We really don't know the true condition of their financial picture just yet. What we do know, is that they borrowed from GM over the years...their arguments, according to SM, was about money 80% of the time....and, according to MM....they had financial pressures, living beyond their means, etc. That doesn't sound entirely "successful" to me. And this is separate from any shady, questionable matters, such as possibly the COVID loan. We don't know yet just what their situation really was. But it will eventually come out.
Jumping off your post
@Scootie98, they moved to a completely new location, different topography, perhaps requiring different equipment and a learning curve, new people/clients to meet in order to build a business which takes time. The costs of doing business don't change; payroll taxes, income taxes, workers compensation insurance, liability insurance, fuel, equipment maintenance, new/replacement equipment. All of that takes time and costs $.
IMO, the Broomfield job came to Barry through a connection in IN. Instead of being grateful for the work and the opportunity to break into the CO market and showcase his company, BM sends 2 guys who didn't have the skill set to do the job, which they totally biffed and things went downhill from there when it came to the wall, no urgency on Barry's part to make it right until he needed an alibi. When he got called away for his "family emergency," he was quick to say his workers would just have to figure it out. What a conscientious leader and business owner!
The Morphews appear to have tied up all their cash resources in their home if they had to borrow $ to close the transaction. They were driving late model vehicles, traveling and taking trips for pleasure and hunting. Then there are the basic living expenses, utilities, cell phones for 4 people, car maintenance and insurance, gas, food, health insurance and deductibles, property insurance and taxes, college for their daughter.
IMO, the Morphews were having some major cash flow problems. IMO, their move to CO was a big show of "moving on up," and putting IN in the rearview mirror. While some may say they "downsized," I'd say not exactly; they reduced their living space by at least half but doubled the cost of their home, getting too far over their skis. IMO it wasn't long before their remaining cash was spent and their income slowed to a trickle.
I haven't perused their IN holdings but the ones that were posted yesterday were for the house his mother resides in and some acreage, so not a huge stream of income there. Their most consistent stream of income was probably the monthly payments from the people who bought their IN house.
They appear to have paid cash for the CO house as there is nothing recorded to evidence a mortgage or seller financing. If they wanted to take out a Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit, they would still need to show that they had the income to repay it. The sale of the IN home was what Suzanne was waiting for to bankroll her departure. The proceeds from any future divorce settlement would take some time.
I spent my working life being privy to other people's finances in a number of different capacities and the foregoing is JMO based on my life experience in the financial and legal industries.
