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What Every Veteran Should Know About Benefits, Community, And Coming Home

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Manage episode 517745837 series 3484855
Content provided by Brent Holbrook. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Brent Holbrook or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Send us a text

***Recorded 03/11/2025, and we forgot to upload it***

The hardest part of service often begins after the uniform comes off. We open with the paradox of war—how it forges unbreakable bonds and leaves unhealed scars—then move straight into real tools veterans can use to build a stable, joyful life: VA home loans, Michigan benefits, and a community that shows up.
We bring a new voice to the mic and honor a friend whose memory fuels the work. From there, we dive into VA loans with clarity you can act on today: why VA default rates compare favorably, what appraisals really check for, how to navigate wells, septics, and county pest rules, and when IRRRL refinancing makes sense. We unpack the VA funding fee, the exemptions many vets qualify for, and the power of assumable VA mortgages that can transfer low COVID-era rates to eligible buyers. Michigan veterans get a crucial rundown on the property tax exemption for those rated permanent and total, plus county processes that make it stick.
Benefits aren’t the whole story. We spotlight the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund as a lifeline for urgent needs like furnaces and roofs, and we explain how accredited service officers—working in coalition across VFW, American Legion, DAV, and others—turn red tape into real outcomes. Community matters just as much: youth scholarships like Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy, Camp Trotter service days, riders’ support, and family-first events that keep posts relevant. You’ll also meet Terry, “the Eagle,” whose faithful presence reminds us why posts are more than bars; they’re anchors.
If you’re a veteran, a spouse, or someone who cares about this community, this conversation is a roadmap: claim your benefits, find your people, and help carry the load for someone else. Subscribe, share this with a vet who needs it, and drop us a note with the one benefit question you want answered next. Your story belongs here.

Support the show

Email Us with your comments and suggestions at [email protected], we'd love to hear from you!

  continue reading

Chapters

1. What Every Veteran Should Know About Benefits, Community, And Coming Home (00:00:00)

2. Opening: The Paradox Of War (00:00:03)

3. Host Intros And New Voices (00:01:14)

4. Service Stories And VFW Roots (00:02:29)

5. Remembering Tim: Loss And Legacy (00:07:28)

6. Youth Programs And Scholarships (00:11:00)

7. Tech Glitches, Waivers, And Setup (00:16:47)

8. Deep Dive: VA Home Loans 101 (00:20:55)

9. Appraisals, Inspections, And Myths (00:35:13)

10. Funding Fees, Exemptions, And IRRRL (00:43:38)

11. Assumable Loans And Tax Breaks (00:51:38)

12. Michigan-Specific Rules And Savings (00:58:28)

13. Safety, Sanitation, And Real Pitfalls (01:08:27)

14. Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Aid (01:18:22)

15. Service Officers And The Coalition (01:26:36)

16. Growing Membership And Family Balance (01:36:44)

17. Elections, Bylaws, And Meetings (01:48:17)

18. Camp Trotter Stories And Service (01:58:20)

19. Brotherhood Across Posts (02:09:55)

20. Outreach Wins: Transfers And Trust (02:18:22)

21. The Eagle: Chaplain Terry’s Impact (02:27:45)

22. Relevance, Community, And Next Steps (02:37:40)

23. Closing Thanks And Sign-Off (02:51:05)

18 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 517745837 series 3484855
Content provided by Brent Holbrook. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Brent Holbrook or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Send us a text

***Recorded 03/11/2025, and we forgot to upload it***

The hardest part of service often begins after the uniform comes off. We open with the paradox of war—how it forges unbreakable bonds and leaves unhealed scars—then move straight into real tools veterans can use to build a stable, joyful life: VA home loans, Michigan benefits, and a community that shows up.
We bring a new voice to the mic and honor a friend whose memory fuels the work. From there, we dive into VA loans with clarity you can act on today: why VA default rates compare favorably, what appraisals really check for, how to navigate wells, septics, and county pest rules, and when IRRRL refinancing makes sense. We unpack the VA funding fee, the exemptions many vets qualify for, and the power of assumable VA mortgages that can transfer low COVID-era rates to eligible buyers. Michigan veterans get a crucial rundown on the property tax exemption for those rated permanent and total, plus county processes that make it stick.
Benefits aren’t the whole story. We spotlight the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund as a lifeline for urgent needs like furnaces and roofs, and we explain how accredited service officers—working in coalition across VFW, American Legion, DAV, and others—turn red tape into real outcomes. Community matters just as much: youth scholarships like Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy, Camp Trotter service days, riders’ support, and family-first events that keep posts relevant. You’ll also meet Terry, “the Eagle,” whose faithful presence reminds us why posts are more than bars; they’re anchors.
If you’re a veteran, a spouse, or someone who cares about this community, this conversation is a roadmap: claim your benefits, find your people, and help carry the load for someone else. Subscribe, share this with a vet who needs it, and drop us a note with the one benefit question you want answered next. Your story belongs here.

Support the show

Email Us with your comments and suggestions at [email protected], we'd love to hear from you!

  continue reading

Chapters

1. What Every Veteran Should Know About Benefits, Community, And Coming Home (00:00:00)

2. Opening: The Paradox Of War (00:00:03)

3. Host Intros And New Voices (00:01:14)

4. Service Stories And VFW Roots (00:02:29)

5. Remembering Tim: Loss And Legacy (00:07:28)

6. Youth Programs And Scholarships (00:11:00)

7. Tech Glitches, Waivers, And Setup (00:16:47)

8. Deep Dive: VA Home Loans 101 (00:20:55)

9. Appraisals, Inspections, And Myths (00:35:13)

10. Funding Fees, Exemptions, And IRRRL (00:43:38)

11. Assumable Loans And Tax Breaks (00:51:38)

12. Michigan-Specific Rules And Savings (00:58:28)

13. Safety, Sanitation, And Real Pitfalls (01:08:27)

14. Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Aid (01:18:22)

15. Service Officers And The Coalition (01:26:36)

16. Growing Membership And Family Balance (01:36:44)

17. Elections, Bylaws, And Meetings (01:48:17)

18. Camp Trotter Stories And Service (01:58:20)

19. Brotherhood Across Posts (02:09:55)

20. Outreach Wins: Transfers And Trust (02:18:22)

21. The Eagle: Chaplain Terry’s Impact (02:27:45)

22. Relevance, Community, And Next Steps (02:37:40)

23. Closing Thanks And Sign-Off (02:51:05)

18 episodes

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