My husband and I were debating this yesterday. I do white collar defense for a living - fraud, business disputes, counterfeiting, soured business partnerships. I think there's no way a small business landscaper has $1.75 million in cash to buy that house. Small businesses are cash-heavy and service businesses like landscaping are equipment heavy - you usually have loans since those purchases are "assets" and not "expenses" to write off like expensive staplers. My hinky meter went way up. Mortgage rates are so low that financially most people IMO would take a mortgage and use the cash in their business, in other investments. EVEN IF you received a substantial inheritance financially it makes sense to invest that money in literally anything that has a higher than 3% return and take out the mortgage. I think there are only a few reasons you'd put that much cash down and it's because your money has not been reported as income so you wouldn't qualify for the mortgage (no tax filings, etc.) or it's crime proceeds and you do not want the scrutiny that comes from the loans.
My husband disagrees and thinks it's definitely possible for a successful landscaping company owner to have that much cash, particularly if there are corporate contracts - office buildings, plazas. He agrees with me that it's a bad investment but pointed out that there are still rich people who are Dave Ramsey types who even if financially you could make a better return elsewhere, they prefer to have no or low debt. Point taken!
