FORT BENNING, Ga., (Dec. 17, 2014) -- A group of realtors and lenders have come together to honor heroes by offering a part of their commission to be given back and offering discounts to the heroes.
The Homes for Heroes program offers discounts to military personnel and veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters, teachers and healthcare workers when buying, selling or refinancing a home, said Jeff Bullert, affiliate director of Homes for Heroes.
According to their website, the realtors give 25 percent of the commission they make back to the hero they are working with to help pay their closing costs. There are also lenders that offer discounts.
After the events of 9/11, some Coldwell banker realtors in Minnesota wanted a way to give back to the men and women who dedicate their lives to taking care of and protecting others.
"As the program grew here in Minnesota, with the internet, people outside of Minnesota were finding out about Homes for Heroes, and pretty soon we had heroes all over the country wanting to take advantage of the program," Bullert said.
Homes for Heroes went national in 2009 and today the lenders and realtors have given U.S. heroes back more than $7,000,000.
"As a real estate agent, there is not a lot of difference between what I can offer and what other realtors can offer, so this really gives a kind of niche to the realtors," Bullert said.
The realtors and lenders involved with Homes for Heroes are screened prior to affiliation and go through an in-depth orientation process. They also usually have some affiliation with heroes themselves, Bullert said, such as Tiffiney Graham or Jimmy McCraw, both of Columbus.
McCraw served as a law enforcement officer and federal government contractor in the security field.
Graham's parents served in the military and are still serving as civil service employees at Fort Benning.
"I've grown up in that lifestyle, so I have a true passion for the military and what they do," Graham said. "We just want to give back to the community that serves Columbus."
Graham said the program has been in Columbus for about nine months and they have helped one hero close on a house, had a teacher use the 25 percent discount on a listing and another hero is working to close on a house.
"There are no strings attached, whatsoever," Graham said. "It's just a great way to help those that serve in our local community."
Bullert said the name Homes for Heroes reeled in a lot of military personnel or veterans with housing needs. He said many were often homeless or needed assistance, which was not something Homes for Heroes offered.
The need did not go unanswered, however. From those in need reaching out stemmed the creation of the Homes for Heroes Foundation.
Bullert said this is a nonprofit side of the company from which the realtor sends five percent of their commission to upon closing.
Bullert said this year about $40,000 has been given back to 40 heroes across the U.S. through the foundation. The help can range from placing a new roof on a hero's house to catching a hero up on their mortgage payment. Graham gave an example of a hero closing on a $100,000 house.
She said, at three percent commission, the realtor would get $3,000, but through the Homes for Heroes program, the realtor gives back 25 percent of their commission to the hero to use toward whatever they needed and an additional five percent is given to the Homes for Heroes foundation.
"Homes for Heroes is a program for realtors to give back in their community and have a national brand behind them," Bullert said.
For heroes to participate, they must be represented at closing by a Homes for Heroes realtor or lender and they must register on the Homes for Heroes website, www.homesforheroes.com. On the website, heroes can select the Columbus area and the inquiry will go directly to Tiffiney Graham or to Jimmy McCraw.
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