Selling half a house to a significant other

[Eric C.]

Here is the situation.  My 4 yr girlfriend and I are moving back to an area where I own a house outright.  It is currently rented, and my intent if I kept it as a rental was to cash out the equity as it is worth about 150k.  We used to live there together several years ago.  She wants us to either buy a place together, or let her buy half the rental house and we live in it.  I thought about the idea of quit claiming her on deed and then letting her get a cash out refi as an owner occupant for her half which she would just give me.  Is that a feasible way to do the transaction?

[Aaron Hunt]

Originally posted by @Eric C.:

@Charlie MacPherson  Marriage does increase someone's likelihood of staying with someone that they resent and grow to despise with time, but feel obligated to stay with. I personally would rather have someone stay with me out of choice, not obligation. Apparently you would rather the opposite. It is quite possible your wife has wanted out for 38 yrs but due to moral or religious obligation, she stays with you. Or I could be wrong, but only your wife will EVER know.

On the topic at hand, I have no problem having something written up showing we each are 50% owners of the property, and if in the future we feel we would be happier not together, sell and divide. My question, of which you, Charlie, have been no help, is how to do that asset split now. How to sell her half the equity. 

This some suspect/millennial-ish if I've ever heard it.

So in summary: We have gotten to the point where OP is scrutinizing a 39-year-long marriage, and talking about feelings, choices and obligations, after asking internet strangers about selling HALF a house (what the actual F) to someone who could walk away whenever they feel like it just cause they find someone cooler than he? Triggered when there was a legitimate response which was more logical than the ridiculous question to begin with. She doesn't want to pay rent, but instead wants to buy a place together? Even if it means paying for half a property that you already own? Huh? We all know how this one is going to end...

*grabs popcorn*