Magic 8 Ball & Government Loans

In this off-the-cuff episode of Shut the Front Door, Scott and Johnny shake things up with the new, sure fire way to predict if a home will pass FHA/USDA/VA Financing — using the prognostic powers of the magical FH-8 BALL! From the weirdest thing they’ve seen at a showing to the one real estate skill they wish they could instantly master, no topic is off limits. You’ll laugh, cringe, and maybe even pick up a tip or two as they tackle the unpredictable, the practical, and the downright hilarious side of real estate.

🔮 Whether you're a seasoned agent or just real estate-curious, this episode is pure, unscripted fun — and a reminder that sometimes the best insights come when you're not expecting them.

(0:11) – Welcome to the Shut the Front Door Podcast

(0:30) – Common question: "Will it pass FHA?"

(0:55) – The FH8 Ball method revealed

(1:31) – Joke questions to the FH8 Ball

(1:50) – Why we don't deal in absolutes

(2:14) – Breaking down "FHA pass/fail" terminology

(2:29) – Who actually determines if it passes FHA?

(3:02) – HUD guidelines and what they mean

(3:33) – Appraisers are unpredictable

(3:46) – Will it pass vs. Can it pass?

(4:14) – Seller situations and impact on FHA

(4:37) – A story about being wrong on VA eligibility

(5:04) – VA, FHA, and USDA all follow same HUD rules

(6:00) – The appraiser who surprised everyone

(6:41) – Lessons learned: “You just don’t know”

(7:01) – Will it pass vs. Can it pass (again)

(7:17) – The VA handrail frustration

(8:00) – Why denying veterans over peeling paint is tough

(8:23) – More important than loan type: who's the lender?

(8:59) – Red flags: Online lenders and FHA experience

(9:24) – Magic 8 Ball vs Rocket Mortgage

(9:47) – Why local lenders matter

(10:04) – Pre-qualified vs. Pre-approved

(10:55) – Letters from bad lenders aren’t worth much

(11:31) – Real example: pre-approved for loans that won’t work

(12:08) – Real estate = solving a puzzle

(12:30) – The mythical underwriter and their power

(13:16) – Underwriters making assumptions from blurry photos

(13:50) – Why local teams make transactions smoother

(14:35) – Football analogy: don’t swap out the QB

(14:55) – Losing faith in the 8 ball

(15:05) – Final takeaway: you’re asking the wrong question

(15:21) – Outro: Support, subs, and social media