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Rebecca called to ask for advice after her relationship ended, leaving her with a $1 million 20-acre ranch and six animals.
She told financial expert Dave Ramsey on “The Ramsey Show” that she’s now the one taking care of the property alone. “You’re sitting on a half-million-dollar windfall because this guy’s loopy,” Ramsey said.
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Rebecca said her former boyfriend of two years had promised marriage before buying the ranch in cash and adding her name to the deed. She said he moved in for three weeks, then urged her to sign the property into a trust before leaving suddenly.
Ramsey said that the situation “almost sounds like he was trying to scam” her. Co-host Rachel Cruze said it was uncommon, adding that “it’s usually him calling us saying, ‘I bought a ranch with my fiancée, who I’m not with anymore.'”
Rebecca said she had rented out her own home and left her job to relocate for the relationship. She told Ramsey she wanted to act ethically while determining whether to sell or negotiate ownership.
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Ramsey discussed both the legal and moral sides of her situation. “If I’m in your shoes, I don’t feel entitled to $500,000 of his money,” he said. Rebecca said she had left a stable job in private aviation operations and accepted a new position that paid the same but was less secure.
Ramsey said that loss had financial consequences. “It cost you a good job,” he said, suggesting that partial compensation could be justified. Cruze said that because Rebecca’s name appears on the deed, she is legally a 50% owner. Ramsey added, “Nothing this twerp can do about it — he stepped in it.”
Rebecca said the ranch purchase was meant to show commitment, and that her former partner was financially able to settle the matter.
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Ramsey said Rebecca should work through an attorney to propose a buyout. “Have your attorney contact him and say, ‘I’ll sign a deed to you for $200,000,'” he said. He advised her to sell the animals, rent a place temporarily, and return to her own home once her tenants move out.