What happens when your buyers are in South Dakota, your seller is a solo military spouse packing up a house alone, and the whole deal is a for-sale-by-owner? In this episode of Closing Chapters, Brittney walks us through a 2019 transaction unlike any other: a remote closing with clients she never met face-to-face, negotiated through a for-sale-by-owner who had no idea what came next after saying yes.

This episode is a masterclass in what realtors actually do behind the scenes. From navigating VA buyers with limited cash to handling paperwork for both sides of a FSBO deal, Brittney pulls back the curtain on the unglamorous, underappreciated work that makes a closing happen. She also tackles one of the biggest misconceptions buyers carry: that their realtor didn't do anything because they found the house themselves.

Brittney also opens up an honest conversation about commission negotiations, sharing that she accepted just 1% on this deal, and why she'd do it again in a heartbeat. Helping two military families move forward, even at a personal financial cost, is exactly the kind of work that keeps her in this business. If you've ever wondered what a realtor is actually earning their fee for, this episode will change how you see it.

Key Takeaways:

• FSBOs are worth pursuing. Many will pay a buyer agent commission, and the stigma needs to go.

• VA buyers are often first-time, cash-light buyers. Knowing how to serve them well is a skill.

• Remote transactions are absolutely possible with the right systems and communication in place.

• Realtors often do double the work on FSBO deals, handling documentation for both sides.

• Commissions have always been negotiable. This was true long before the NAR lawsuits.

• Buyers finding their own property is normal. The realtor's value is in the process, not just the search.

• Serving military families sometimes means accepting less pay to do the right thing.

• A FSBO appointment is also a listing lead. Leave the door open professionally.

🎧 If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear what realtors really do. Your support helps this podcast reach more military families and real estate professionals who are navigating these exact situations every day.

Closing Chapters Podcast: Where Every Mission Has A Story

Thanks for listening. We talk all things military real estate, my transactions, the mistakes, the wins, and simple plays you can use right now.

Work With Me:

• Buying or selling near Fort Bragg & Moore County
• Agents, partner with me

Connect With Brittney:

🌐 Website

📚 Training Platform

📺 YouTube

📸 Instagram

📘 Facebook

💼 LinkedIn

📧 Email: brittney@homeswithbrittney.com

If this episode helped, follow the show, leave a quick review, and share it with a friend in PCS season.

Disclaimer: This podcast education only & is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Talk with your own pros about your situation. Opinions are my own.

© 2025 Brittney Frye. All rights reserved. Realtor, license # 352197 in NC. Brokerage: REAL Broker l Military Division

In this episode, Brittney gets personal... sharing the full story behind selling her family's Tennessee home in March, the equity they walked away with, and why that $80,000 became a financial lifeline during one of the most expensive seasons of military life.

Brittney walks through the original purchase in January 2021... a new construction home in Clarksville, Tennessee bought for $295,000... and what happened when it came time to price it for sale. With a newer build sitting in an older neighborhood, appraisal congruency became one of the biggest challenges, and she explains exactly how she navigated the pricing strategy to land at $369,000 listed and $375,000 under contract.

But this episode goes well beyond the sale. Brittney gets real about military transitions, the hidden costs of PCS moves, the weight of debt, and how she and her husband used the equity to pay down what was dragging them down most. She also breaks down a simple but powerful framework for looking at your debt, your interest rates, and your real estate as interconnected tools... not separate problems.

Whether you're a military family trying to make smart housing decisions or someone sitting on equity and wondering what to do with it, this is a must-listen.

Key takeaways:

• Buying new construction at the right time in the right market can create significant equity quickly
• Appraisal congruency matters... how well your home matches the surrounding neighborhood impacts your pricing strategy
• Being conservative with your listing price can protect you at appraisal and still deliver strong results
• Real estate can function as a long-term savings account, even if that wasn't the original plan
• High-interest debt (like 20%+ credit cards) should almost always be prioritized over low-interest debt
• A HELOC or cash-out refinance can be a strategic tool... even if your current rate is great
• Real estate builds equity quietly... you often don’t realize what you have until you look
• Annual home value updates from realtors are not a sales pitch... they’re a financial awareness tool

🎧 If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a military family or friend who needs to hear this. Your review helps more people find the show... and it means the world!

Closing Chapters Podcast: Where Every Mission Has A Story

Thanks for listening. We talk all things military real estate, my transactions, the mistakes, the wins, and simple plays you can use right now.

Work With Me:

• Buying or selling near Fort Bragg & Moore County
• Agents, partner with me

Connect With Brittney:

🌐 Website

📚 Training Platform

📺 YouTube

📸 Instagram

📘 Facebook

💼 LinkedIn

📧 Email: brittney@homeswithbrittney.com

If this episode helped, follow the show, leave a quick review, and share it with a friend in PCS season.

Disclaimer: This podcast education only & is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Talk with your own pros about your situation. Opinions are my own.

© 2025 Brittney Frye. All rights reserved. Realtor, license # 352197 in NC. Brokerage: REAL Broker l Military Division

In this episode of the Closing Chapters Podcast, Brittney shares the story behind helping a dual military family — Army & Air Force — find their perfect landing spot in Northeast Columbia, South Carolina. With Fort Jackson & Shaw Air Force Base both in the picture, finding a home that put them somewhere in the middle of two very different duty stations was no small feat. They settled on a beautiful Stanley Martin new construction build in Lake Carolina, complete with a woodline lot.

If you are a military family navigating a dual-branch situation, or simply someone who wants to understand what building new construction actually involves, this episode is packed with insight & a whole lot of heart.

Key Takeaways

• Dual military families crossing Army and Air Force branches have a unique opportunity in the Columbia/Sumter region with both Shaw AFB and Fort Jackson nearby.
• New construction with a production builder means design selections are typically final once materials are ordered or installed.
• Real estate professionals are ethically bound to treat every client equally, regardless of rank, background, or personality.
• Education equals empowerment: sometimes the most valuable thing an agent can do is simply share the facts and let the client make an informed decision.
• Building relationships with your brokerage team is essential, especially when life takes you to another state mid-transaction.

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and pass it along to a military family or friend who could use it. Your share could be the thing that helps a dual military couple find exactly where they need to be.

Connect With Brittney

Website: https://www.homeswithbrittney.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bfryerealtor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyFryeRealtor

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@homeswithbrittney

Email: brittney@homeswithbrittney.com

Closing Chapters Podcast: Where Every Mission Has A Story

Thanks for listening. We talk all things military real estate, my transactions, the mistakes, the wins, and simple plays you can use right now.

Work With Me:

• Buying or selling near Fort Bragg & Moore County
• Agents, partner with me

Connect With Brittney:

🌐 Website

📚 Training Platform

📺 YouTube

📸 Instagram

📘 Facebook

💼 LinkedIn

📧 Email: brittney@homeswithbrittney.com

If this episode helped, follow the show, leave a quick review, and share it with a friend in PCS season.

Disclaimer: This podcast education only & is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Talk with your own pros about your situation. Opinions are my own.

© 2025 Brittney Frye. All rights reserved. Realtor, license # 352197 in NC. Brokerage: REAL Broker l Military Division