S2 E41: My First Closing as a New Mom | A $154K Military Family Deal in Early 2020

S2 E41: My First Closing as a New Mom | A $154K Military Family Deal in Early 2020

What does it look like to close a real estate deal just six weeks after having a baby? In this episode of Closing Chapters, Brittney takes us into 2020 and shares the story of her very first transaction as a new mom. Her daughter was born on Valentine's Day, and by March 20th, Brittney was at the office doing paperwork with an infant in tow. The clients were a fellow military family in her husband's CE unit coming to Shaw Air Force Base. They had a baby girl of their own, and the timing made this deal feel personal from the start. Brittney found them a three-bedroom, two-bath home on a half-acre fenced lot with a garage for $154,000 in early 2020 before the market shifted. It needed cosmetic work, but the bones were solid and the backyard was perfect for their energetic dog. This episode is about more than a transaction. It is about showing up when it feels hard, trusting your clients to meet you where you are, and understanding why having a key in hand matters so deeply for military families who are constantly packing up and starting over. Brittney also shares her own wild cross-country move story, including towing a car with a four-month-old through 10 hours of screaming, and why she always makes sure there are essentials waiting in the home when a family walks through the door for the first time. Key Takeaways * Returning to work shortly after having a baby is possible when you have the right clients and the right mindset. * Shared experiences create trust. Working with another new military family made this deal feel low-pressure for both sides. * Military relocations cost an average of $5,000 out of pocket per move. Having a home ready at the finish line changes everything. * The real value of a real estate agent is not just finding the house. It is making sure the family gets in the door without losing their minds. * Small touches matter. Leaving essentials like toilet paper, snacks, and drinks in the home is a simple way to show clients you thought of them. * Real estate in 2020 pre-pandemic still offered incredible value. A fenced half-acre with a garage for $154K is a win worth celebrating. * This career rewards long-term relationships. Brittney later helped this same family sell and buy again. 🎧 If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a military family or real estate professional who needs to hear it. Every share helps Closing Chapters reach more people navigating the real side of military relocation and real estate. 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 [https://calendar.app.google/RAhFE3tg5kBEp8q66] * Agents, partner with me  [https://calendar.app.google/RAhFE3tg5kBEp8q66] Connect With Brittney: 🌐 Website [https://www.homeswithbrittney.com] 📚 Training Platform [https://eft.mykajabi.com] 📺 YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@homeswithbrittney] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bfryerealtor/] 📘 Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyFryeRealtor] 💼 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elevatefreedomtraining24/] 📧 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

S2 E40: It's Not Just Military Life. Why So Many Careers Carry the Same Hidden Weight

In this episode of Closing Chapters, Brittney records on the go while gearing up for a day of showings with a young military family who are finally ready to put down roots after years of constant movement.  The conversation sparks a bigger reflection: the kind of uncertainty military families live with, the waiting, the contingency planning, the not knowing where you'll be next, is not unique to military life alone. Brittney shares two stories that brought this into focus. The first is about a friend married to a college football coach, a career she once assumed was stable and contract-bound, until she learned just how much travel, pressure, and unpredictability comes with it. The second is her current buyer client, whose husband has spent the past decade in the production industry working tours on and off, and who is now hesitant to commit to a home purchase because his next job location is still up in the air. This episode is a reminder that the instability military families know so well shows up in more careers than people realize, and that finding a realtor who truly understands what it means to live in limbo can make all the difference. Brittney also opens up about the role of kindness, appreciation, and referrals in her business, and why she'll always make room for clients navigating uncertain transitions. Key Takeaways * Military families aren't the only ones living with constant relocation uncertainty. Careers like college coaching and touring production work carry the same instability. * Feelings of frustration about a spouse being away often are valid no matter the career path. One hardship doesn't cancel out another. * Clients navigating job uncertainty need a realtor who can hold space for a flexible plan, not just push toward a transaction. * A little kindness and appreciation from clients goes a long way for agents who give their time, mileage, and energy to every showing. * Referrals remain one of the most valuable forms of thanks a client can offer. * Finding a realtor connected to the military and high-mobility lifestyle community means working with someone who already understands the limbo. 🎧 If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it today. Your support helps this podcast reach more military families and the professionals who serve them. 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 [https://calendar.app.google/RAhFE3tg5kBEp8q66] * Agents, partner with me  [https://calendar.app.google/RAhFE3tg5kBEp8q66] Connect With Brittney: 🌐 Website [https://www.homeswithbrittney.com] 📚 Training Platform [https://eft.mykajabi.com] 📺 YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@homeswithbrittney] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bfryerealtor/] 📘 Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyFryeRealtor] 💼 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elevatefreedomtraining24/] 📧 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

S2 E39: Relationships in Real Estate | Referrals, Trusted Partners & How Connection Drives Closings

Real estate is a relationship business, and nobody knows that better than Brittney. In this episode of Closing Chapters, she wraps up her 2019 transaction log by sharing one of the most fulfilling deals of the year: a referral she got to give rather than receive. A connection from her Shaw Air Force Base days reached out with a friend who needed help buying her first home in Greenville, South Carolina. Brittney had exactly the right person for the job: a fellow realtor she had built a genuine relationship with through the Buffini and Company system over many years. The result? A 26-year-old first-time buyer closed on a two-story home near 2,000 square feet for just $285,000 in October 2019. A win all the way around. But the episode goes much deeper than one deal. Brittney unpacks what it really means to be the source of the resources, how she builds her referral network intentionally, and why matching clients to the right agent or lender is as important as the transaction itself. From customizing lender recommendations to plant a soft listing pitch in a FSBO exit conversation, her approach to relationships is methodical, genuine, and deeply values-driven. She also opens up about a current client scenario involving a military member relocating from Hawaii, a mom serving as POA, household goods coming from overseas, and a tight timeline before field training kicks in. If you have ever wondered what it truly looks like to advocate for a military family through every layer of a move, this episode makes it crystal clear. Key Takeaways * Referrals are not just about sending business. They are about matching the right people with the right professionals. * Building a referral network takes years. The payoff is that when the moment comes, you have exactly the right person to call. * Every lender and agent in your network should be vetted for personality and working style, not just results. * Referral fees are a real and valuable part of a sustainable real estate business. Do not give them away for free. * Military clients often have moving parts most people never consider: POAs, overseas household goods, field training schedules, and tight timelines. * Being the source of the resources means your reputation lives on both ends of every connection you make. * First-time buyers in their mid-20s purchasing solid homes is worth celebrating and supporting with every tool you have. 🎧If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building a real estate business or navigating a military move. Every share helps this podcast reach the families and agents who need it most. 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 [https://calendar.app.google/RAhFE3tg5kBEp8q66] * Agents, partner with me  [https://calendar.app.google/RAhFE3tg5kBEp8q66] Connect With Brittney: 🌐 Website [https://www.homeswithbrittney.com] 📚 Training Platform [https://eft.mykajabi.com] 📺 YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@homeswithbrittney] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bfryerealtor/] 📘 Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyFryeRealtor] 💼 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elevatefreedomtraining24/] 📧 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

S2 E38: From Fix and Flip to Sober Living | How One Investor Found Purpose and Profit in Group Homes

What happens when a seasoned real estate investor loses everything overnight and has to completely rethink his business model? In this episode of Closing Chapters, Brittney sits down with Jim Boad, a 25-year real estate veteran from Washington State who went from fix and flips and rental properties to running five sober living homes housing up to 50 men at a time. Jim shares how the COVID eviction moratoriums pushed him to the edge of selling off his entire portfolio, and how a late-night internet search led him to a recession-proof housing model he had never considered. From his first home being nearly full within a month to now operating a full program with staff, a waiting list, and even a restaurant that employs men from his program, this conversation covers what sober living actually is, how it works financially, and why it might be the most impactful investment a veteran or military-connected investor could make. Brittney also digs into the very real connection between military service, transition struggles, and the need for programs like this. If you have ever wondered why veterans fall through the cracks after separation, or if you are an investor looking for a model that generates strong returns while doing genuine good in your community, this episode is required listening. Key Takeaways • Sober living homes are largely unlicensed and far easier to launch than most investors expect. • The income potential is dramatic: one five-bedroom home went from $2,300 per month income to $8,500 per month gross income. • Two people per room reduces relapse rates significantly by eliminating self-isolation. • Funding comes from state, federal, and clinic sources, so many residents arrive with two to four months of pre-paid housing. • Military veterans are uniquely positioned to run these homes because of their structure, accountability, and heart for service. • The investor and operator roles can be separated, creating a true partnership model. • HOA compliance, quiet hours, and proactive neighbor communication make these homes great community members. • Every FSBO showing and every sober living home is a door, not a dead end. 🎧 If this episode opened your eyes to a housing model you had never considered, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Whether that is a veteran looking for purpose in business, an investor searching for a better return, or someone who has been touched by addiction in their own family, this conversation is worth passing on. If you have a heart to serve and want to know more about providing a group home, connect with Jim: https://jimboad.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 [https://calendar.app.google/RAhFE3tg5kBEp8q66] * Agents, partner with me  [https://calendar.app.google/RAhFE3tg5kBEp8q66] Connect With Brittney: 🌐 Website [https://www.homeswithbrittney.com] 📚 Training Platform [https://eft.mykajabi.com] 📺 YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@homeswithbrittney] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bfryerealtor/] 📘 Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyFryeRealtor] 💼 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elevatefreedomtraining24/] 📧 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

S2 E37: Big Girl Pants Moment | Military Suicide, Selling Through Grief, and Showing Up for Clients in Crisis

This is not a typical real estate episode. In Episode 37 of Closing Chapters, Brittney shares one of the most emotionally heavy transactions of her career: helping a young military widow sell the family home after her husband died by suicide in September 2019. With three little girls, a house full of trauma, and zero support from the mortgage servicer, this military spouse needed someone to show up fully. Brittney did. From navigating a property that required sensitive remediation to protecting her client from every painful detail she didn't need to know, Brittney walks through what it actually looks like to serve someone at their absolute lowest. She also opens up about her own hesitation, the phone call to her aunt that changed everything, and the teammate who helped her walk through that front door for the first time. This episode is also a call to action. Brittney speaks honestly about the gaps in the system: mortgage servicers that refused to communicate with a surviving spouse, news articles that published identifying details of a military family, and the lack of clear guidance for what military families should do to protect each other before the unthinkable happens. If you are in real estate or military life, this one will stay with you. Key Takeaways  • Agents are called to serve in the best and worst of times. Do not cherry-pick when you show up.  • Having a trusted teammate or colleague matters. You do not have to walk into hard situations alone.  • Mortgage servicers need better protocols for surviving spouses. The current system leaves families stranded.  • Sellers in crisis need a buffer, not more information. Protect them from every detail that isn't theirs to carry.  • A FSBO appointment, a grief sale, or a distressed property is still a moment to serve with full professionalism.  • Military families need estate planning and shared account access long before they think they need it.  • Suicide in the military community is real, prevalent, and worth talking about openly.  • News media publishing identifying details of military family tragedies causes long-term harm to surviving children.  🎧If this episode moved you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. This kind of story deserves a wide audience, whether you are a military family, a real estate agent, or simply someone who cares about the people around you. Your support helps this podcast reach more of the communities who need it most. 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 [https://calendar.app.google/RAhFE3tg5kBEp8q66] * Agents, partner with me  [https://calendar.app.google/RAhFE3tg5kBEp8q66] Connect With Brittney: 🌐 Website [https://www.homeswithbrittney.com] 📚 Training Platform [https://eft.mykajabi.com] 📺 YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@homeswithbrittney] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bfryerealtor/] 📘 Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyFryeRealtor] 💼 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elevatefreedomtraining24/] 📧 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