He is originally from Germany and we've been presented with a great opportunity to take over one of his parents’ homes as a “gift” or possibly a small price (later discussed).

Maybe a gift card to the grocery...

I doubt I would have gifted wine had I not known that.

The estate attorney assisted me in buying out my siblings interest, had the property taken out of the trust and put in my name, and I took out a 250k (cash out refi) mortgage out on the property, paid my sibling 208k GIFT and ended up putting 30k more into the repairs.

The only negative in this situation is the one you created in your mind when you chose to look a gift horse in the mouth.

I was going to make some for my wife as a gift, I got the price and ordered some plastic ones from Costco.

When banks fail to run their business properly, are gifted money by the gov-mint to make up for their mistakes, ruin the economy temporarily, and then SCREW UP the foreclosure by not hiring competent people to execute things properly I tend to not have much sympathy for them.

This is why we're doing it as a referral fee off the HUD (but legally) and sometimes do non-cash stuff (like bagels, candy, gift certificates, etc for the office).

There was no damage to our place, but it was full of wedding gifts and supplies.

I'm a romantic, I guess.