As a landlord of multiple properties in Boston I can confirm the parents pay the rent.
you simply call the bank, and tell them to credit you the money back, which they do immediately, and then they launch an investigation into the felony crime which occurred. they'll send you a couple of affidavits to sign in the mail later.
it's even easier with a credit card because the money was never taken to begin with.
and get this, with amex you don't even have to call, because they call you, and you tell them which charges you want deleted, while they send you a new card.
not having money totally sucks in comparison.
I know that we're missing easy money transfer options that other countries have had for decades, though.
Two engineers can afford a $500k mortgage?
$200K down and $166K annual income and you can buy the whole $1MM property. $83K/pp income seems completely reasonable for two engineers (and crazy low for two SWEs!) in their 30s.
With a combined annual income of only $85K/yr and $100K down, you can buy a $500K property. No way are two engineers in 30s making less than that... (Two train engineers driving for Keolis make more than that.) Without a 20% down payment, you need a little more income, but it's still well within reach of normal professionals who decide they want to prioritize buying a property.