Being a Veteran myself (former Army MP) I know that returning to the "real world" after enlistment can be a challenge. I decided that I wanted to help in some small way. I don't think I could ever have predicted how involved I'd be a year later.
I had been researching home buying assistance for veterans and was disappointed to discover that there weren't many organizations operating in the valley, and the ones I did find were not particularly active or helpful. Not knowing where it would lead or exactly what I intended, I founded AZVHV (Arizona Veterans Helping Veterans) last year. At the time I was hoping for maybe one participant in each major category; lending, title, home inspection etc., who would offer a discount to Veterans buying or selling a home. In the past few months things have really started to take off. We're getting a site up and running, and business people have actually started to call me asking how they can get involved. At the moment membership is free because I have not incurred any costs other than my time and that of my marketing person. All I ask is that they offer something of value to the veteran. My personal contribution is 25% of my commission as a credit toward the Veteran's closing costs.
Shortly after beginning to market AZVHV I was contacted by a representative of VAREP (Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals) who had seen my car on the highway, noticing my Veterans license plates and Realty Executives door magnets. The founder of VAREP, located in California, was working on taking his non-profit nationwide and was in the beginning stages of introducing his program to the Phoenix area. After several phone conversations and a meeting or two I determined that my involvement in VAREP would work to both our benefits. I am now President of the Phoenix Chapter and we're busy planning several events in the upcoming year. Our focus in 2014 will be on educating both Realtors and Veterans on available tools, and procedures of home buying programs including VA financing.
About the same time as VAREP approached me, another organization got in touch through social media. Heroes Home Advantage, based in upstate New York, is also trying to build a national presence. They put me in touch with an agent in Michigan who has had some success with the program and she explained to me how it was helping her business. Heroes Home Advantage hadn't yet broken into the Phoenix market, and recognizing another opportunity build on a theme I quickly offered to be the initial outlet here in the valley. This too is a program of referral, assistance and discounts but is open to a much wider group. The Heroes Home Advantage program does assist Veterans but also includes Firefighters, Police Officers, EMTs and First Responders, Nurses, and Teachers. Any individual that might be considered a public servant or a hero.
I thoroughly enjoy doing anything I can to help Veterans but it doesn't hurt that it's also helping my real estate business. I'm getting calls not only from people who have been referred to me, but from total strangers who have seen my blog or picked up a brochure. This business is all about people, not product, so I've chosen to direct the majority of my marketing toward helping people. After the financial trampling we've taken in the past few years I think we all realize how important it is to have folks around us that we can rely on. I'm trying to give a little support back to the people that we've all had the privilege of relying on.
AZVHV - www.azvhv.wordpress.com
Heroes Home Advantage - www.cashbackforheroes.wordpress.com
Bill Salvatore, Realtor/ Veteran
Realty Executives East Valley
Www.yourvalleyproperty.com
Direct: 602-999-0952
Email: GolfArizona@cox.net
East Valley Heroes Home Advantage "Realtors helping first responders"
Realty Executives East Valley
Www.yourvalleyproperty.com
Direct: 602-999-0952
Email: GolfArizona@cox.net
East Valley Heroes Home Advantage "Realtors helping first responders"
AZVHV - Arizona Veterans Helping Veterans
VAREP - Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals
