Hey friend đź‘‹
Let’s talk about something that can make or break a deal… and most people don’t realize it until it’s almost too late:
Your lender.
Because here’s the truth…
You can find the perfect house…
Negotiate a great deal…
And still lose everything at the finish line.
🏡 Here's the truth:
This deal was moving along smoothly…
Military family
$135,000 purchase
Everything lined up
Until we got close to closing…
And suddenly?
The loan almost didn’t go through.
đźš© The real challenge?
Taxes… and a lender who didn’t understand the local rules.
In South Carolina, primary residences get a tax break.
But this lender?
Used the higher, non-primary tax rate.
Which made the buyer’s numbers look worse than they actually were…
And pushed their debt-to-income ratio too high.
Same house. Same buyer.
Different numbers… just because of how it was calculated.
đź’ˇ What this means for you:
Not all lenders are created equal.
Local lenders understand:
→ Tax structures
→ State programs
→ Military-specific scenarios
Big national lenders?
They often just follow the system… even when it’s wrong.
🏡 Now let’s talk about the part most people don’t see...
Even when you fix it…
It can still cost you.
Higher payments upfront
Escrow adjustments later
Delays in getting money back
All because it wasn’t set up correctly from the start.
đź“Š One of the most practical takeaways from this episode:
Who you choose matters.
The right lender:
→ Protects your deal
→ Advocates for your numbers
→ Knows how to navigate local nuances
That’s not a small detail… that’s everything.
⚖️ A better way to frame your role:
Real estate isn’t just about the house.
It’s about:
→ The team you build
→ The strategy you use
→ The decisions you make behind the scenes
That’s what gets you to the closing table.
🎯 Real talk:
There are a lot of moving pieces in a transaction…
And sometimes the biggest problems are the ones you don’t see coming.
That’s why guidance matters.
🎧 Watch or Listen to Closing Chapters Podcast Episode 33:
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If you loved this episode, Like, Subscribe, and Share it with a friend who needs to hear this!
Keep doing the hard work. Your knowledge goes a long way! 🤍
~Brittney
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