad financial habits, spending money on luxury items rather than saving.

One day, at dinner, Susan announced she intended to stay in the house permanently, ignoring our agreement. I refused to let it slide, and after a tense conversation, I stopped paying the mortgage. Eventually, the house went into foreclosure, and I bought it at a discount.

When I confronted my family, I made it clear that the house was now mine. I gave my parents six months to find a new place, and told Susan to either pay rent or leave. She threw a tantrum, but my parents finally saw her entitlement. They moved into a condo, and Susan left to start a lifestyle blog.

I turned the basement into a rental apartment, covering the mortgage, and turned a painful family betrayal into a smart financial move.