Between Two Doors

  Life in the military doesn’t always line up neatly with life’s biggest milestones—like buying a home. Whether you’re about to deploy, stationed overseas, or simply unavailable for the closing date, the good news is you can still close your VA home loan using a Specific Power of Attorney (POA). The VA understands that service members and Veterans may not always be able to attend closing in person. That’s why the VA Lender’s Handbook allows for Power of Attorney arrangements—so your homeownership journey doesn’t have to pause when duty calls. What Is a Power of Attorney (POA)? A Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives another person (called the “attorney-in-fact”) the authority to act on your behalf. In the case of a VA home loan, this means the designated individual can sign loan documents, closing disclosures, and final paperwork for the property. The VA permits both general and specific POAs, but most lenders prefer—or even require—a specific POA that direc...

  Selling a home is one of the biggest financial moves most people ever make. For many homeowners, the idea of going For Sale By Owner (FSBO) feels intimidating, but in today’s market it’s becoming less of a choice and more of a necessity. Rising interest rates, slim equity positions, and higher costs of moving mean some sellers simply can’t afford to pay full commissions. That’s where Sheri Sachs , Realtor, entrepreneur, and creator of The Home Selling Playbook , is stepping in with tools, strategies, and encouragement for homeowners ready to take control of their sale. Watch the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/1TnGlBv4NXs Listen to this and other episodes on your favorite podcast platform: https://www.betweentwodoors.com/episodes/ What FSBO Really Means Today FSBO isn’t new. For decades, homeowners have sold their own homes to save on commission. But Sheri points out that many people misunderstand what FSBO is about. Seller misconceptions: “It’s not f...

  Hey my fellow Veterans and Active Duty — did you know the VA allows sellers to pay up to 4% of the purchase price above and beyond normal closing costs to help you get into your new home? That means sellers can do more than just cover your closing costs — they can also help you eliminate debt or even cover prepaid expenses. Let’s break it down with a real-world example. Example Scenario A Veteran wants to purchase a $300,000 home . Standard closing costs , including the VA funding fee, total about $10,000 . The Veteran also owes $5,000 on a truck loan that’s impacting debt-to-income ratio. The seller agrees to a 4% seller concession (which equals $12,000 on a $300,000 purchase). Here’s how the deal could be structured: Seller pays the $10,000 in normal closing costs , plus Up to $12,000 in additional concessions , which can go toward: Paying off the $5,000 truck loan Covering prepaid taxes and insurance Paying the VA funding fee Even providi...

  Meet Sheri Sachs: Realtor, Entrepreneur, and Creator of The Home Selling Playbook Watch the conversation here:  https://youtu.be/JvGBpWffFRs Experience this episode on your favorite platform here: https://www.betweentwodoors.com/episodes/ In real estate, every professional has a journey — and Sheri Sachs’ path is both inspiring and unique. Raised around houses in the 1970s and 80s, Sheri watched her father buy the roughest homes in the neighborhood, transform them, and resell them through owner financing. That early exposure to real estate gave her a foundation that would one day shape her entire career. Her first personal home purchase was For Sale By Owner with owner financing — no Realtor involved. Later, she worked for a man who hosted owner-finance seminars, where she ran social media and helped create courses. But her big break came when she became an assistant to a traditional Realtor in Frisco, TX. She laughs now, admitting she didn’t even know what Realtors r...

  ✅ Absolutely — and it can save you thousands. If you’re a Veteran or Active-Duty homeowner currently holding a Conventional or FHA loan , you may be sitting on an untapped opportunity: the VA Cash-Out Refinance . Even if you didn’t use your VA benefit when you first bought your home, it’s not too late to leverage it now — and the potential savings can be significant. Here’s how it works: The VA Cash-Out Refinance allows eligible Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members, and certain surviving spouses to refinance their existing mortgage — even if it’s not a VA loan — into a VA-backed loan . This isn’t just for pulling cash out of your home equity (though that’s an option). Many borrowers use this program simply to move out of higher-cost FHA or Conventional loans and into the VA program’s lower-cost structure . Key Benefits: 1. Eliminate Monthly Mortgage Insurance (PMI or MIP) FHA loans come with upfront and ongoing mortgage insurance premiums. Conventional loans often ...

  While headlines about a government shutdown might sound political, its real impact lands squarely on the housing and mortgage markets. From flood insurance delays to temporary FHA bottlenecks, a shutdown affects how quickly loans close — and even how buyers perceive the market. Let’s break down what’s happening in the economy, how rates are moving, and what parts of the mortgage process could slow down (and how to work around them). Interest Rates and Market Calm — For Now Before diving into government operations, it’s worth noting where mortgage rates stand. Recent bond market activity shows stability and mild improvement — a stark contrast to last year’s volatility. As bond prices rise, yields (and mortgage rates) fall. We’re currently hovering within 35–40 basis points of this year’s best rates , which means borrowers are already starting to notice the shift. When rates trend lower, the public reaction lags by a few weeks. Mortgage professionals are seeing more engageme...