A recent survey shows that more than one-third of millennials looking to purchase their first home say they plan to rely on a loan or a gift from a relative to cover a key portion of their down payment, reports Tanisha A. Sykes for USA Today.
But is it wise for people to dig into their savings and help their children buy a home? It depends on your situation.
It’s a bad idea, Sykes writes, if you’re a middle-income earner, are nearing retirement, or have to use your nest egg. “A middle income earner, despite their best intentions, should not support their child’s purchase of a home if it means sacrificing contributions to their retirement,” says Jacob I. Milder, CFP, at Oak Street Investments in Denver.
It’s a good idea if it’s a good investment or your child has a steady source of income. “You can lend money at a cheaper rate than banks and possibly get a greater return than you could expect in a fixed-income portfolio for the foreseeable future,” says T. Eric Reich, CFP and President of Reich Asset Management in Marmora, N.J.
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