‘I’m Not Riding With Your Butt,’ Dave Ramsey Tells Caller As Her Husband Pushes A $6M Apartment Deal That Has Been A ‘Curse’

Trust inside a marriage can fracture fast when financial risk starts to feel reckless instead of strategic.
That’s the crossroads Nicole found herself at when she told “The Ramsey Show” she’s struggling to keep faith in her husband’s judgment as a high-stakes real estate bet continues to pull their finances deeper into the red.
The Boston area caller said the tension isn’t about ambition or long-term investing. It centers on a single apartment complex that has never worked as planned and now carries a $6 million balance. The property has consistently required cash from other sources without providing relief.
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She said the complex pulls cash flow from both her small business and her husband’s other rental property. The couple has relied on credit cards to cover construction and operating costs. Now, she said, her husband wants to take out a larger loan to cover expenses in hopes of selling the property.
When Risk Stops Feeling Strategic
“Well, it’s not the risk. It’s the get-rich quick, right?” Warshaw said.
Nicole said the numbers are what finally pushed her to call. The couple owns three properties, but one residential apartment complex has been a persistent problem. It was recently appraised at just over $6 million, roughly matching what they owe.
She said selling the property has been difficult. According to her, apartment complexes of that size can take more than a year to sell, which has been used as a reason to continue funding repairs rather than exiting the deal.
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Ramsey Draws A Line On Enabling
“I’m not riding with your butt until you learn how to drive. You suck at driving,” Ramsey said, adding that respect does not mean “turning a blind eye” or enabling bad decisions.
He cautioned against borrowing additional money, especially personal debt, to support a property that is worth no more than the balance owed.
Ramsey urged Nicole to confirm whether the loan is truly non-recourse. He said loans of that size are often personally guaranteed, even when tied to an LLC, and warned that assuming otherwise could carry serious consequences.
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One Property, Two Directions
“And by the way, if you say your opinion on this and your husband says that doesn’t matter and he goes ahead anyway, that’s your signal you need help beyond money,” Warshaw said.
Ramsey said major financial decisions require agreement from both spouses. He said large purchases and investments should not happen unless both spouses agree.
“So far, it’s not been a blessing, it’s been a curse,” Ramsey said.
For Nicole, the situation centers on how one large property has come to dominate the couple’s finances. Arrived allows individuals to invest in shares of rental homes starting at about $100, offering exposure to rental income and long-term property value without managing a property directly.
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