Roger That Newsletter - August 2021

A WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR PAGE 9

CHAPLIN JESSICA MOREL: FOR GOD AND COUNTRY PAGE 14

10 DESIGN TIPS FOR CREATING EFFECTIVE FACEBOOK ADS PAGE 30

VAREP FACES IN THE CROWD PAGE 43

AU G U ST 2 021 REGISTER TODAY! CLICK HERE

OCTOBER 10 - 12, 2021 GRAND HYATT MANCHESTER SAN DIEGO, CA

ROGER THAT AUG 2021

VAREP NATIONAL NEWS

A Letter From Our President Dear VAREP Members, I present you “RT – ROGER THAT – August 2021” E-Zine Newsletter. This is the best way for VAREP National to communicate happenings within our organization to our membership.

VAREP experienced tremendous growth and recognition in 2020 for the important work that we do. Each of you should be proud and stand tall knowing that your passion to empower veterans to realize the American Dream of homeownership has enabled VAREP to be recognized by key leaders in the real estate, financial, and government sectors as the authority

E D ITO R I A L PUBLISHER USA Homeownership, Inc. DBA Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals EDITOR Gretchen Mccroskey C R E ATI V E SENIOR DESIGNER Jesus Lopez GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nick Preston GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN Jonathan Gifford SENIOR WEB DEVELOPER Francisco Labias

on, and voice of, military and veteran financial-

CO NTAC T VA R E P

literacy and homeownership.

HEADQUARTERS 951·444·7363 info@VAREP.net 495 E. Rincon St., Suite 110 Corona, CA 92879

VAREP ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM 2014 - 2021 • 46 homes donated mortgage-free to deserving heroes across America.

• 1,500 military and veteran families realized the American Dream of homeownership through our programs and services.

w w w .V A R E P. n e t

• 20,000 real estate and lending professional were trained as a result of the 80 live events and online membership training.

• 5,000 military and veteran families educated about homeownership, financial literacy, and

Son Nguyen is the founder and president of the

the VA loan program through the live Veteran Housing Summits events hosted by VAREP local

Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals

chapters across the country.

(VAREP). Mr. Nguyen creates, implements, and

• 2,000+ military and veteran families were provided food, utilities payment, rent back payment, basic supplies, clothing, and blankets during the holiday season. This was made possible through our VAREP Cares program implemented by the VAREP local chapters.

• $70,000 in the form of housing assistance grants for down-payment, closing costs, and adaptive needs. This was in partnership with the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA).

HOW TO EXPLAIN WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO I frequently receive phone calls from our membership on how to explain VAREP as an organization.

Depending on your audience, you may want to adapt the points listed below to introduce VAREP. • VAREP is a 501.c.3 nonprofit organization that was founded to directly educate the 1.4-plus million active military and 22-plus million veterans on sustainable homeownership, financialliteracy education, VA loan awareness, and economic opportunity.

• VAREP is the only organization that educates military and veteran families on the importance of financial health on the road to homeownership.

• VAREP is the only organization that educates the real estate practitioner on the important housing-policy and lending initiatives that affect the military and veteran communities.

VAREP Comparison to Other Veteran Nonprofits The comparison chart to the right shows that we fill a much needed gap in financial-literacy and housing components that the other veteran service organizations simply do not offer…In other words: We complement them and do not compete with them.

overseas the programs within VAREP including working with government agencies and policy makers to create and reform veteran housing policy to remove barriers to homeownership.

He is frequently called upon as a subject-matter expert by government agencies, the real estate industry, the lending industry, and real estate trade organizations to consult on a variety of veteran housing issues.

Mr. Nguyen has more than 19 years’ experience in real estate, public speaking, supplier diversity, curriculum development, and non-profit management. His record demonstrates innovation and leadership at the highest level.

Mr. Nguyen established VAREP as a housing nonprofit for vets, by vets. He believes VAREP’s proactive stance of providing financial-literacy education and advocat-ing homeownership can greatly impact homelessness among the veteran community, by both reducing the current epidemic and preventing future occurrences, one veteran at a time.

Mr. Nguyen entered the Navy in 1996 and served as a Radioman on the USS Vincennes (GC-49) and USS

Our organization has only scratched the surface of creating awareness and having people rethink

Constellation (CV-64). A proud service-connected

how to better serve underserved military and veteran housing needs. To a great 2021...Cheers!

disabled veteran, Mr. Nguyen holds a bachelor’s

degree in Public Relations from of the University of

Son Nguyen VAREP Founder and President

2

ABOUT SON

Florida and a Master’s in Organizational Management.

VETERAN NON-PROFIT COMPARISON CHART Target Audience

VAREP

MILITARY WARRIORS FOUNDATION

OPERATION HOMEFRONT

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT

USA CARES

Veterans = 22+ Million Active Duty = 1.4+ Million

Wounded Warriors OEF, OIF, ND = 51,849

Active Duty Family of E1 - E6 = 1.1 Million

Wounded Warriors OEF, OIF, ND = 51,849

Post 9/11 Servicemembers & Family

Financial Assistance

X

X

Emergency Food

X

X

Emergency Home Repair

X

X

Critical Baby Items

X

X

Home and Appliance Repair

X

Furniture and Household Items

X

Local Moving Assistance

X

Apartment Transitional Housing

X

X

Permanent Housing Placement

X

X

Employment Job Board

X

Rehabilitation with Recreational Therapy

X

X

X

X

Peer-to-Peer Counseling

X

Family Support Retreats

X

Peer Mentoring

X

Information Technology Training Academy

X X

X

X

X

X

Community Outreach

X

X

X

Live Community Housing, Financial Literacy, and Employment Fair Outreach Events

X

REALTOR, Housing Professional, and Lender Military and Veteran Certification Course

X

Military and Veteran Friendly Database

X

Financial Literacy Education

X

VA Home Loan Program Education

X

Housing Education

X

Housing Counseling

X

Credit and Debt Management Education

X

Credit and Debt Management Counseling

X

Military and Veteran First Look Affordable Housing Purchase Program

X

Mortgage Free Donated Homes for Wounded Warrior and Spouses of Deceased Warriors

X Advocate with a Written Policy Plan

Military and Veteran Housing Lending Policy

Housing and Lending Policy Conference

X

Military and Veteran Financial Literacy, Housing, and Employment Resource Center

X

X

X

X Wounded Warriors

NOTE: The non-profit comparison chart does not list the national minority real estate trade organizations including AREAA, NAHREP, and NAREB because we are not structurally set up as a trade organization. We have our membership whom we educate to better serve the military housing needs, but ultimately we are all here to serve the military and veteran communities.

3

AUG

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2021 LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDERS............................ PAGE 2

LEGISLATIVE CORNER......................................... PAGE 24

A WORD FROM THE ASSISTANT ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR..................................... PAGE 9

10 DESIGN TIPS FOR CREATING EFFECTIVE FACEBOOK ADS................................................... PAGE 30

HOW TO BUILD AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE .....................................

PAGE 10

CHAPLIN JESSICA MOREL: FOR GOD AND COUNTRY ..................................... PAGE 14

HOUSING PROTECTIONS FOR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS UNDER THE SCRA................................................ PAGE 34

INJURED BUT ABLE: HONORING DISABLED VETERANS........................................

PAGE 16

NEC UPDATE........................................................ PAGE 38

3 MORE TIPS TO INSTANTLY MAKE BETTER VIDEOS.......................................

PAGE 22

FACES IN THE CROWD.......................................... PAGE 43

2021/2022 NATIONAL EVENTS NATIONAL CONVENTION OCTOBER 10TH - 12TH, 2021 GRAND HYATT MANCHESTER SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

STAY UPDATED AT: W W W.VAREP.NET/POLICYCONFERENCE

SEE PAGE 16: FOR ARTICLE

POLICY CONFERENCE

VAREP 2022 POLICY CONFERENCE

JUNE 26TH - 28TH, 2022 SAVE THE DATE MORE INFO TO COME SOON!

STAY UPDATED AT:

JUNE 14, 2022 - VIRTUAL 9:30AM - 2:00PM PST

W W W.VAREP.NET/POLICYCONFERENCE

SAV E TH E DATE !

The conference is filled with online educational sessions and town halls to educate attendees on important housing policy, lending initiatives, and economic development affecting the military and veteran communities.

SAN DIEGO, CA GRAND HYATT MANCHESTER

SEE YOU THERE... LIVE, IN PERSON! CLI CK HERE TO REGIS TER

5

VAREP CURRENTLY HAS

32 CHAPTERS LOCATED IN 18 STATES

ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

ACTIVE CHAPTERS Alaska

VAREP South Central Alaska - Founded on June 23, 2020

Arizona VAREP Phoenix Chapter - Founded on September 3, 2013 VAREP Prescott Chapter - Founded on June 27, 2019 VAREP Tucson Chapter - Founded on January 28, 2015

Illinois VAREP Chicago Chapter - Founded on June 21, 2016

Kentucky VAREP Louisville Chapter - Founded on June 14, 2018

Maryland

California

VAREP Annapolis / D.C. Chapter - Founded on August 23, 2018

VAREP East Bay Area Chapter - Founded on August 24, 2017 VAREP Fresno Chapter - Founded on January 30, 2019 VAREP Los Angeles Chapter - Founded on April 23, 2014 VAREP Orange County Chapter - Founded on March 11, 2013 VAREP Riverside Chapter - Founded on June 17, 2013 VAREP Sacramento Chapter - Founded on June 4, 2013 VAREP San Bernardino Chapter- Founded on August 14, 2014 VAREP San Diego Chapter - Founded on July 29, 2013

Minnesota

Colorado VAREP Denver Chapter - Founded on August 14, 2014

Florida

VAREP Twin Cities Chapter - Founded on March 11, 2018

Missouri VAREP St Louis Chapter - Founded on March 10, 2017

Nevada VAREP Las Vegas Chapter - Founded on August 30, 2013 VAREP Northern Nevada Chapter - Founded on March 4, 2015

Oregon VAREP Central Oregon Chapter - Founded on February 12, 2019

VAREP Central Florida Chapter - Founded on April 14, 2015 VAREP Miami Chapter - Founded on July 13, 2015

Texas

Georgia VAREP Atlanta Chapter - Founded on January 22, 2019

VAREP DFW Chapter - Founded on December, 2015 VAREP Houston Chapter - Founded on March 30, 2015 VAREP San Antonio Chapter - Founded on December 10, 2013

Hawaii

Virginia

VAREP Honolulu Chapter - Founded on April 04, 2014

Idaho VAREP Treasure Valley Chapter - Founded on May 17, 2018

6

VAREP Hampton Roads Chapter - Founded on September 5, 2018 VAREP Northern Virginia Chapter - Founded on May 30, 2018

Washington VAREP Tacoma South Sound Chapter - Founded on December 15, 2014

16 CHAPTERS IN FORMATION Arizona VAREP Kingman Chapter- Coming 2021

California VAREP Modesto Chapter - Coming 2021 VAREP San Gabriel Chapter - Coming 2021

Colorado VAREP Colorado Springs – Coming 2021

Florida VAREP Jacksonville Chapter - Coming 2021

Georgia

Massachusetts

Puerto Rico

VAREP Boston Chapter - Coming 2021

VAREP Puerto Rico Chapter - Coming 2022

New Jersey

Tennessee

VAREP North New Jersey Chapter - Coming 2021 VAREP South New Jersey Chapter - Coming 2021

New York VAREP New York City Chapter - Coming 2021 VAREP Hudson Valley Chapter - Coming 2021

VAREP Nashville Chapter - Coming 2022

Texas VAREP Austin Chapter - Coming 2022

Pennsylvania VAREP Philadelphia Chapter - Coming 2021 VAREP Pittsburgh Chapter - Coming 2021

VAREP Augusta Chapter - Coming 2022

7

VAREP 2022 POLICY CONFERENCE

JUNE 14, 2022 - VIRTUAL 9:30AM - 2:00PM PST

The 2022 VAREP Policy Conference will educate, develop, and empower current and future leaders within the VAREP organization.

The Policy Conference equips VAREP leaders with the necessary tools to serve the military and veteran housing needs.

SAVE THE DATE 8

A WORD FROM THE

ASSISTANT ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR

Ernie Gonzales AND THERE GOES Q-2…

With the fog of COVID-19 lifting and states opening

of the box Zoom version of “Let’s Make a Deal” and it

up across the country many chapters are holding live

was a huge success. Many chapters held similar events,

events once again, and as crazy as it seems, seeing

too many great events to list here. Events increased and

people in person and DARE YOU…HUGGING!!!

raised funds for the mission, even without being face-to-

This last year has been a whirlwind of emotions

face or limited distance. RESILIENCE.

and changes, with many changes at the National of f ice. With this article we want to talk about RESILIENCE, as that is the buzz word around all our members and chapters.

Fast forward to October 2020 and our National Headquarters was buzzing with excitement in preparation for the second virtual conference, the VAREP National Conference. With the help and support of all the

Websters Dictionary defines RESILIENCE as a noun: the

committee heads, National Board of Directors, Sponsors

capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

and of course the staff at national, we did it again and

Resilience is exactly what has happened as the world

many of the chapters participated in one way or another.

began to shut down. VAREP National headquarters circled the wagons to make sure that the chapters

This was an amazing experience to be a part of and one that showed us the true meaning of Mission Forward and

were safe and healthy. When all of that was

again . . . RESILIENCE.

determined in the affirmative, national brought

And now, right after hopefully our final VIRTUAL

forth solutions for chapters to move the mission

conference, the June VAREP Policy Conference was

forward. No being able to meet in person offered

as much of a success as it was and fun to be a part of.

new ways and ideas for the chapters to effectively

As we embark on lifted stay at home orders, opening

support their military/veteran community through the

communities and opportunities to move our mission

mission. National led the way through the form of

forward we are so very proud and honored to be serving

our very first VIRTUAL Policy Conference, bringing

our veterans with all our members, sponsors supporters

to the audience some great ideas and solutions to

and advocates. Your hope, belief, and support of VAREP’s

“stay at home” orders. A full year of Zoom led to

Mission to improve the lives of servicemembers and

Zoom Gloom, as we all know how we feel about being

veterans through education, housing, and philanthropy

ZOOMED OUT, the mission and chapters marched

has been unwavering. This reminds us of who we are,

forward. RESILIENCE.

who you are and who we all serve . . . our veterans

Calls with the chapter leadership were increased as

and why we stayed in the fight. RESILIENCE. Looking

ideas and solutions came in from chapters across

forward to seeing you in San Diego!!

the country. Things like Zoom Fundraisers, Online

Stay Strong, Mission Forward and BE RESILIENT

Training and Facebook Live events. To give an example, the San Bernardino Chapter held an out

Ernie Gonzales Assistant Association Director

9

Media Corner

How to Build an Online Marketplace

O

ver the last decade, businesses have shifted from a pipe business model to a platform model. In this new model, the company isn’t the sole generator of value; platforms enable participants to concrete value alongside other platform participants and exchange it among themselves. As a result, the retail industry has been disrupted by online marketplaces — e-commerce platforms that enable interactions between customers and producers. The benefits marketplaces bring to businesses are numerous and include lower investment requirements, faster scaling, and multiple options for monetization.

There are a lot of decisions to make before starting a marketplace business. Below, we provide step-by-step instructions so you can create a successful project and avoid costly mistakes.

Choose your marketplace type At the very beginning, you should decide whether your 10

marketplace will be centralized (managed by a single authority) or decentralized (platform participants connect and make transactions directly. Let’s break this down using some examples.

Uber controls nearly everything, including pricing, payments, transaction terms, customer support, vehicle locations, and driver verification. On the other hand, eBay directly controls only payments and customer support and decentralizes pricing, reviews, ratings, transaction terms, photos, and communication. Centralization provides a great user experience, as users don’t have to resolve issues on their own. Additionally, marketplace elements, content, design, and interactions always behave the same way, as they’re managed by a single entity; the user experience is thus consistent and logical.

Decentralized marketplaces ensure great security, as any sensitive data is stored on a network that doesn’t pass through

a central server. Decentralized apps guard against data intrusion.

Marketplaces enable users to interact with each other and exchange value. So before starting a marketplace business, ask yourself what value your users will exchange. Products, services, or social currency?

Products

If you’ve decided to build an e-commerce marketplace, think over what product categories your platform will offer. You could sell electronics, clothing and accessories, home goods, food and beverages, jewelry, electrical appliances, health and beauty products, and more. Marketplaces often include more than one

product category.

Services

If you’re looking into how to build a marketplace like TaskRabbit or Fiverr, then you’re considering a service marketplace. These marketplaces match service providers (like tradespeople) with

clients who want help with skilled repairs or odd jobs (like repairing a light fixture).

Social currency

People like to share virtual content such as videos, pictures, and blog posts. Medium enables users to share articles, YouTube lets people share videos, and Twitter lets users share content via tweets.

Find the right business model

When it comes to choosing a business model, ask yourself what role(s) platform participants will be able to play: Can a user be both a customer and a producer? Only one or the other (either a customer or producer)? Or will you exclusively target businesses with a B2B marketplace?

technology stack and features and make it a reality.

Although the number of software developers worldwide reached 23 million in 2018, finding the right company for your project can still be a challenge. Below, we’ve prepared some useful tips that can help you find and hire the right marketplace app development company.

Scan the market. Platforms such as Clutch, LinkedIn, AppFutura, IT-Suppliers, TheyMakeApps.com, CrunchBase, Behance, and Dribbble can help you with this.

Narrow your search by region. Choose a region that suits you best in terms of pricing, approach, and technical expertise.

Compare prices of different companies and choose a company (or several companies) Hire online marketplace that work best for you in terms software developers of price and quality.

Once you’ve decided on your Browse portfolios to see platform’s type and business marketplace solutions companies model, it’s time to look for software have already crafted. engineers to help you decide on its

PARTICIPANTS

Any user can be bothha seler and a buyer

EXAMPLES OF COMPANIES Etsy,eBay, BlaBlaCar, Skillshare, couchsurfing

Check out customer feedback to see a company’s performance on earlier projects.

Interview the team to check their technical expertise and see whether they’re excited about developing your product.

Select the right programming language

There are quite a lot of programming languages that can work well for building a marketplace app. The most popular are Java, PHP, Ruby, and Python.

All four of these languages have great communities and have been adopted by famous companies.

Java has powerful tools for marketplace website development that have proved effective for debugging. In addition, Java (alongside PHP) has great performance, whereas Ruby is slower compared to Python, Java, and PHP.

Decide on the functionality

BUSINESS MODEL

Now it’s time to focus on the features for your marketplace. Your decision on functionality should be driven by your core value. What issues does your marketplace address and what features can solve them?

P2P marketplace

Each marketplace should include a set of basic features. Since the goal is to enable interactions among participants, you should include:

Business and customers

Amazon,com, Bokking. com, McDelivery

B2C marketplace

Businesses

Catalant, cargomatic, Alibaba.com

B2B markteplace

-Profiles. These are essential for building and maintaining relationships among users. There are typically two user roles on a marketplace - producers and customers - and their profile interfaces can differ.

11

Search. Clear navigation helps users browse your marketplace.

Customers should be able to filter search results and preview products and services.

Bookings are crucial for service marketplaces like on-demand home services marketplaces, mHealth booking apps, and hotel booking platforms. You can also offer bookings with calendar support.

Payments. Customers should be able to pay for their purchases right on your marketplace via debit card, credit card, and other payment options. Stripe, Braintree, and PayPal are great marketplace payment gateways.

Reviews and ratings build trust on a platform and help customers make informed buying decisions.

Notifications keep users updated about key activities, such as orders being processed and delivered.

Some platforms require specific features: -You might like or related items feature helps businesses provide customized content to each platform user. Machine learning algorithms curate content, taking into account a customer’s previous actions such as comments, clicks, and likes.

-A blog can help you attract and entertain users by providing meaningful content.

12

If time and money are an issue, you might want to go with a ready-made solution. There are quite a lot of choices on the market. Some of the most popular off-the-shelf software for creating online marketplaces are Sharetribe, Marketplacer, and Near Me.

-A wish list allows users to save items that they’re likely to buy soon.

-Live chat enables users to communicate in real time.

Advantages of building from scratch

-Order tracking. You can let users track their orders and get real-time order status updates.

You’re free to choose. You can first go with essentials and build an MVP. Later on, you can scale and add functionality at any time.

There are two ways of building an

Ready-made solutions

From scratch If your business idea requires unique functionality, then you need to build your marketplace from scratch.

Choose the technology stack

online marketplace: from scratch and using ready-made solutions.

There are lots of factors that influence this decision.

You can meet your unique needs.

Your features, content, and design can be tailored specifically to your business needs.

You can grow your business over the long term, as your marketplace will be highly scalable and easy to maintain.

Custom web development also allows you to and mitigate security risks.

Authorization also plays a crucial role in online security, as it defines what permissions users have.

Authorization verifies that users have access to data and prevents participants from accessing the wrong account.

Disadvantages of building from scratch

For Snaapy, we integrated two-factor authentication: users receive a security It’ll cost more. Custom code on their phone when development doesn’t come logging in. The Snaapy cheap. To cut costs, we app has four user roles: suggest hiring a remote administrator, receptionist, software development service provider/business, company. With a dedicated and customer. When authorizing, team, you pay only for work the system lets a user access only completed at hourly rates. With the data they’re permitted to. On an in-house team, you’ll pay for Qravity, users have to previously hours worked plus taxes, sick leave, register to participate in the vacations, office maintenance, and ICOs. They go through whitelist insurance. registration, meaning they provide not only personal information like Development will take a while. name and email, but also a browser Custom development can be wallet address to check that they time-consuming and take weeks, months, and sometimes even more. have a clean record.

For NexDep, we used Twilio to let Technical challenges of users verify their phone number starting an online marketplace when signing up. For NovaVita ― a The two main challenges of running a marketplace are connected with security and payments. How can you ensure your data is secure and payments are completed successfully?

Security Today, many businesses suffer from malicious content (like spyware, viruses, and worms) and fraud. That’s why you should keep user identity validation and data privacy in mind when building your marketplace. One way to validate user identity is via twofactor authentication, in which two validation mechanisms are required. Usually, one is token and the other is password or code.

CRM/ERP system for a healthcare center ― we developed two-factor authentication. Users can’t sign up for NovaVita on their own. They need to come to the hospital in person and provide documents and personal information so an administrator can create an account for them. Users are given a login and a password when their account is created.

Once their registration is confirmed via an SMS code, the user can change their password.

algorithms. They can help you detect suspicious activity and decline fraudulent transactions faster than any human spewcialist.

Payments As payments are an integral part of an online marketplace, you should ensure your payment system functions well.

Considering the following things: Multi-currency support. To stay competitive, give users the possibility to pay for services or products in their local currency.

Cross-border transactions create new market opportunities but can also give rise to risks. To understand potential risks of crossborder transactions and mitigate them, read this business report by Grant Thornton.

Various payment options. To

enhance the customer experience, offer users flexible payment options: mobile payments, credit and debit cards, e-wallets, gift cards, vouchers, and cash.

To enable in-app purchases on Snaapy, we implemented several payment systems including KNET, Stripe, My Fatoorah, and Checkout. com so users can choose whichever they prefer.

Since marketplaces involve transactions, there’s always a risk of fraud. To prevent it, you can use machine learning 13

CHAPLIN JESSICA MOREL

“Pro Deo et Patria”

(For God and Country)

In 2012, the short sale and foreclosure market was still in full swing because of the housing crisis years prior. I was in my 8th year of residential real estate and in attendance at the annual Five Star Conference in Dallas, Texas when I met Son Nguyen and Dustin Luce – Founders of The Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP).

As an Army Veteran, I used my VA Home Loan benefits to purchase my first home at the age of twenty-two. I had built my real estate company, Tri Freedom Real Estate Partners, focused on serving the military and Veteran community, so it seemed like a natural reason to learn more about their non-profit organization.

VAREP was in its inception and they had a patriotic booth at the conference which caught my attention.

I walked up to their booth and introduced myself.

After learning about their vision and mission, I casually placed my business card in the bucket they had on their table. I told them to call me if they ever needed help in my home state of Arizona.

A month later, I receive a call from Son asking me if I could launch a VAREP chapter in Phoenix, Arizona. I did not even know what it meant to ‘launch a chapter’, but my enthusiastic spirit agreed. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but he told me that he would mentor me through each step.

After successfully launching the Phoenix Chapter in 2013, I was then tasked to launch the Tucson Chapter 14

in 2014. Both chapters worked tirelessly to advance the mission of VAREP both locally and nationally.

I also served as the Arizona State Director and a member of the National Board and was then appointed to be the National Program Director for the Stop, Drop and Push Campaign. This initiative was created to combat veteran suicide by connecting veterans with alternative therapy provider as part of their holistic healing process.

While serving as the Program Director, I had the awesome opportunity to intimately learn the life stories of Veterans all around the United States. It was something that I felt immediately was sacred work.

With each SDP grant application, I would schedule interviews that created a space for me to learn about the incredible sorrow and courage many of the applicants experienced during their time of service. After each interview, I would be amazed at the vulnerability they were willing to share with me.

As SDP grew and each year passed, I was honored to interview dozens of Veterans throughout the United States. Sadly, in addition to the Veterans I was interviewing, I personally knew far too many Veterans that had experienced horrific trauma. I started to wonder if there was something that I could do to be more involved on the ‘soul care’ of our men and women of service.

Being active in our church, my husband and I do our best to raise our children in faith. I wanted to know if there was a way, I could combine the healing and strength that I found in my own faith journey

and offer that to our military.

In 2019, I received a Facebook message from a buddy that I had served in Iraq. He let me know that he had stayed in the Army and was serving as a Chaplain at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. I was immediately interested in how and why he became a Chaplain.

He let me know that the Army was critically short on female Chaplains. He encouraged me to call a recruiter and get more information. After a few waivers for my ‘advanced age’ (this is how the young recruiter referred to my stage in life), I received notification that my application was approved re-enlistment to the U.S. Army. This family decision that was fully supported by my husband Benny and our four children.

The chance meeting Son and Dustin nine years prior along with experiences while serving VAREP, would be a significant reason for me to re-enlisting into the Army at the age of 41 years old.

In January 2021, I returned to Fort Jackson, SC where I had attended Basic Training 24 years ago to

begin a new chapter - Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course (CHBOLC). This 13-week course trained us the basics of drill and ceremony, military courtesies, physical fitness, and the way of the Chaplain Corp. Graduating in April 2021, I am still in awe the path my life has taken.

I am now a 2nd Lieutenant in the Arizona National Guard and will spend the next two years under supervised training as a Chaplain Candidate. This time will help me develop in my ministry and learn everything from counseling methods, preparing, and delivering of sermons, crisis support, briefing the commander on moral and ethical matters, and protecting the religious freedoms of soldiers.

We are charged with nurturing the living, caring for the wounded, and honoring the fallen.

Son, Dustin, and my entire VAREP family have been excited and supportive through this entire journey. It has been because of the heart and soul that each VAREP member shares to serve our military community that has inspired my path to the Chaplaincy.

Pro Deo et Patria Jessica Morel

15

An Editorial by Son Nguyen

Every Quarter, we pick a conversation worthy subject to feature on the cover of the RT Newsletter. In May 2021, we honored the family and friends of veterans, known as Patriots; in February 2021 we shattered myths about PTSD; and in December 2020 we honored women who have served in the military. Now In this edition, we are honoring Service-Connected Disabled Veterans.

The Department of Veterans Affairs defines a “service-connected” disability as one that was a result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. Eligible veterans may apply for this benefit. They will go through the “rating” process, which requires lots of doctor visits, documentation, and patience. The rating process will document the veteran’s injuries, assign a percentage for each injury and, using a formula, the VA will determine an overall disability rating on a scale of 0 percent to 100 percent and pay disability compensation accordingly.

According to a U.S. Census Bureau report in 2020, Post-9/11 veterans had a 43% chance of having a service-connected disability, and after they accounted for differences in demographic and social characteristics among veterans —they concluded that the number of Post-9/11 veterans’ chances of having a service-connected 16

disability significantly higher than that of veterans from other periods.

The 2020 U.S. Census Bureau report also said that Among veterans who had a service-connected disability, Post-9/11 veterans had a 39% chance of having a disability rating of 70% or more.

Service-connected Injuries can happen during any phase of military enlistment: basic training, weekend drill, on deployment, or everyday activity. Injuries can be physical or psychological, and it is unfortunate that many veterans have not applied for this benefit or have been frustrated during the process and given up.

Life after Injury and Civilian Reintegration When military personnel return from war and are discharged from military service, they are issued the label of veteran. Initially, this term has little meaning or significance to individuals recently released from military service. As the process of reintegrating back into the civilian culture unfolds, the term “veteran” begins to develop meaning for many veterans.

That meaning is influenced by factors such as interpersonal relationships, education, and employment/unemployment experiences, depending upon the level of influence that the military has had on the veteran.

Many veterans find themselves confronted with a multiple physical injures combined with mental health issues, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is an artifact of her or his combat experiences. A significant number of veterans with PTSD symptoms have turned to alcohol as a form of self-medication. Many veterans with PTSD say that alcohol reduces nightmares and difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS).

In addition to self-medication, multiple prescription medications for pain, anxiety, and depression are a recipe for disaster.

Civilian reintegration can be a tough road. The VA reports the following common challenges during the veteran “readjustment” period.

Relating to people who do not know or understand what military personnel have experienced (and many civilians don’t know that they don’t know).

Reconnecting with family and reestablishing a role in the family.

• Families may have created new routines during absences and both the family and the veteran will have to adjust to changes.

Joining or creating a community.

• When moving to a new base or post, the military helps military personnel and families adjust. This structure is often not automatically in place when someone separates from the military. The veteran and his or her family may have to find new ways to join or create a social community.

Preparing to enter the work force.

• A veteran may never have looked, applied, or interviewed for a civilian job, especially if he or she had a career in the military. These are new skills that will have to be learned and mastered.

• In applying for a job, a veteran will have to determine how to translate his or her military skills and duties into civilian terms and create a résumé.

• Because the military uses a Field Service Record to detail qualifications, training, and experience, a veteran may never have created a résumé.

Returning to a job.

• Returning to a job may include a period of catching up, learning new skills, or adjusting to a new position. It will also include adjusting to social changes that may have occurred in the workplace.

• During the transition back to work, some veterans also experience worry and fear about possible job loss.

• If deployed with the National Guard or Reserve, a servicemember will have to adjust to resuming a previous job or a similar job at the same company.

Some recently returning servicemembers may find themselves behind a desk in as little as 3 days after leaving a combat zone.

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Creating structure.

• The military provides structure and has a clear chain of command. This does not naturally exist outside the military.

A veteran will have to create his or her own structure or adjust to living in an environment with more ambiguity.

Adjusting to providing basic necessities (e.g., food, clothing, and housing).

• In the military, not only are these things provided, but there is often little choice (e.g., you eat at determined times in a certain place; duty station determines your dress).

• Given the lack of choices while in the military, the vast array of choices in the civilian world can sometimes be overwhelming.

Adjusting to a different pace of life and work.

• In the military, personnel do not leave until the mission is complete. In a private-sector business, an employee might be expected to stop and go home at 5 pm, whether the “mission” is complete or not. This may not be apparent to all veterans.

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• Given the direct nature of communication in military settings, there may be subtle nuances in conversations and workplace lingo that are unfamiliar to veterans.

Individualistic culture versus a culture of service and teamwork.

• Civilian workplaces may be competitive environments, as opposed to the collaborative camaraderie of the military.

• Putting one’s own needs first, as opposed to the needs of friends, fellow veterans, or family, may be difficult.

Establishing services.

• A veteran may have to learn how to get a doctor, dentist, life insurance, etc. These services were previously provided by the military.

• A veteran may also need to navigate the paperwork and process of obtaining benefits and services from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

The Number 22 In 2012 the Department of Veterans Affairs released a 59-page report on veteran suicide.

The report states that the numbers of veterans who die from suicide each day has remained relatively stable over the past 12 years, varying from 18 to 22 per day. This is an alarming statistic but is a harsh reality that we can’t ignore.

To lower this number, veterans must have a strong support system of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, grandparents, cousins, and friends to get them through the tough times. In addition, veterans must be provided with resources to help them with their situations.

Veteran Resources Include: D Peer-to-Peer Counseling D Suicide Prevention and Intervention Services D Service Dogs Adapted for PTSD and TBI D Sports and Recreation Retreats D Vocational Training D Employment Services D VA Benefits Assistance D Community Involvement and Volunteer D Substance Abuse Intervention D Veteran Organization of Like-Minded Peers

The will to Survive, Live and Thrive According to science, the will to live is a psychological force causing us to fight for survival and is seen as an important and active process of conscious and unconscious reasoning. In particular, this occurs when one’s own life is threatened by serious injury or disease. It’s the idea that people on the threshold of death may consciously or unconsciously try to stay alive because of the belief that they have something to live for. Sadly, one can also lose the will to live.

With this in mind, it is ultimately up to each veteran to exercise his or her will to live—not only to live, but to thrive. As noted by the number 22 statistic, this is not always easy to accomplish, but I believe that if you choose to live, you will utilize all resources to accomplish this goal. Throughout history, humanity has found a way to survive in the face of adversity, whether self-inflicted or from outside causes. This will to live is in all of us, especially veterans. From day one in basic, veterans are trained to overcome, adapt, and conquer when faced with adversity. This will to live and a lot of faith can overcome any adversity that an injured veteran may face.

On behalf of VAREP National and Board of Directors, I would like to honor all service-connected injured veterans across the United States. God bless.

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THE PATH TO SUSTAINABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP VAREP’s Housing Counseling Department is a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency providing home buying, credit, budget, post purchase and foreclosure prevention counseling services to Veterans, Active Military and the community nationwide. Over the past year, from January to December 2021, we provided the following housing counseling services:

2021 COUNSELING & OUTREACH STATISTICS

416

INQUIRIES FOR SERVICES

306 84 CLIENTS COUNSELED

GROUP WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS FROM VHS CHAPTER EVENTS

222

1 ON 1 HOUSING COUNSELING CLIENTS

TYPES OF COUNSELING PROVIDED

124 27

29 16 FORECLOSURE

FINANCIAL

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HOMEOWNERSHIP

PREVENTION

HOMEOWNERSHIP

COUNSELING

PRE-PURCHASE

POST PURCHASE

CREDIT

SUSTAINABILITY COUNSELING

VISIT W W W.VETHOMEOWNERSHIP.COM OR CALL: 888.273.7267

5,500 LMI HOUSING INQUIRIES INTERNET, TELEPHONE & COMMUNITY EVENTS

1,500 LMI FAMILIES RECEIVED PRE-PURCHASE, CREDIT & HOUSING COUNSELING

850 VETERAN FAMILIES SUCCESSFULLY PLACED IN HOMES THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS

350 VETERANS WERE REFERRED TO HUD VASH PROGRAM

600 VETERANS ENGAGED IN CREDIT COUNSELING TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL READINESS

3,100 VETERANS & SERVICEMEMBERS

* S t at i s t i c s f r o m 2 0 14 -2 0 2 1

EDUCATED ON VA HOME LOAN BENEFIT, IMPORTANCE OF GOOD CREDIT & HOME BUYING PROCESS THROUGH COUNSELING & OUTREACH EVENTS

VISIT W W W.VETHOMEOWNERSHIP.COM OR CALL: 888.273.7267

Media Corner

TO INSTANTLY MAKE BETTER VIDEOS

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In wthe last issue of the RT we covered 8 filming tips for hand held cameras. In this issue of the RT we will expand your knowledge by giving you 3 more helpful tips to take your videos to the next level.

LIGHTING Lighting is the most important thing in regard to photography and cinematography. Window light is the best light for run n’ gun, get it done, videos and is very reliable. Filming near a window with the light on the subject will make your videos easier to watch, easier to color correct in post-production and just looks pleasant to the eye.

MUSIC AND SOUND The right music and sound effects will change the way people view your videos. If you choose a song that does not fit your video, it will not be perceived as good as a video with music that compliments it. For example: imagine Rocky Balboa running through Philadelphia and sprinting up the steps to… Baby Shark.

Ambient noises are also huge in drawing the audience in your video. The sound of the car passing by, the keyboard typing, the pigeon cooing, the cell phone vibrating are all subtle details that will separate your videos from the rest.

MOTION Avoid keeping your camera on tripod which makes for a very boring and nonengaging video. Rather, opt for something that will captivate your audience by utilizing camera motion. This can be as simple as a camera tilt, pan or slide. Camera motion is not only inviting, but it helps move the story along while giving it a more professional look.

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LEGISLATIVE CORNER “To maintain the momentum from the Policy Conference, I have appointed G-II Varrato, Yeimalis Acevedo-Rasmussen, Robbie Grossman, Lynn Jabs, Nacho Castro, Dex Cajigal, Victoria Blass and Michael Hamilton to form VAREP’s National Legislative Committee (NLC). The NLC’s task is to do the background and heavy-lifting work necessary to move our mission and the bill forward.”

- Son Nguyen, VAREP Founder & President

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G-II VARRATO NLC Chairman U.S. Air Force

YEIMALIS ACEVEDO-RASMUSSEN NLC Member Patriot

ROBBIE GROSSMAN NLC Member Patriot

LYNN JABS NLC Member Patriot

NACHO CASTRO NLC Member U.S. Army

DEX CAJIGAL NLC Member U.S. Marines

VICTORIA BLASS NLC Member Patriot

MICHAEL HAMILTON NLC Member Patriot

TRAINING AN OVERLOOKED DIMENTION TO THE VA LOAN, THE (EEM) ENERGY EFFICIENTCY MORTGAGE As many of you know, I am on the 2020/2021 NAR (National Association of REALTORs®) Federal Financing & Housing Policy Committee. Obviously, this committee is squarely in my wheelhouse and fits nicely into VAREPs legislative policy position/s. While the primary legislative mission for 2021 is for VAREP to become a congressionally chartered VSO (Veterans Service Organization), this does not mean that VAREP has set aside other, especially important legislative initiatives and efforts, and I’ll post an update on those in the final section of this article.

The EEM energy efficiency mortgage program and how to improve the program and its use is more complex than one might believe. Nevertheless, I have had conversations with the VA and at present the NAR Federal Financing & Housing Policy Committee is focused on helping the VA understand what improvements NAR would recommend.

This project is truly a Hydra with multiple snapping heads. Nevertheless, this is a worthy and, very, important item for the VAREP NLC to focus on over the next year or two. Changes to the EEM must be legislated.

The last meaningful legislation occurred nearly 30 years ago in the 102nd Congress. That is when the EEM stipend was set at $3,000 to $6,000 to cover energy efficient improvements. And now… the rest of the story…

A BRIEF HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF THE EEM The idea of the energy efficiency mortgage has been around since the late 70s however it has truly been underutilized in not only the conventional home loan market, the FHA home loan market and of course the VA home loan market.

By the 1980s pretty much all mortgages insured by the federal government were sponsoring energy efficiency mortgages however even as of today the utilization is well under 1% of all mortgages written in the United states.

In fact, the federal government thought of sticking its head in the window of housing renovations as early as 1934. It was in the 73rd Congress under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) the National Housing Act was enacted in June of 1934. That was the creation of the Federal Housing Administration.

FUN FACT: The first director of the FHA, in 1934, had an annual salary of $10,000.

While the FHA was truly set up as a vehicle to open the door to affordable housing to middle- and low-income America and also of course to set up the insurance of the financial institutions, there was actually a provision in that first act that insured loans, that included this sentence, “… for the purpose of financing alterations, repairs, and improvements upon real estate…”

As early as 1973 Congress was being courted to support the development of solar energy. Finally in 1974 Congress passed the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974, Public law 93-409 signed into law September 3rd 1974. The Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974 was a law that

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Congress past to allow early development and commercial demonstration of the technology of solar heating and combined solar heating and cooling systems. This law is referred to today in most legislation regarding solar energy and energy efficient efforts.

Then In 1978 the 95th Congress passed the Veterans' Housing Benefits Act of 1978 / Public Law 95-476. The goal was to improve housing benefit programs of veterans and primarily set out to expand access to the GI bill to service members beyond those who had served in World War II. However, within that law the emergence of solar energy surfaced referring to the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974. Nevertheless, the Veterans' Housing Benefits Act of 1978 had not yet keyed on the EEM figures of $3,000 to $6,000.

By the end of the 102nd Congress, October 1992 congress authorized the Secretary of the Veterans Administration “…to carry out a program to demonstrate the feasibility of guaranteeing loans for the acquisition of an existing dwelling and the cost of making energy efficiency improvements to the dwelling or for energy efficiency improvements to a dwelling and occupied by a veteran...” ** Cite: PUBLIC LAW 102-547—OCT. 28, 1992 / Veterans Home Loan Program Amendments of 1992

It was actually in Veterans Home Loan Program Amendments of 1992 where Congress set the values for the EEM, i.e. "…(A) the cost of the energy efficiency improvements, up to $3,000; or "(B) $6,000, if the increase in the monthly payment for principal and interest does not exceed the likely reduction in monthly utility costs resulting from the energy efficiency improvements…” ** Cite: PUBLIC LAW 102-547—OCT. 28, 1992 / Veterans Home Loan Program Amendments of 1992

To be sure those figures are 30 years outdated when one considers that in 1992 a loaf of bread cost about $1.00 compared to about $2.50 in 2021. The average annual salary was about $22,000 and the national average cost of a 3 bedroom 2 bath home was about $121,500, compared to the national average of a house today of about $408,800. **Cite www.Statista.com

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LOOKING AT TODAY’S VA BUYER BENEFITS Using this data as a comparator, the VA EEM figures should have increased by nearly 3.375% by now.

Thus the EEM allowance of $3,000 should be around $10,125 and EEM allowance of $6,000 should be somewhere closer to $20,250, and these estimates do not account for any inflationary curve that should be calculated.

Consider that, according to GOOGLE, as of 2021, the average cost of solar in the U.S. is $2.81 per watt ($19,670 for a 7-kilowatt system). That means that the total cost for a 7kW solar system would be $14,556 after the federal solar tax credit discount (not factoring in any additional state rebates or incentives) The EEM is underutilized for many reasons not the least of which is that both real estate industry professionals and lender professionals are not fully aware of the additional EEM benefit. They also do not fully realize that even though the statue sets a theoretical ceiling of$6000 there is a provision within VA Pamphlet 26-7 Chapter 7, (3)(e) that allows for consideration of an amount that exceeds $6,000 with “…Documentation of VA’s valuation of the energy efficiency improvements, and for prior approval loans, the Certificate of Commitment must reflect the additional amount…” **Cite: VA Pamphlet 26-7 Chapter 7, (3)(e)

Not unlike many myths of potential inconvenience to the contract negotiation process or the loan process, that disrupt a smooth path to homeownership for the veteran who wishes to take advantage of the VA Home Loan Benefit, all too often the real estate practitioner and/or the loan officer and/ or the loan officer’s company do not fully explore the EEM benefits with the veteran. Less than 4% of American’s wear or have worn the uniform of the United States Armed forces and yet, we are all too often not provided the opportunity to take full advantage of the VA Home Loan Benefit we earned, wearing that uniform.

IMPROVEMENTS/CHANGES THAT CAN BE MADE TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAM First and foremost, it would benefit the veteran and active duty service members, who wish to take advantage of The VA Home Loan Benefit to have the knowledge and comfort that the person representing them in the real estate transaction on the purchase or selling side and the lending professional and the company they work for are fully capable of understanding, and explaining to the veteran, all of the home ownership benefits that are available to the military buyers.

The National Association of Realtors has created the Military Relocation Professional Certification (MPR). This is a good place for real estate agents to begin to understand the entirety of how to efficiently represent a veteran buyer. Other organizations such as the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP) have created the Military and Veteran Housing Certification or (MVHC) course.

Both designations are a great starting point for real estate and lending professionals to become proficient in representing buyers who choose to take advantage of The VA Home Loan Program.

Did you know, according to the National Veterans Survey in 2015 33% of veteran respondents who used a home loan other than the VA loan indicated they did not even know anything about the VA Home Loan Program? Sadly 62.8% said that their lender or realtor never discussed the VA loan option with them and another 31.8% of those respondents believed a conventional or FHA is easier to obtain and less expensive. However, probably the most disappointing reality is that little over 8% said their REALTOR® or lender actually discouraged them from even using their VA benefit.

Additionally, in April 2021, the **National Association of Realtors published their survey/report on Loan Type Usage. That report showed that up to 11% of transactions that closed with a veteran who originally begun the process with the goal to use his/ her VA Home Loan Benefit, switched to other forms of financing. The NAR report also discovered that as many as 12% of the veteran, who were poised to use their VA Home Loan Benefit to close on

their new home, were encouraged, by their buyer representative REALTOR®, to use alternate forms of financing. There was an additional 3% who were ‘non-responsive’ to this question. In that same report, as many as 33% of Sellers were inclined to NOT accept a VA buyer’s offer. **Cite: National Association of REALTORS® Loan Type Survey April 2021 REPORT

The point is, both industries need a more robust training and education program if we are to ensure that veterans are being accurately represented and fully made aware of all the benefits that come with The VA home loan benefit, to include the Energy Efficient Mortgage.

The NAR “Loan Type Survey/Report” is a true wakeup call to the real estate industry that more must be done to better qualify real estate agents to represent and support the real estate missions of our men and women in uniform.

IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENED IN THE REAL ESTATE AND LENDING INDUSTRIES Obviously, the improvements that are needed to the energy efficiency mortgage program do not lie solely in the backyard of the Veteran’s Administration. And while it is absolutely true that the EEM compensation figures of $3000 and $6000 need to be enhanced dramatically it is equally true and perhaps even more of a challenge that both the real estate and mortgage industries take proactive measures to work towards improving access and disclosure of all of the VA Home Loan Benefits available to the veteran buyer.

The lending industry should be more excepting of the EEM for veterans making a purchase of an existing construction home. It is a fact that very few loan officers who engage the veteran community in the VA home loan are not well prepared to explain the benefits in detail. This is a training responsibility that exists within the financial institution community. A common misunderstanding of the loan guarantee process is that the maximum guarantee would not cover the energy efficient additions cover currently set at $3,000 up to $6000. That is simply incorrect.

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SOLAR ENERGY It is no surprise nor is it a secret that renewable energy is on the extremely near horizon in every aspect of our lives. It is therefore obvious that adding solar energy efficiency provisions in a dollar sufficient to improve the energy efficiency of a residence makes perfect sense.

There are some considerations to be aware of.

For example, would it be possible or even feasible for a homeowner in a condo to upgrade his/her property with solar electric energy? Would a condo community HOA even permit the homeowner to update his/her low efficiency windows to higher energy efficiency rated windows such as dual or triple pane gas filled windows?

Consider a manufactured home. If the manufactured home is on a parcel of land where an energy efficient solar array could be constructed on the ground, that would provide a doable solution. However, if the veteran’s mobile home does not have enough land for such and energy efficient solar power improvement, there would be no provisions that are currently available to array the solar panels on top of a manufactured home’s roof because doing so would most likely void the HUD warranty.

Nevertheless, convincing Congress to increase the allowable EEM funds to accommodate more robust energy efficiency investment in the Veterans Home would not only improve the veterans home energy efficiency but doing so also has the probable impact of additional job creation.

Consider that The VA closed more than 1.3 million loans in fiscal year 2020. If only 10% of those VA buyers opted for a solar panel retrofit array on their home that would be more than $2.2 billion in additional loan revenue which also translates into GDP growth which also translates into more jobs in the green eco-vision for the United States.

Consider that today the majority of solar panels are manufactured and purchased outside of the United states. If the use and adoption and adaptation of solar energy by way of energy efficiency mortgages within the VA community became a reality that could well encourage the solar manufacturing entities to produce those panels here in America.

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Additionally, it might be logical to explorer some kind of a requirement that some percentage of the solar panel array be manufactured in the United states.

One can quickly understand why substantial oversight and enforcement of such an undertaking would be critical to the success of this kind of initiative.

Additionally, strict requirements should also be considered, not the least of which would be that the installation company would be North American BoardCertified Energy Practitioners (NABCEB).

Consideration also should be given to the quality of these solar panels. Solar panels are rated in tiers of performance, loss of capacity to generate energy, cost to manufacture and other meaningful criteria that can impact the cost of the solar panel. Thus, if Congress is going to consider increasing the EEM allowable stipend, the VA can extend to the veteran, it would seem logical that the higher quality Solar Panel technology be required. That would be, in order of energy efficiency: • Monocrystalline Solar Panels (Mono-SI) • Polycrystalline Solar Panels (Poly-SI) • Thin-Film Solar Cells (TFSC) • Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell (A-Si) • Biohybrid Solar Cell Solar energy is just one energy efficient option to consider. VA Pamphlet 26-7 Chapter 7 lists a number of additional energy efficient improvements that can be considered in an Energy Efficient Mortgage.

When considering Solar Panel options as an energy improvement feature, consideration should also be given to the age of the home. Consider that most homes built in the last decade have met more strict HERS (Home Energy Rating System) requirements, thus it might be logical to consider that the VA would only authorize a Solar Panel array to a home that was built after 2010.

Thus, older homes would be required to undergo an energy efficiency audit and then spend the EEM funds on retrofits that would better prepare the home to be more energy efficient. If such an audit concludes that adding Solar Panels to the home, post energy audit improvement implementation, would be practical, then the VA would agree to the EEM to include the inclusion of Solar Panels.

INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE USEFUL TO NAR FROM THE VETERANS’ ADMINISTRATION In the Veterans Home Loan Program Amendment of 1992, the Secretary of the Veterans Administration was instructed to create a report on the use and usage up the energy efficiency mortgage end report those findings to the committee on Veterans Affairs in both the House and the Senate every three years after the implementation. It would be extremely helpful end and lightning if The VA would share those reports with this committee and the National Association of Realtors.

The report was supposed to include the number of mortgages guaranteed under the statute, the average amount of money added to the mortgage to finance the energy efficient features, the types of energy efficiency features that were obtained with the mortgages, the default rates on mortgages guaranteed under this statute and the comparative default rates of other VA loans that did not include energy efficiency enhancements.

SUMMING THINS UP In closing it is abundantly clear that improving the energy efficiency mortgage for the VA home loan is an immensely complex challenge. At the very minimum increasing the current EEM figures of $3000 to $6000 is without a doubt a priority requirement.

However much additional consideration needs to be given to how, both the real estate agent community and the lending industry can be better stewards of the VA home loan benefit for the veteran buyer.

INFORMED CONSUMER CHOICE DISCLOSURE Of course, heading the list is the VAREP NLCs current mission is to get a bill on the floor of the House and Senate that will require adding a disclosure of the VA loan by lenders/loan to buyer/borrowers. That piece of legislation is, in the can, and the VAREP NLC is working to get that piece of legislation introduced in the 117th Congress with an extreme focus on getting the “INFORMED CONSUMER CHOICE DISCLOSURE” that done in 2021.

THE URLA FIGHT A quick update on the URLA fight to move the ‘Military Question’ above signature line. Of course, you all know that we didn’t stop Director Calabria from rolling out the URLA with the misplaced signature line. Not to worry, we are still working on legislation to force the change through law. In the meantime, have some comfort in the fact that many, if not most, of the lender software providers have set the ‘Military Question’ on the first page of the computer screen and the LO cannot move to the next screen until that question is responded to.

The VAREP NLC will be launching a survey over the next few months, through the end of 2021 to gather as many closed URLAs so we can examine the end-result of the ‘Military Question’ being added to the URLA and to confirm that question has not been lined through or crossed off.

It is equally clear that both industries fall well short of being competent advocates of the veteran home loan product to their respective veteran and activeduty clients.

Stay tuned and watch this space.

Stay Safe! Stay Healthy! And… keep your #SocialDistance #IAmVAREP

It may be logical for the National Association of Realtors to partner and or collaborate with the Veterans Administration as to how to create an environment for the veteran consumer of loan products and Properties for Sale where the veteran could have a high degree of confidence that he or she is being represented by an individual that is well schooled and educated in this unique skill set.

VAREP National Legislative Committee Director

G-II Varrato II

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Design Corner

10 DESIGN TIPS FOR CREATING EFFECTIVE

FACEBOOK ADS

Facebook is a great tool for small and medium business owners to get their brand and products noticed by the right audience.

An amazingly designed Facebook ad will go a long way in driving more traffic to your website, gaining more brand awareness and ultimately making more sales for your business. But, sometimes creating a Facebook ad can be challenging task.

There tons of things to consider when designing an ad: where will your ad be shown? What will be the proper sizing, images, style, composition, colors, and fonts? what will make your brand or product stand out? well, take a look at our 11 Facebook ad design tips to help you get the most out of your ads.

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A FE W HELPFU L TIPS FROM VAREP ’S MARKETING TEAM

1. KEEP IT SHORT You want to convey your message to your target customer as quickly as you can. It's best to keep your text under 280 characters. A lot of users will keep scrolling over your post as soon as they realize it’s an ad, so it’s better to be clear and direct while you have their attention.

Always focus your ads on a single message. Don’t try to cram in multiple offers in one ad. Be sure that your message is simple, and to the point. For example, you can present offers such as: "50% off T-shirts this weekend, now opening a new location, or free shipping on all orders" Whatever isn’t necessary to say, save until after they click the call-to-action. Whether your ad takes them to your site, app page or product page, the user can find out all that extra information there.

2. KEEP TYPOGRAPHY SIMPLE Not only do you want to keep your text short-andsweet, you also want to make it easy to read. Use simple typography to make your ad copy easy on the eyes. Wild, decorative fonts may attract attention, but they distract from your central message and may even take longer for someone to read.

two colors opposite each other on the color wheel.

Opposing colors like black/white, blue/yellow, or red/green naturally bring out the best and helps maximize visibility of the text, color and image.

4. DESIGN FOR DIFFERENT PLACEMENTS Facebook ads can be displayed in a few different areas, the main three areas are the desktop feed, mobile feed or right column. Each have their own sizes and benefits. It’s really tempting to design one ad and reshape it to fit all of the areas, but you'll ultimately hurt your ad's performance by ignoring the specifics of placement.

First you have to learn about how your target customers use Facebook. Do they use it on desktop or mobile? Do they use Stories or Marketplace?

This lets you optimize your ad spend and strategize which ad designs to make. For example, if almost all of your target users are on Facebook mobile, you can optimize your ads for mobile. This kind of efficient streamlining is really what gives Facebook advertising its edge, letting you maximize your ad spend.

Alternatively, you can choose “Automatic Placements” and have Facebook figure it out for you. Just keep in mind that requires designs for all placements.

Bold, sans serif fonts work best for advertising.

Also, If you’re overlapping your text on top of photos and video, you want to make sure it’s still legible: it should be thick and colored in a way that it stands out. Once you find a font you like, stick with it. Using multiple fonts can be distracting, so limit yourself to just one, or at most two.

5. TEST DIFFERENT ADS

3. ADD CONTRAST

Your best bet is to refine your ad strategy as you go along, improving and refreshing your ads based on how the previous ads have performed. To gain more data, you can test multiple ads at once to see what works and what doesn’t.

To help get your ads seen, and most of all, read, you can use visual techniques such as contrast to attract a readers attention. One of the most basic contrast techniques that anyone can apply is to use

If you’re new to Facebook advertising, or you're new to digital advertising in general, much of the your early ad phases are spent shooting in the dark. Even with reliable user data, there’s no guarantees in ad campaigns until you can see them live.

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6. CHOOSE THE BEST FORMATS FOR YOU Optimize your Facebook ad design for its format, for example, video, static image, carousel, etc.

The different formats appeal to different customer groups, not to mention that certain industries can make better use of some formats than others.

Here are your options for Facebook ad formats: Image ads- are a single image with no moving effects. A great way to quickly create simple and powerful ads that will drive people to your site and raise awareness of your brand and products.

Video ads- are a short video with sound. Video ads can help your brand and product by using a combination of photo, text, sound and motion. It’s a great way to draw people to your brand.

Collection ads- A series of single thumbnail images that can showcase multiple products, highlight features of a single product or explain a step by step process.

Carousel ads- A series of single images displayed within a single ad. This format is best for displaying multiple products, showcasing your products’ features, creating a look-book for your product and telling your brand story.

Stories ads- A full-screen vertical format that could be image or video. These ads are quick, engaging, interactive and effective format to connect with your audience in an inclusive and genuine way.

Don’t be afraid to mix-and-match different formats in the same campaign.

7. USE PROVEN ADVERTISING TECHNIQUES Sometimes the best Facebook ad design tips come from traditional advertising. You may not be able to follow all of the traditional advertising best practices in today's digital world, but with a few

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modifications you can make any of the tips fit for use on Facebook. For example, one of the most notable shifts in advertising is format.

As mobile phones became the primary way people consume content, the traditional landscape of advertising became less important.

Despite the shift in format, one tried-andtrue technique of advertising that still works is product-focused creative.

When you have a clear message and focal point for your creative assets it can help drive business results. Facebook reported that product-focused creative gained 71% more content views than creatives without a clear product focus.

8. DESIGN FOR YOUR OBJECTIVE There are two meanings to this tip. Meaning one: design your Facebook ad to further your goals, whether your goal is brand awareness or selling a product. This is a good advertising tip for any platform.

The second meaning is specific to Facebook ads: ad objectives are one of the fields you select when creating a Facebook ad. You’ll have the following options: Get more leads - users fill out their name, email, phone, etc.

Get more website visitors - ad clicks send the user to your website Promote your business locally - your ad only reaches people within a specified 2 – 50 mile radius.

Boost your event - either spread the word about an event or sell tickets directly Your entire Facebook ad design should be built around your end goal, especially the call-to-action.

If your goal is to get more leads, for example, you could mention some incentive for filling out the

form. If you’re promoting a local business, drop some keywords the locals would appreciate, like mentioning a famous dish or sports team.

9. BRAND ASSOCIATIONS Your Facebook ads represent your brand personality, so they should look and feel like it. For starters, your Facebook ad design should always include the branding basics: • Logo • Color scheme • Branded fonts and typography • Key products or services • Mascots or spokespeople Facebook ad design, like all your visual content, should display all the elements of visual identity in branding. You should figure out these areas early on in your business model, including which fonts to use and which colors elicit the emotions you want viewers to associate with your brand.

Once you’ve defined your brand visual identity it’s important to apply that across your visual assets. If you are using a video ad, it’s recommended that you display your brand logo or product within the first 3 seconds.

This will establish brand association with your audience right away.

That’s because Stories are about sharing and expressing moments as they happen. They are a great way to create an authentic and genuine ads, especially if it’s shot on mobile. Facebook has reported that “mobile-shot Stories ads have a 63% chance of outperforming studio-ads for purchase, app install and checkout objects.”

Not only that, the nature of Stories is to engage with the users. Even the Stories functionality like tap and hold to pause or swipe up or polling will get your audience to immerse in your ad. These interactive elements are a great way to increase brand awareness and engage with your audience.

A survey showed that 58% of people have been more interested in a brand / product after seeing it in Stories.

Now it's Time to create great Facebooks ads!

Now that you have these tips, you can create some great Facebook ads that will help your brand and products get the attention it deserves.

THANKS FOR READING!

It doesn’t stop there though, maintaining and ensuring consistency of your brand visual identity throughout your video is just as important when building an effective and strong brand association.

10. THINK MOBILE ADS AND STORIES ADS FIRST These days when thinking about creating an ad, you have to think about where your audience is likely to see that ad. And as users are on their mobile more, ads need to be designed for mobile-first. This means creating full-screen vertical ads that can engage and connect with users. Stories are exactly that, a fullscreen vertical ad format that engages with your audience and builds a sense of community.

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Housing Protections for Military Service Members Under the SCRA USA Homeownership Foundation’s HUD Housing Counseling Department, and our team of HUD Certified Housing Counselors are here to help our fellow Military and Veteran Service Members with resolving their housing issues. This is especially important as it relates to Active Military and their housing protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). SCRA is a federal law that provides protections to individuals in military service.

Its purpose is to postpone, suspend, terminate, or reduce the amount of certain civil obligations so that members of the armed forces and certain other individuals can focus their full attention on their military or professional responsibilities without adverse consequences for themselves or their families. We are a HUD Approved nonprofit that offers no cost rental, credit, foreclosure prevention, and Homebuying and VA Loan counseling and educational workshops. Our Counselors can help our VAREP members be more successful in helping their clients achieve the dream of homeownership and maintain their homes. Especially if they are facing issues regarding housing protections under the SCRA. Here’s are some brief FAQs on the SCRA and its housing protections. We encourage you to outreach to us if you or your client’s have questions about housing and SCRA.

Q: What is the SCRA? A: The SCRA, enacted in 2003 and amended several times since then, revised and expanded the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, a law designed to ease financial burdens on servicemembers during periods of military service.

The SCRA enables servicemembers to devote their time and attention to the defense needs of the Nation by providing protections related to such things as rental agreements, security deposits, prepaid rent, evictions, installment contracts, credit card interest rates, automobile repossessions, mortgage interest rates, mortgage foreclosures, civil judicial proceedings, automobile leases, life insurance, health insurance and income tax payments.

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Q: Does the SCRA protect me?

A: The SCRA protects you during periods of military service and, in certain instances, for a period of time after your military service has ended. If you are a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard who is on active-duty status, or who is absent from duty as a result of being wounded or being granted leave, you are protected by the SCRA. You are also protected by the SCRA if you are a member of the National Guard, and you received a specific type of activation orders. Finally, the SCRA protects you if you are an active service commissioned officer of the Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. If you have questions about whether you are covered under the SCRA, contact your nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program office. You can find the nearest location at http://legalassistance. law.af.mil/content/locator.php.

If you fall into one of the above categories, the SCRA may also afford certain protections to your dependents, including your spouse, your children, and any individual for whom you provided more than one-half of his or her financial support for the past180 days. However, the SCRA does not protect you or your dependents if you are a civilian or a contractor.

Q: How does the SCRA protect my home from foreclosure?

orders for a permanent change of station. To find detailed information about how to invoke your rights under SCRA, contact your nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program office. You can find the A: If you obtained a mortgage before you entered nearest location at http://legalassistance.law.af.mil/ into military service, then the SCRA requires that your lender get a court order before it can foreclose content/locator.php. on your home during any period of military service Q: If I break my apartment lease, can I get and for nine months thereafter. The lender must get a court order even in states that generally allow my security deposit back? foreclosures without a court order. If your lender seeks such a court order, and you can show that you A: In most cases, you have the right to have have been unable to meet your financial obligation your security deposit refunded. However, you because of your military service, the court will be responsible for any unpaid rent or other must temporarily stay the proceedings or lease amounts due before the effective date of adjust the amount of your obligation termination, as well as any taxes, fees, and other to the lender. reasonable charges, such as charges for excess wear

Q: How does the SCRA protect me from eviction as a renter?

A: If your monthly rent is less than $3,047.45 per month (as of 2012), your landlord may not evict you or your dependents from a home that is used primarily as a residence during a period of military service without a court order. If an eviction action is filed against you or one of your dependents, the court must temporarily stay the proceedings or adjust the amount of your financial obligation if you can show that you have been unable to meet your financial obligations under the lease because of your military service.

Q: What if I need to break my apartment lease because of my military service?

A: While in military service you may terminate, without penalty, residential and business leases that you entered into prior to joining the military. You may also terminate residential and business leases entered into while in military service if you receive orders to deploy for a period of at least 90 days, or

and damages.

Q: How does the SCRA protect me from high interest rates?

A: You have the right to request that the interest rates, including all fees, you pay on credit cards, mortgages, student loans (as of 2008, including federally subsidized student loans), and other loans that you obtained prior to entering into military service be reduced to six percent per year during your military service. For pre-service mortgages, you are entitled to receive the six percent interest rate not only for your period of military service, but also for one year after you complete your service. To find detailed information about how to invoke your rights under SCRA, contact your nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program office. You can find the nearest location at http://legalassistance.law. af.mil/content/locator.php.

Q. What can I do if I am in military service and learn that a default judgment has been entered against me?

A: In certain actions, if a court enters a judgment against you when you failed to appear or defend yourself during a period of military service or within 60 days thereafter, you have the right under the SCRA to request that the court reopen the judgment to allow you to defend the action. To find 35

detailed information about how to invoke your rights under SCRA, contact your nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program office. You can find the nearest location at http://legalassistance.law.af.mil/content/ locator.php.

Q: Can I be penalized for asserting my rights under the SCRA? A: Asserting your rights under the SCRA cannot be a basis for a determination by a lender that you are unable to pay a financial obligation. A creditor cannot deny you credit, revoke your credit, change the terms of an existing credit arrangement, or refuse to give you credit in the amount or on the terms requested by you because you asserted your rights under the SCRA. Negative information may not be reported to credit bureaus simply because you asserted your rights under the SCRA. An insurer may not refuse to insure you, or change the terms or conditions of your insurance, because you asserted your rights under the SCRA.

Q. Who can I contact if I believe that my rights under the SCRA were violated?

A. You can contact our Housing Cousneling department at USA Homeownership Foundation.

You can also contact your nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program office to see if the SCRA applies to your particular situation. Dependents of servicemembers can also contact our Housing Counseling department or visit local military legal assistance offices where they reside.

To find more information about the SCRA and other laws that protect the rights of servicemembers, visit www.servicemembers.gov.

Q. How can I and my clients get help if they have questions regarding SCRA and their housing?

If VAREP members have clients that need SCRA rental, foreclosure prevention, Home Buying, VA Loan, Down Payment, Credit, or Financial Literacy counseling please refer them to our Housing Counseling Department to speak with our Housing Counselors.

We have a great SCRA Checklist that’s available for your reference.

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GETTING HELP IS AS

EASY AS 1, 2, 3

1. Contact Contact our Housing Counseling Department by visiting our website at MyHomeOwnership.org click on counseling and complete the online intake forms. And view our short video on Housing Counseling services: myhomeownership.org/counseling/

2. Call Call our toll free number 888. 273.7267

3. Email Email your request to Gabriel Cornejo Housing Counseling Administrative Assistant, at gcornejo@varep.net.

STOP, DROP & PUSH

CAMPAIGN Hello VAREP Nation, We hope you all enjoyed the National Policy Conference as much as we did. We hope you found the information valuable. If you missed it, we suggest you go back and watch the recordings to help further the mission and gain important industry updates relevant to the current market. You won’t regret it! If you did attend, you saw the many things going on with the Stop, Drop and Push Campaign.

First, was our collaboration with AmpSurf. How did you like that video of the Vet Surf Friday? We were able to speak with the veterans there that day and the excitement and relief they gain by attending this alternative therapy is life changing for them as well as inspirational. In fact, one of the veterans is studying a craft that once she completes her studies will then offer services to further help veterans with their healing. How incredible is that - the gift of paying it forward.

We are excited to share that to date, we have raised $4,800 in the Mt. Kilimanjaro fundraising event. There is still a long way to go to help reach the goal of $15,000. This money goes to help veterans across the country receive the alternative therapy they need to heal and move forward in a positive, healthy way. Please continue to follow & support Nathans’s journey and the Stop,Drop & Push Campaign in 3 ways: track his progress and leave an encouraging post, share the fundraiser page & the link, lastly, please donate to support his dedication to the Stop Drop Push Campaign at: stopdroppush.org/hike/.

We’re sure by now you have heard about The S.A.V.E suicide awareness webinars. They have been a huge success and our partnership with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs solidifies we are moving in the right direction in creating awareness and support for the 22 a day veteran suicide epidemic. You still have one more

chance to watch this webinar live and ask questions with Ms. Lillie Mills on September 14th. Be sure to keep an eye out for the flyers and registration links for these sessions then share on your social media pages, your office, with family and friends.

These webinars are for everyone, not just VAREP members. Please share the information and encourage everyone who has active duty or veteran members in their lives to attend. You will gain insightful knowledge that could prove very useful when encountering someone who has had suicidal thoughts. Lillie will answer your questions there on the webinar or privately.

In recognition of Suicide Awareness month, we are excited to share that several chapters across the country have committed to hosting a SDP fundraising events this September. This is a boots on the ground collaboration with the SDP Team and the dedicated directors of the chapters to that want to make an impact and difference. We thank you all for your commitment to helping our hero’s participate in ways that help them rediscover purpose. The great part of this collaboration with the chapters as they also will share in the fundraising proceeds in order to help assist their own VAREPCares initiative within their communities.

This is how we reach veterans across the country in need, working and serving together.

If you have an event coming up and would like to turn it into a fundraiser in honor of our initiative, then please contact Tamra Coulter or Dex Cajigal to discuss. Together we can make a difference, helping one veteran at a time.

TCoulter@varep.net / DCajigal@stopdroppush.net

We thank you for your continued support of all our VAREPCares programs, as well as, your continued commitment to assist our veteran and military communities.

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JAMIE GARRETT

STEPHEN DEMUTH

JULIE OWENS

JEFF WILSON

JOHN MILLER

SEAN SELTERS

NEC Chair Patriot

NEC Member U.S. Army

NEC Member Patriot

NEC Member U.S. Air Force

NEC Member Patriot

NEC Member U.S. Army

The purpose of the National Education Committee (NEC) is to assist with empowering and preparing all communities for sustainable homeownership through the advancement of knowledge and financial literacy.

As COVID slows and states are re-opening, VAREP local chapters have gone back to in-person teaching. Lunch and Learns are taking place, and the Military & Veteran’s Housing Certification (MVHC) course has been taught several times. The MVHC course is a comprehensive understanding of the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Home Loan Guarantee program geared towards the real estate and lending industry to help serve the housing needs of our Veteran’s.

Financial Zoom Courses in connection with our HUD Counseling Department are still being held and are a great opportunity to help those in need qualifying for a Loan Modification after Forbearance, Rental Assistance and Repayment Programs to Avoid Eviction, How to use your VA Loan to Buy a Home and Credit Repair.

The NEC is working on a lineup of new lunch and learns and is excited about one in particular and bringing much needed industry awareness to the Energy Efficiency Mortgage (EEM) Loan to help Veterans understand how to incorporate this valuable program.

Here is a brief history and evolution of the VA EEM. The idea of the energy efficiency mortgage has been around since the late 70s however it has truly been underutilized

in the VA home loan market. By the 1980s most mortgages insured by the federal government were sponsoring energy efficiency mortgages; however, the utilization is well under 1% of all mortgages written in the United states.

It was in the Veterans Home Loan Program Amendments of 1992 where Congress set the values for the EEM, i.e. "…(A) the cost of the energy efficiency improvements, up to $3,000; or "(B) $6,000, if the increase in the monthly payment for principal and interest does not exceed the likely reduction in monthly utility costs resulting from the energy efficiency improvements…”

LOOKING AT TODAY’S VA BUYER BENEFITS Using the 30-year old values in today’s inflation as a comparator, the VA EEM figures should have increased by over 300% by now. Thus, the EEM limit of $3,000 should be around $10,125 and EEM limit of $6,000 should be somewhere closer to $20,250. Granted, the $3,000 lower limit will accomplish a lot of smaller improvements such as weather stripping, duct cleaning, thermostats, water heaters, etc., the average cost of solar in the U.S. in, 2021, is $2.81 per watt ($19,670 for a 7-kilowatt system). That means that the average total cost for a 7kW solar system would be about $14,556 after the federal solar tax credit discount (not factoring in any additional state rebates or incentives). The EEM cap at $6,000 doesn’t come close and VA needs to request an increase in the limits, or industry needs to push congress to legislate it.

BUYER BENEFITS AND INDUSTRY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE The VA EEM is underutilized for many reasons, not the least of which is that both real estate industry professionals and lender professionals are not fully aware of the additional EEM benefit. It isn’t

necessarily VA’s responsibility to teach our industry about this program because all the program guidance is listed in the law, regulations, the VA Lenders Handbook, and even VA Circular guidance. If the industry isn’t reading and learning about the program, that is our fault.

The major benefit of the program, even at today’s low limits, is that the borrower can add on these improvements and does not have to take on an additional loan or money out of pocket for home improvements.

With the VA EEM, improvements up to $3,000 only need receipts to prove expenses. If the loan is a refinance loan, then the borrower can include expenses that were made up to 90 days prior to the new loan. On improvements between $3,000 and up to $6,000, the increased payment must be offset by the utility savings. In these cases, energy audit is necessary. Most often this comes from the manufacturer’s specifications on energy savings from an energy star report.

FEW LENDERS UNDERSTAND THIS BENEFIT PROGRAM The most unfortunate part is that this loan is simple but very few lenders will do them. Shop around. Find a lender that will make an EEM and support their efforts to extend this benefit to Veterans.

On behalf of the NEC, we want to thank the local chapters, communities, sponsors, and industry leaders for your continued support. YOU are making a difference one Veteran at a time.

Jaimie Garrett

National Education Committee, Chair HUD Certified Educator

Patriot 253-224-8906

U.S. Bank is proud to support the 2021 Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals National Convention.

You have our backs.

U.S. Bank has yours.

U.S. Bank is proud to support active service members, veterans and military families with specialized products and services, including: – VA Home Mortgage1 featuring no down payment options and competitive fixed rates for eligible service members and veterans.

– No monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance required on any consumer checking account2 (excluding Safe Debit Account).

– Bank from home or anywhere else with the U.S. Bank Mobile App.

We are committed to serving the military community with grants through the U.S. Bank Foundation to support workforce education, job placement, financial education and affordable housing.

Visit usbank.com/military to learn more about our military banking products and services.

1. Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts.

Interest rates and program terms are subject to change without notice. 2. A minimum of $25 is required to open a U.S. Bank personal checking account. All regular account opening procedures apply. Mortgage and home equity products offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit products offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC. ©2021 U.S. Bank 537501c 5/21

PROMOTING VETERAN STABILITY TO PREVENT VETERAN SUICIDE WHO WE ARE The Stop, Drop and Push Campaign (SDPC) is part of the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals’ (VAREP) philanthropic platform of giving back (VAREP is a 501c.3 non-profit focused on housing for veterans). Although our focus may be on veteran housing, we cannot stand idle while our brothers and sisters are part of the 22 veteran suicide statistic.

HISTORY OF THE NUMBER 22

STOP, DROP & PUSH MISSION

In 2012 the Department of Veterans Affairs

To lower the 22 veteran lives lost each day

released a 59-page report outlining veter-

due to suicide by educating the public about

an suicide. The report states the numbers

veteran reintegration issues; connecting al-

of Veterans who die from suicide each day

ternative veteran therapy providers to those

has remained relatively stable over the

who need treatment; and provide the neces-

past 12 years (varying from 18 -22 per day).

sary funding to ensure treatment is possible so our heroes will rediscover purpose and lead productive lives.

ALTERNATIVE THERAPY Research has determined in addition to medication and traditional therapy, a holistic approach including alternatives therapies such as existential/transpersonal, animal-assisted psychotherapy and play therapy (examples include martial arts, fly fishing, mountain climbing and rafting) are important as part of the road to recovery for many veterans.

951-268-1517 | info@stopdroppush.org

w w w.S TOPDROPPUSH.org

FACES IN THE CROWD “Faces in the Crowd” is a handful of responses to an intriguing question...

VAREP Members share their stories of all things VAREP related!

P E R A V #IAM Why do you give your money, time, & energy to VAREP and its mission?

I don’t want another veteran to be treated the way my father was when he returned home from Vietnam. Veterans should all be loved and appreciated.

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WHY I’m VAREP What is unique about VAREP?

Our goals are not focused on only one thing. Not only do we lobby for actual change with lending practices, but we get educated and bring it back to our communities. We raise funds for so many different reasons such as SDP, mortgage free homes, and Christmas for families.

WHY I’m VAREP The education we provide on a volunteer basis for the veteran community and the real estate industry.

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P E R A V M A #I What would go undone if VAREP closed tomorrow?

Families that needs help with homes could possibly continue to struggle, lending practices could go unnoticed and our Vets can be targeted. Our local real estate community could continue to be disconnected from the VA program and shy away from it, and those of us who have been able to go to the VAREP Conferences would not get to experience the friendships and lessons learned from our trips.

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WHY I’m VAREP Why do you give your money, time, & energy to VAREP and its mission?

I wanted to be apart of something larger than myself, larger than a food bank type charity, and related to my career.

WHY I’m VAREP What is unique about VAREP?

The wide array of ways to be involved, such as on an educational, or community outreach, or political platforms.

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“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation.”

- George Washington

VETERANS ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS info@VAREP.net

w w w . V A R E P. n e t

951- 444 -7363