This Year, How About Giving Them an Investment Property?

I used to spend months in my woodworking shop crafting gifts for my kids. Every year, I tried to make something by hand — something unique, something they couldn’t find in a store. The work took time, but that was part of the gift: the thought, the planning, and the effort that went into creating something lasting.

That memory came back to me this week as I thought about Christmas. It’s still October, but some gifts take months to prepare. And that got me thinking: what if, instead of the latest gadget or toy, you gave your child something that could last a lifetime?

What if this Christmas, you gave them an investment property?

Here’s how it could work:

1. Find a distressed property in a good area that could be stabilized as a rental.

2. Purchase and repair it, with tenants in mind. (Even co-rooming can work to maximize returns.)

3. Refinance into long-term financing once the property is stabilized.

4. Place it in a land trust with your child as the beneficiary.

5. Present the deed on Christmas morning.

Imagine the look on their face when they unwrap a gift that doesn’t just entertain them for a few months, but provides income for decades.

Now, let’s be honest: you may not get all of this done between now and December 25. But that’s not really the point. The real gift can be the announcement this Christmas:

“This year, I’m starting a property that will one day be yours. It will be your financial foundation, your first asset, your legacy.”

The paperwork may take months. The repairs may stretch into next spring. But the act of starting — of planting that seed — is itself a thoughtful and lasting gift.

When I built furniture for my kids, I wasn’t just giving them a chair or a table. I was giving them something with a story, a piece of myself in every cut and joint. The same is true of this kind of gift. Whether it’s a handmade toy or a cash-flowing rental, both are acts of love that outlive Christmas morning.

So here’s my Sunday Reflection: think about gifts that last. This year, maybe it’s time to start building something that won’t wear out, break, or be forgotten in the closet. Maybe this year, it’s time to give your kids the gift of wealth.