The Bank Of Mom & Dad: Smart Ways To Help Your Kids Buy A Home

I've got a question today for every parent listening who has adult children.Your son or daughter calls you tonight.They've found the house.They love it.They've got good jobs.They can handle the monthly payment.There's just one problem.They don't have enough money to get into it.And then come the six words every parent loves to hear:‘Mom...Dad...can you help us?’Welcome to the Bank of Mom and Dad.And apparently, business is booming.Nearly one-quarter of first-time homebuyers used either a gift or loan from family toward their down payment in 2025.So this isn't some obscure financial-planning question anymore.Families all over America are facing it.And I think the first instinct for most parents is pretty simple:Of course I want to help my kid.But that's not really the question.The question is:What's the smartest way to help them?Give them the down payment?Loan them the money?Buy the house?Buy it together?Help with the monthly payment?Or tell Junior:‘I love you very much. Keep saving.’Because helping your child buy a house can be an incredible gift.But if it's done incorrectly, you can create tax issues, financing problems, family problems—and potentially damage your own retirement.So Cory, Dwight and I are opening the Bank of Mom and Dad today.And before we close at four o'clock...