Between Two Doors

  Paying off your home is one of the biggest financial goals most families dream about. But did you know that a simple habit—just one extra mortgage payment each year —can cut years off your loan and save you tens of thousands in interest? Let’s walk through a real example. Loan Amount: $300,000 Interest Rate: 6.5% (6.9% APR) Term: 30 years Normal Payoff: 30 years, total interest paid ≈ $383,000 With One Extra Payment Per Year: Paid off in about 24 years, 4 months , interest savings ≈ $84,000 That’s nearly six years of freedom from mortgage payments—and a lot of money back in your pocket. Why It Works Mortgages are front-loaded with interest, meaning that in the early years most of your payment goes toward interest rather than principal. By making an additional payment directly to principal each year, you reduce the balance faster, cutting down on the interest charged in future years. Pros of This Strategy Save Tens of Thousands – In our example, about $84K sav...

  Hey there, fellow Veterans and active-duty service members! Did you know the VA Funding Fee —a one-time cost tied to VA home loans—comes with some powerful perks? Here’s the scoop: 1. You can roll the Funding Fee into your loan No need to pay it upfront at closing. You can finance the VA funding fee as part of your loan, spreading it across your monthly payments instead. It’s the only closing cost that’s automatically eligible for this treatment. Benefits +9 Veterans Affairs +9 VA Loan Network +9 2. Disabled Veterans are generally exempt If you're receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability , you're exempt from paying the VA's Funding Fee. Benefits +8 Veterans Affairs +8 VA Loan Network +8 3. Pending disability claims? You can get reimbursed—but only under the right conditions If your disability compensation comes through later—and its effective date is before your loan closing —you’re eligible for a refund of the funding fee. Money +14 Veteran...

  When you’re house hunting, it’s natural to focus on the neighborhood, the school district, or whether the kitchen has that island you’ve always wanted. But behind the scenes, bigger financial forces are shaping what really matters for your purchase—your interest rate and your monthly payment . Recently, there’s been a lot of chatter in the mortgage industry about the Federal Reserve, interest rates, and the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the two giants that help keep mortgages affordable). While this sounds technical, here’s what you, as a homebuyer, need to know: What a Half-Point Drop in Rates Really Means Let’s put this into real numbers. Suppose you’re buying a home with a $350,000 loan: At today’s 6.5% rate → your payment would be about $2,212/month . If rates dropped to 5.99% → your payment would fall to $2,096/month . That’s $116 less every single month —which adds up to more than $1,300 a year in savings. Over the first five years, you’d keep almost...

Many Veterans are surprised when I tell them this: you can actually have more than one VA Loan at the same time. I just helped a borrower close on a brand-new home—even while he still has an active VA Loan on his current primary residence. This often comes up when a Veteran needs to relocate for work, wants to purchase a larger home for their family, or is making a move but isn’t ready to sell their existing home.  I just helped a borrower close on a brand-new home—even while he still has an active VA Loan on his current primary residence. This often comes up when a Veteran needs to relocate for work, wants to purchase a larger home for their family, or is making a move but isn’t ready to sell their existing home. You can even keep that current home, make it an investment property if you want, but that’s a topic for another day. So, how does it work? Let’s break it down. Understanding VA Entitlement When you use a VA Loan, part of your entitlement (the VA’s guaranty on your l...

  For months, buyers have been waiting for the Federal Reserve to cut rates, thinking that will be their golden ticket to a lower mortgage. But here’s the truth: the market is already ahead of the Fed. Mortgage rates don’t move when the Fed announces cuts. They move in anticipation of them. Traders, bond markets, and institutional investors make their bets weeks or even months before an official decision comes down. That’s why, as of today, mortgage rates are sitting at their lowest levels in nearly three years. This didn’t happen by accident—it’s the market pricing in the cut that hasn’t even happened yet. In other words, if you’re holding out for the Fed to “finally” cut, you may already be too late. Today’s rates are the post-cut rates. Industry experts are saying the same thing: if you’re waiting, you’re risking. The downside risk (rates rising again) outweighs the upside potential (rates somehow falling further). Homeowners vs. Renters: The Wealth Gap in Numbers The ...

  In North Texas communities like Anna, Melissa, and Celina, approximately 2-3 percent of children don’t have a bed of their own. That means school performance, health, self-esteem, and family dynamics suffer simply because a kid is sleeping on a pile of clothes or the bare floor. Enter Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) TX-Melissa Chapter , a 100 percent volunteer-driven nonprofit whose mission is simple yet profound: “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town.” To watch this full conversation on YouTube click Here: https://youtu.be/OuJYKcK5Yc0 SHP TX-Melissa: From Garage Start to Local Impact Founded December 2024, Public Access April 2025: In just over two months, the chapter received 130 applications and has already built 40 beds for local children. 350+ Chapters Nationwide: Since 2012, SHP has expanded from a single Idaho garage build to serving four countries and delivering nearly 75,000 beds last year alone. 100 Percent Volunteer-Run: From lumber sawyers to quilt m...

Henderson Home Inspection: Know Your Home Before You Invest Walking through a home you love only to discover hidden problems can turn your dream purchase into a nightmare. That’s where Jim Henderson , Tx. Lic. PROFESSIONAL HOME INSPECTOR & InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector, comes in. With 38 years in construction, top industry credentials, and a passion for clear communication, Jim—and wife Jody Foster—ensure you get the full picture before you buy.  Jim Services about a 60 mile radius of Anna, TX. Enjoy this full conversation at: https://youtu.be/8eAuEW5vYCk Why Every Buyer Needs an Inspection Catch Costly Surprises: From missing tub drains to backwards-installed windows, Jim’s found it all—even on brand-new builds. Strengthen Your Negotiation: A detailed report gives you leverage to request repairs or credits before closing. Peace of Mind: Knowing exactly what you’re buying means no unwelcome “contractor visits” once you’ve moved in. Meet Jim Hende...