You can tailor your Durable Power of Attorney for finances to fit your needs by choosing which powers you grant and by placing certain conditions and restrictions upon the attorney-in-fact. For example, you can give your attorney-in-fact authority over your real estate, with the express restriction that your house may not be sold.

The main reason to create a Durable Power of Attorney for finances is to avoid court proceedings if you become incapacitated. If you don’t have a Durable Power of Attorney, your relatives or other loved ones will have to file formal court proceedings and ask a judge to name someone to manage your financial affairs. [...]