Roger That Newsletter - December 2020

A WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR PAGE 9

SALUTE TO WOMEN IN THE MILITARY PAGE 10

LOAN MODIFICATIONS VS FORBEARANCE PLANS DURING COVID-19 PAGE 14

VAREP FACES IN THE CROWD PAGE 33

VAREP 2021

POLICY CONFERENCE

SAVE THE DATE!

VAREP 2021 POLICY CONFERENCE

JUNE 14TH - 15TH, 2021 VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM

VAREP NATIONAL NEWS

ROGER THAT DEC 2020

A Letter From Our President Dear VAREP Members,

EDITORIAL

E-Zine Newsletter. This is the best way for

PUBLISHER USA Homeownership, Inc. DBA Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals

VAREP National to communicate happenings

CRE ATIVE

within our organization to our membership.

SENIOR DESIGNER Jesus Lopez

I present you “RT – ROGER THAT – DEC 2020”

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 on, and voice of, military and veteran financial-literacy and homeownership.

VAREP ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM 2014 - 2020 •

40 homes donated mortgage-free to deserving heroes across America.

•

1,500 military and veteran families realized the American Dream of homeownership through

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nick Preston GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN Erika Larios SENIOR WEB DEVELOPER Francisco Labias WEB DEVELOPER Jake Moya CO NTAC T VAREP HEADQUARTERS 951·444·7363 info@VAREP.net 495 E. Rincon St., Suite 110 Corona, CA 92879 w w w . V A R E P. n e t

our programs and services.

•

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

ABOUT SON

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

Son Nguyen is the founder and president of the

local chapters across the country.

Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals

2,000+ military and veteran families were provided food, utilities payment, rent back

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

payment, basic supplies, clothing, and blankets during the holiday season. This was made

overseas the programs within VAREP including

possible through our VAREP Cares program implemented by the VAREP local chapters.

working with government agencies and policy makers

$70,000 in the form of housing assistance grants for down-payment, closing costs, and adaptive

to create and reform veteran housing policy to remove

needs. This was in partnership with the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA).

barriers to homeownership.

He is frequently called upon as a subject-matter expert

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

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

introduce VAREP.

estate, public speaking, supplier diversity, curriculum

•

•

VAREP is a 501.c.3 nonprofit organization that was founded to directly educate the 1.4-plus

development, and non-profit management. His record

million active military and 22-plus million veterans on sustainable homeownership, financial-

demonstrates innovation and leadership at the highest

literacy education, VA loan awareness, and economic opportunity.

level.

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. Our organization has only scratched

Mr. Nguyen established VAREP as a housing non-profit for vets, by vets. He believes VAREP’s proactive stance of providing financial-literacy education and advocating 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

the surface of creating awareness and having people rethink how to better serve underserved

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

military and veteran housing needs. To a great 2020...Cheers!

disabled veteran, Mr. Nguyen holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from of the University of Florida and a Master’s in Organizational Management.

Son Nguyen VAREP Founder and President

2

VE TER AN NON-PROFIT COMPARISON CHART Target Audience

VAREP Veterans = 22+ Million Active Duty = 1.4+ Million

MILITARY WARRIORS FOUNDATION Wounded Warriors OEF, OIF, ND = 51,849

OPER ATION HOMEFRONT Active Dut y Family of E1 - E6 = 1.1 Million

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT Wounded Warriors OEF, OIF, ND = 51,849

USA CARES 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

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

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

Advocate with a Written Policy Plan

X 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 no n-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

DEC 2020 TA B LE O F CO N T E N T S

VAREP Chapter Map....................................6 A Word from The Association Director...........9 Salute To Women In The Military..................10 Loan Modifications VS Forbearance Plans During COVID-19..........................................14 The Design Corner: Thank You.....................16 Media Corner: 7 Tips For Better Smart Phone Videos................................................18 Legislative Corner.......................................28 VAREP Faces in the Crowd........................................... 33

2021 NATIONAL EVENTS

VAREP 2021 POLICY CONFERENCE POLICY CONFERENCE

JUNE 14TH - 15TH, 2021 VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM

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

NATIONAL CONVENTION OCTOBER 10TH - 12TH, 2020 GRAND HYATT MANCHESTER SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

STAY UPDATED AT:

HTTPS://VAREP.NET/NATIONALCONVENTION

IN THIS ISSUE WE WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DEDICATION & SERVICE .

SA VE TH ED AT E

VAREP 2021 POLICY CONFERENCE JUNE 14TH-15TH, 2021

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

VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM

TO STAY UPDATED VISIT: HTTPS://VAREP.NET/POLICYCONFERENCE/ 5

VAREP CURRENTLY HAS

34 CHAPTERS LOCATED IN 19 STATES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

ACTIVE CHAPTERS Alaska

Kentucky

VAREP South Central Alaska - Founded on June 23, 2020

VAREP Louisville Chapter - Founded on June 14, 2018

Arizona

Maryland

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

VAREP Annapolis Chapter - Founded on August 23, 2018

California 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

Colorado VAREP Denver Chapter - Founded on August 14, 2014

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

Texas

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

VAREP DFW Chapter - Founded on December, 2015 VAREP El Paso Chapter - Founded on April 6, 2017 VAREP Houston Chapter - Founded on March 30, 2015 VAREP San Antonio Chapter - Founded on December 10, 2013

Georgia

Virginia

VAREP Atlanta Chapter - Founded on January 22, 2019

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

Florida

Hawaii VAREP Honolulu Chapter - Founded on April 04, 2014

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

Illinois VAREP Chicago Chapter - Founded on June 21, 2016

6

Minnesota

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

Washington D.C. VAREP D.C. Metropolitan Area Chapter - Founded on June 11, 2014

Arizona

19 CHAPTERS IN FORMATION

VAREP Kingman Chapter- Coming 2020

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

Colorado

Guam VAREP Guam Chapter - Coming 2021

VAREP New York City Chapter - Coming 2021

Maryland

Pennsylvania

VAREP Baltimore Chapter - Coming 2021

Massachusetts VAREP Boston Chapter - Coming 2021

VAREP Colorado Springs – Coming 2021

Florida

Nevada VAREP Carson City Chapter - Coming 2021

VAREP Jacksonville Chapter - Coming 2021

Georgia VAREP Augusta Chapter - Coming 2021

New York

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

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

Puerto Rico VAREP Puerto Rico Chapter - Coming 2021

Tennessee VAREP Nashville Chapter - Coming 2021

Washington VAREP Bremerton Chapter - Coming 2021

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E! T A D E H T E V A S

OC T OBE R 10 T H - 12 T H 2 0 2 0 · 10 A M -1: 0 0 P M P S T

The 2021 VAREP National Convention will educate, develop, and empower current and future leaders within the VAREP organization. The National Convention equips VAREP leaders with the necessary tools to serve the military and veteran housing needs.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA GRAND HYATT MANCHESTER

SEE YOU SOON! 8

A Word from the

Association Director Carla Lemon POWERFUL, AMAZING, GREAT INFO, WONDERFUL SPEAKERS, HOME RUN, INSPIRATIONAL – all words we continue to hear from everyone who participated in the 2020 VAREP Virtual National Convention. We want to thank all of our Guest Speakers, Sponsors, Directors and Members that helped shape the conference in order to provide valuable updates and information to the entire audience, as without all of you as a team, we know it would not have been as powerful!

The goal was to have you “feel” the full impact of the energy we felt behind the scenes during the Virtual Convention. For those who have attended the past “Live” conventions they “know” the power of the live convention and how all aspects of being present touches the heart and nourishes the soul to continue the mission forward. For those who have not yet attended a VAREP Convention live and “felt” that nourishment, we hope the speakers provided the inspiration to you to move the mission forward. The local Veteran communities are counting on you to help push out the local and National information, to engage your membership, the real estate industry, through the Veteran Organizations, community business and the public in ways we would not be able to at a live event.

“One Veteran at A Time” locally and collectively.

There were two common threads running through the convention this year: 1. Hope through inspiration with a solid plan; and 2. rediscovering purpose through healing. Both of these threads run through VAREP, individual businesses and our personal lives when situations ask us to dig deep, to get uncomfortable and look to ourselves to continue individually through growing pains to become better leaders.

With the current worldwide impact that Covid 19 has created, the industry leaders are looked at to be our

best and do what we can do to help our veterans and military families through the changes 2021 will bring to their families. Our focus on creating opportunities within our communities that help our brothers and sisters become successful homeowners, to have a place to reach out for financial counseling and to be “THE RESOURCE” to assist them through the hard times many will face. In the past years, VAREP has positioned itself in doing just that. This is a direct reflection on the tenacious determination of our Chapter Directors, members and YOU! Our virtual reach stretched further by adapting to the changes we faced to continue to impact “One Veteran at A Time”.

As 2020 closes and we turn our focus to 2021, we ask our Volunteers and Members to not lose sight of the mission, to turn into 2021 with a purposeful service heart to grow the chapters and boots on the ground stronger in service to the local Veterans and Active Military Community.

We ask you to join us as a Team to complete this goal.

As Mahatma Ghandi stated: “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”.

Without you, none of this would be possible.

We wish blessings to you and your families during this holiday season and may 2021 bring a new sense of hope and purpose to us all.

Sincerely,

Carla Lemon Association Director 9

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T

he U.S. Naval Reserve Act of 1916 permitted the enlistment of qualified “persons� for service in the Navy. When the Secretary of the Navy asked whether this applied only to males and was told that it did not, the Navy began enlisting women less than a month later. Historical records reflect that in March of 1917, the first woman to enlist in the Navy was Loretta Perfectus Walsh. She also had the distinction of being the first woman to serve in any of the U.S. armed forces in other than a nursing capacity. Until Walsh’s enlistment, women had served as Navy nurses but were civilian employees with few benefits according to Several sources, including defence.gov and military.com Since the enlistment of Loretta P. Walsh there have been many women who have answered the call of service and took the oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Women have played an integral role in our military even before they were allowed to officially enlist, but in the early days of our nation they had to cloak themselves in disguise to serve alongside men. As the weapons and methods of warfare changed in the late 20th century, however, the Pentagon began to realize that gender matters less on the battlefield. Here at VAREP we just want to say thank you to all of our military women for your honored service.

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JESSICA MOREL U NI T ED S TAT ES A RM Y We had the opportunity to catch up with Jessica and ask her about one of her most memorable experiences in the Army and how it shaped her outlook on life.

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I HAD A DESIRE

TO BE A PART

OF SOMETHING

GREATER

THAN MYSELF

S

erving in the Army has been one of the greatest highlights of my life.

At the age of 18, I had a desire to be a part of something greater than myself and I was also looking for a way to pursue my dream to become an elementary school teacher. Not only did the Army allow me to serve all around the world, I also completed my degree.

The week after I graduated college in 2003, I received orders to deploy to Iraq.

Although I did not get the chance to get my first teaching job, I was able to translate my skills of education while in Iraq. Seeing all the displaced children that lined the roads while pushing into the country broke my heart and I promised myself that I would do what I could once our unit got situated. Once our camp was set up, I started writing letters home to my teacher friends asking for donations of school supplies.

So many of the schools in Iraq were bombed out or vandalized which meant their supplies were also nonexistent.

Within weeks, boxes started arriving and I was allowed to join the Public Affairs unit to deliver these school supplies to children and school masters around the area of our base. This experience left a powerful mark on my heart and I think of the children of Iraq often. The Army truly allowed me to be a part of something greater than myself and for that, I am most grateful.

13

14

There’s a big difference between a forbearance plan and a loan modification.

The Covid-19 crisis has generated record-breaking unemployment claims since March and the financial and housing impacts of this crisis are affecting many homeowners and their ability to afford their mortgage payments.

USA Homeownership Foundation’s HUD Housing Counseling Department can help our VAREP members and their clients figure out whether a mortgage forbearance or modification is right for you. We have HUD Certified Housing Counselors who can explain what a mortgage forbearance agreement is and how it will temporarily pause your monthly payments. We can also explain how long to extend your forbearance, and what plans are available after your forbearance plan ends. One option is a loan modification which permanently changes the terms of your loan to make your payments more affordable. Our HUD Housing Counselors can explain how to apply for a loan modification, what the lenders will look for in order to qualify for a loan modification and what to do if you get a denied a loan modification.

There’s a big difference between a forbearance plan and a loan modification. A HUD Housing Counselor can help you figure out what option works best for your individual situation. Homeowners who are already behind on their mortgage payments may find relief from a modification, while those looking for help before a late payment may be better served requesting a forbearance. Here’s a brief explanation of each plan. A forbearance is a temporary pause in mortgage payments that must be approved by your lender. The lender agrees in advance to allow you to stop making payments or make a reduced payment for a period of time.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes mortgage relief programs that allow you to request a 180-day forbearance, followed by one 180-day extension if you need it. We have found that most homeowners can request a forbearance for up to a year, but each homeowner’s situation is different which is why you need the help of a HUD Housing Counselor to figure this out.

This plan is the best option if you’re on the verge of falling behind and need a break from payments to make adjustments to your finances, or if you are experiencing a temporary, short-term hardship, but it’s not a permanent solution.

Another option is a loan modification which changes the original rate and terms of your loan permanently. Those changes might include extending your repayment term or lowering your interest rate. You either have to be in jeopardy of falling behind or already in default on your mortgage to qualify for a loan modification.

A loan modification typically won’t affect your credit profile, but any late payments (30 days behind or more) leading up to, and possibly during, the modification will.

Your credit score could drop by a range of 60 to 130 points, depending on where it stood before your missed mortgage payments, according to research from FICO. You do have to have a hardship and the lender will ask for documentation in order for you to be able to qualify for a loan modification. This option is best for a homeowner who is in a forbearance plan and its ending, and they have now over their hardship.

This option is also a good option for those who are already in default. Some lenders require that homeowners be in “imminent default,” meaning you’re already past-due on payments or expect to be within a certain time frame, to request a loan modification.

The lender may ask for income, tax, and bank information as well as a letter describing your hardship.

USA Homeownership Foundation wants to help our clients get the best loan workout that is really going to be a sustainable workout solution. We encourage our VAREP members to share this information with their clients and community partners. You can help us be the boots on the ground to spread the word that our Housing Counseling Department is here to help!

Please refer your clients who need help to our website www.

MyHomeownership.com where they can complete an online intake form or sign up for an Online Workshop, call us at 888273-7267, or email Mindy Ramlogan at mramlogan@varep.net.

Homeowners with federally backed loans have the option to request forbearance for up to 12 months — also known as a forbearance period. Contrary to much of the misinformation out there, your credit isn’t negatively impacted by not making payments during your forbearance, and the foreclosure process is halted. Repayment doesn’t begin until the forbearance period ends.

15

The Design Corner

Helpful articles and useful tips from the VAREP National Marketing Department to equip your marketing efforts.

WE JUST WANT TO SAY

“THANK YOU”

16

To all of our VAREP members and Chapter directors, thank you. Thank you joining us in our mission in making the American dream a reality for those who served. We in the design and marketing department could not do what we do without you.

The collaboration and teamwork we share in designing the flyers, event pages and get the word out makes all the difference. Every flyer shared, every event shared helps us reach that one veteran who dreams of homeownership.

2020 RECAP Not only have we had to take a step back and really look at the tools we provide in the marketing department, but we’ve also had to actively listen. VAREP Members and Chapter Directors are the boots on the ground and it is important to hear from you when it comes to the tools and resources we provide.

What happened in 2020 for the VAREP Marketing Department?

1.

When a new chapter is initiated or a VAREP member becomes a Chapter director, they have access to what we call the “Toolbox”.

In the toolbox are frequently used documents, marketing supplies, flyer request and more. So much more that it can be difficult to find what you need.

Together, we reviewed the most requested items in the toolbox and designed a toolbox that previewed what you’re looking for first. As our tools and resources continue to grow, our marketing department continues to review and think of new solutions to better serve the Chapters.

2.

Hey, we’re not the only creatives here! Our Chapter Directors have game changing ideas and one of them was automating our flyers. We now have templated flyers that the Chapters may easily access and edit as they wish, making it quicker to distribute event flyers to members and the public. This has also built a more collaborative relationship between the National team and the Chapters and we all know the greatest things happen through collaboration. GO TEAM!

3.

A repeated theme requested from the Chapters is that our members want to hear more from National, and we agree. This year, we’ve produced more RT-Newsletters that include updates from National, industry updates and local chapterr successes. Our Chapter Directors and VAREP members receive these updates via e-mail and social media. Since then, our Chapter Directors and VAREP members have been able to help share the good news with their network and fellow veterans pursuing the American dream of homeownership.

Why? Because we believe in our hearts the VAREP mission makes a difference.

Helping our heroes realize the American dream of homeownership is our priority.

So again, THANK YOU VAREP

members and Chapter Directors for all that you do. You are the boots on the ground. We at VAREP National look forward to continuing to serve you in OUR mission. Many thanks for all the VAREP successes in 2020 and to an even better 2021.

17

Media Corner

7 Tips for Better Smart Phone Videos.

18

Hello VAREP family! We know that sometimes creating the perfect video from your events can be a bit difficult especially if you are filming it yourself on your smartphone. Although we do recommend that you hire a professional videographer, there are times when getting a pro to cover a small event isn't the most feasible route. With that in mind we wanted to give you a few simple yet effective tips on creating better quality videos for your events while filming on your smartphone.

1.

Format

Because of social media apps like Instagram and Facebook, lots of videos are in vertical format.

However, for a more polished look, turn your phone 90 degrees and film horizontally. This is to fill the screen as opposed to it being cropped out which gives your video more of a cinematic feel.

2.

Quiet on Set

Background noise is always louder than you think.

If you’re filming someone speaking to the camera, film in the quietest area you can find. Try for indoors, but if that’s not an option, avoid busy streets and parking lots. This is especially true if you’re not using a microphone. Not being able to hear dialogue in a video can be frustrating for the viewer and immediately gives your video an amateur feel.

3.

Document

Film your event in its entirety. This doesn’t mean film for 8+ hours nonstop, but rather make sure you cover a little bit of everything. Think of a sampler platter at any restaurant; you should have a sample of everything happening.

4.

5.

Lavalier Mic

Do you want to give your video an instant boost?

Invest in a $20 lavalier microphone compatible with your smartphone to give an even more polished feel.

Think of all those videos on Facebook and Instagram which you instantly know they were just using their phone’s microphone. A lav mic will immediately place you head and shoulders above the rest.

6.

Stabilizer

For about $100, you can invest in a gimbal for your cellphone. These devices are used to stabilize your phone which gives you smooth footage without all the shaking. This allows you to me mobile while you film and really makes your video pop and stand out.

7.

Editing

All of your footage has to come together somehow and, thankfully, YouTube is filled with tutorials on how to edit…for free. And with choices of software like: Magisto, iMovie, Movie Maker, Final Cut, Adobe Premiere and many others, your film debut is around the corner.

B-Roll

B-roll is any supplemental footage being played over a voiceover or main footage. This can be footage of street signs, close-ups of shaking hands or walking feet, establishing shots, venues, wild life, etc. This is a great time to be creative, so don’t hold back.

Well, that's all the tips that we have for you for now. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any further questions on creating the best quality videos for your chapter.

19

IT Corner

What is a VPN & How Does it Work?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It is an online privacy tool to make the internet safer, more secure, and definitely more private.

20

Not so long ago, VPNs were only used by Governments and Big Businesses to secure their data.

Since people were working remotely, a VPN was helpful in hiding sensitive information through a secure connection or otherwise, they were at risk of hacking or stealing important data. Today, the VPN technology is available for all internet users and their usage frequency has increased gradually. It helps people from all over the world to connect in a secure way. Your connection is encrypted, you become anonymous online, and traffic data remains private.

So, what are the Benefits of Using a VPN?

But how does a VPN work?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service that lets you access the web safely and privately by routing your connection through a server and hiding your online actions.

Imagine if you’re sitting in an airport and using public Wi-Fi on your mobile device and want to access your bank account.

Someone using the same public Wi-Fi can easily hack your banking Passwords, Email, Pictures, and other information you have on your phone.

But if you use a VPN, they won’t be able to access any of your information.

A VPN creates a tunnel that encrypts your information and assigns you with another IP from a different location that could be thousands of miles away.

There are 5 really cool things that you can do with a VPN.

Unblock Streaming Apps Watch your favorite Movies and TV Shows on various streaming services.

According to research, the leading motivation for VPN usage worldwide is to access better entertainment content.

A lot of streaming websites such as Netflix and Hulu have restricted its media library based on geolocation.

For example, if you need to watch a movie that isn’t available in your country.You can connect to any one of the VPN servers located in America. That server will send the command to the Netflix website.

Netflix then thinks you’re in America and grants you access to watch your favorite Movies and TV Shows.

How to Use a VPN? VPNs can seem complicated at first but are actually easy to use.

It is as easy as downloading an app on your computer or mobile device.

Just connect to any server location and your data will remain encrypted over the internet.

Now that you know what a VPN is, it is time to enjoy all of these 5 benefits.

Improved Security Once you connect to a VPN, all your data remains encrypted when surfing the internet.

Your real IP address is hidden and the original location is masked.

That means, all your internet traffic travels through an encrypted tunnel and are assigned codes that are impossible to decrypt.

Buy Cheap Tickets or Reserve Hotels for Less VPN is also helpful while buying cheap airplane tickets or booking a hotel.

Research has shown that the prices of tickets and hotels vary depending on your location.

A VPN can help you save a lot of money.

Avoid ISP Throttling Unblock Websites VPN is a useful tool to unblock websites and bypass filters.

Many countries including China have restricted social media websites in their region.

To unblock, you simply connect to a VPN server outside China to start using these websites.

Your internet service provider can sometimes throttle your internet speed due to various reasons.

With limited bandwidth, you are unable to download anything at a fast speed.

A VPN is an excellent choice for blocking your ISP from throttling your traffic, especially P2P/Torrenting traffic Your ISP will be able to see that you’re sending and receiving data, but it won’t be able to tell what kind of traffic it is.

List of recommended VPN providers:

NordVPN: https://nordvpn.com

ExpressVPN: https://www.expressvpn.com

IPVanish: https://www.ipvanish.com

21

NATIONAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE (NEC)

Scott Robinson NEC Chair U.S. Marine

NEC Co-Chair Patriot

Jaimie Garrett

Stephen DeMuth

Julie Owens

Jeff Wilson

John Miller

Sean Selters

NEC Member Patriot

NEC Member U.S. Army 22

Art Ramirez

NEC Member Patriot

NEC Member U.S. Air Force

NEC Member Patriot

NEC Member U.S. Army

The VAREP National Education Committee has been hard at work through the changes we have all faced with COVID19 in 2020. The committee’s first task - ramp up the team to the Power of 8 through a call for leaders. We received an overwhelming response from our Directors from across the country and thank everyone who submitted their application. After multiple interviews and discussions with potential committee members, the NEC is proud to announce the following new members, Stephen DeMuth, Sean Selters and John Miller who were sworn in on October 1, 2020. The NEC is poised and ready to help you serve your local veterans and their families.

The NEC is here to further the VAREP education opportunities across the country with the current education courses and new courses that we will add in the future. Our courses are focused in education to the Real Estate Industry, active military and veteran communities surrounding the VA Loan benefit. We strive to offer the best products in order to make a difference in their communities. The NEC is continually reviewing classes and the lunch and learn products, making sure the information is accurate and up to date.

The Military Veteran Housing Certification (MVHC) course is still the favorite course offered through the local chapters to the Real Estate Professionals. The NEC also oversees the courses to be offered next year through the online VAREP University, so keep an eye out for that on our website.

On the National Level of education the Homeownership Education Literacy Program (HELP) was written in early 2019. It is certainly a flagship course for our organization. HELP is an extensive view covering details of successful homeownership, financial literacy and credit importance. This course under the National Program is offered to consumers, active military and the veteran community through local colleges and Veteran programs. Students who participate in the class receive a First Time Homebuyer certificate which can be used with state and local programs for down payment and closing cost assistance. The NEC has a platoon of instructors to help get the word out across the country and have been coast to coast with this class. We are looking to grow our reach to communities near you. If you are interested on helping us Host a class in your area, please reach out to us for details.

2020 has been a challenge but we are looking forward to an awesome 2021 by touching One Veteran At A Time through Education!

Scott Robinson

National Education Committee Chairman HUD Certified Educator USMC Veteran 702-204-6415 23

STOP, DROP & PUSH COMMITTEE UPDATE

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Stop, Drop & Push

Campaign

We would like to recognize the following organizations and chapters that went above and beyond this year: • Chase Bank

What a different year it has been with Covid19. Despite the changes and challenges, VAREP’s Stop Drop & Push Team has persevered to move the mission forward.

As VAREP grows, so grows the Stop Drop Push (SDP) Committee. We introduced our new Co-Chairs Tamra Coulter and Dex Cajigal, along with new faces on the committee earlier this year! Our team has been diligently planning what the next few years will bring to the program. With closures of businesses related to COVID19, the team turned their attention to sharpening the mission, fine tuning presentations and the scrubbing the SDP website to be “The Resource” to find Alternative Therapy Programs across the country in one location.

The SDP’s biggest challenge this year . . . nearly all alternative therapies came to a screeching halt and literally closed to offering programs due to the pandemic. As the team continued to raise monies through virtual outreach programs, it became apparent that assisting Veterans with alternative therapy programs was virtually impossible. Finally, towards the end of this year, we saw a few openings and it started by helping a Veteran get connected with one of our program partners offering Equine Therapy.

As the third quarter was drawing to a close, we saw the fundraising efforts translate into continued generous donations flooding in from amazing organizations, as well as our local chapters. Though our Country faced difficult struggles, the community’s commitment to our Veterans continued to flow in raising nearly $75,000.

We are so grateful for all donations and are ready to connect our Veterans with our Alternative Therapy Partners next year – One Veteran At A Time.

• Wells Fargo • Realty ONE Group Las Vegas • Enlcos Corp.

• Keller Williams Realty International/MARN • VAREP Dallas Fort Worth • VAREP Orange County • VAREP Las Vegas • VAREP Central Florida • VAREP Miami Chapter • VAREP Honolulu Chapter As with any other nonprofit organizations, we need your help to move our mission forward. The SDP committee is looking to build relationships with corporations and other businesses who would like to walk side-by-side with us to carry out our mission --- to connect veterans with a network of alternative therapy providers so they can continue the journey of healing and rediscovering purpose. If there is a business or corporation you know that is passionate to assist in stopping the 22 Veteran Suicides a Day statistic please contact us ASAP. As we close out the year and enter again into unknown territory with Covid-19 in 2021, the SDP Committee needs you on our Team. We are looking to grow the Committee to the VAREP Power of Eight. If you have a passion to help Veterans rediscover purpose through alternative solutions, we want to hear from you. Our Committee is dedicated to spending the monies donated on these deserving Veterans in 2021 and beyond.

Tamra Coulter & Dex Cajigal

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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 2020, we provided the following housing counseling services:

2020 COUNSELING & OUTREACH STATISTICS

416

306 84 222

GROUP WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS FROM VHS CHAPTER EVENTS

INQUIRIES FOR SERVICES

CLIENTS COUNSELED

1 ON 1 HOUSING COUNSELING CLIENTS

TYPES OF COUNSELING PROVIDED

124 27

PRE-PURCHASE HOMEOWNERSHIP

26

POST PURCHASE

29

FORECLOSURE PREVENTION

16

FINANCIAL HOMEOWNERSHIP SUSTAINABILITY COUNSELING

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CREDIT COUNSELING

VISIT W W W.VE THOMEOW NERSHIP.COM OR CALL : 8 8 8. 27 3.72 6 7

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

* Statistics from 2014-2020

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

VISIT W W W.VE THOMEOW NERSHIP.COM OR CALL : 8 8 8. 27 3.72 6 7

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LEGISLATIVE CORNER “To maintain the momentum from the Policy Conference, I have appointed G-II Varrato, AZ State Director; Yeimalis Acevedo-Rasmussen, National Board of Director; William Process, Former Northern Nevada Chapter President; Gary Johnson, Former VAREP Sacramento Chapter President; Robbie Grossman, VAREP Twin Cities Vice-President; and Jeff Wilson, 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

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

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Yeimalis Acevedo-Rasmussen NLC Member

Robbie Grossman NLC Member

Lynn Jabs NLC Member Patriot

Patriot

Patriot

Nacho Castro

Rod Beck

Victoria Blass

Michael Hamilton

NLC Member

NLC Member

NLC Member

NLC Member

U.S. Army

Patriot

Patriot

Patriot

IT’S TIME FOR AN END OF YEAR UPDATE ON THE NLC’S EFFORTS VAREP is involved with the following Congressional initiatives in the 116th Congress. The 116th Congress will conclude on 18 December 2020 for the Senate and in the House, the 116th Congress will conclude on 11 December 2020. This list of legislative efforts will also include the successful legislation that has been either advancing through Congress or has in fact been signed into law.

VAREP VSO Charter Bill S. #### & H.R. #### Veteran’s Association Of Real Estate Professionals, (VAREP) Incorporated Rep. Lacy Clay (MO-D) / Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-R) / Senators Klobuchar (MN-D) Sinema (AZ-D) S. 2835 Access to Affordable Housing for Veterans Act of 2019 which replaced H.R. 2777 Give Veterans Home Loan Choice Act 2018 Senator Jacky Rosen (NV-D) S. #### Reducing Loan Fees For Certain Veterans Affected By Major Disasters Senator Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-D) S.4656 - A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a reduction in certain loan fees for certain veterans affected by major disasters.

Senator Mazie Hirono (HI-D) SUPPORTED BY VAREP S.4511 Veteran Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020 Senator Mazie Hirono (HI-D) S. 1986 Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2019 Senator Tim Kaine (VA-D) H. R. 3516 Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2019 Rep. Peters (CA-D), Adam Schiff (CA-D), Raul Grijalva (AZ-D), Jose Serrano (PR-D) & Ayanna Presley (MA-D) VSO MISSION MAKING PROGRESS… WITH TEENY TINY BABY STEPS VAREP VSO Charter Bill S. #### & H.R. #### Veteran’s Association Of Real Estate Professionals, (VAREP) Incorporated The efforts to advance VAREP’s congressional charter essay VSO have been moving along rather slowly. Early in the year, before the congressional primary season, VAREP received confirmation from Congressman Lacy Clay, Missouri Democrat, that he and Congresswoman Anne Wagner, Missouri Republican, would take on the project of introducing legislative language, crafted by the NLC. The VSO Charter Bill, when passed by Congress and then signed into law, would make VAREP the 93rd congressionally chartered VSO (Veterans Service Organization).

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LEGISLATIVE CORNER Unfortunately, in the Missouri primary Congressman Clay was defeated by challenger Corie Bush. The November election in Missouri’s first Congressional District will indeed be interesting inasmuch as Miss Bush is running against not only Anthony Rogers A Republican but also Alex Fuhrman a Libertarian. Since there is no early voting in Missouri the election for the 1st Congressional District will be an interesting footrace among these three candidates. Unfortunately, because Congressman Clay lost his Congressional seat and due to the Corona virus totally interfering with the congressional calendar on Capitol Hill in both the house and the Senate, forward momentum has been extremely slow.

We had to give Congressman Clay an opportunity to try and finish this legislation. However even in doing so, the NLC head reached out to Representative Derek Kilmer who agreed to try to convince Representative Clay to let Rep. Kilmer take over this effort. However, that undertaking did not meet with any success. Representative Clay’s office committed to having our bill ready for introduction by or before December.

The effort in the Senate is committed by both Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Senator Amy Klobuchar. However, they are not poised to introduce our legislation until the house confirms they are ready to go. So for now the NLC Government Affairs Director’s will continue to engage and advocate support for VAREP’s VSO chartered status. Senator Mazie Hirono (HI-D) may end up being an enormous help as a piece of legislation that VAREP supported was passed in the Senate recently. On January 20th 2021 when the 117th Congress is sworn in, VAREP’s NLC will once again realign their efforts with the new Congress in the House.

WHERE WE LEFT OFF AND WHERE WE ARE HEADING S. 2835 Access to Affordable Housing for Veterans Act of 2019 which replaced H.R. 2777 Give Veterans Home Loan Choice Act 2018 On January 13th, 2020, Senator Jacky Rosen introduced Senate bill 2835, Access To Affordable Housing For Veterans Act. This piece of legislation was a redo of the original H.R. 2777. Initially the legislation had not been configured correctly in as much as the initial language, crafted late in 2019, did not include a very important element that centered on the reconfigured and misconfigured URLA.

It took several months for VAREP to convince Senator Rosen’s staff of language that would force FHFA Director Mark Calabria to reconfigure that URLA to its original configuration where in the veteran applicant would be asked the military service question well in advance of completing the loan application process.

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As you are all aware, FHFA Director Calabria moved our military service question from Page 1 to the bottom of the URLA, not only to the bottom of the URLA but actually, below the signature line of the application. Positioning the signature above the military question put the veteran applicant in a very unfair position and the transparency of the VA Home Loan application process becomes non-existent and in fact extinguishes transparency of the process for the VA Home Loan Buyer.

Nevertheless we successfully convinced an encouraged Senator Rosen’s staff to add the language to S. 2835 thus when the bill passes and is signed into law FHFA Director Calabria will be forced to put the military question, not only above the signature line, but hopefully back to Page 1 where it originally was configured when VAREP worked with Director Mel Watt’s FHFA.

COVID-19 AND THE MESS THIS VIRUS CONTINUES TO INFLICT ON CAPITOL HILL AND IN DEED THE NATION A final footnote to all legislative efforts that have been underway in 2020. As we are all aware the Corona virus has been nothing but a thorn in our behind and indeed a thorn in the backside of all legislative activity on the Hill.

In nearly every congressional office that I have had an interaction with over the past eight months, the beginning and the ending of each conversation goes something like this, “We are truly supportive of your mission and your legislative advocacy however COVID-19 is preempting nearly every piece of legislation.”

All of VAREP’s efforts continue to lend credibility to the mission as we continue the VAREP goal of becoming recognized as an accredited VSO (Veteran’s Service Organization). VAREP NLC continues to take on the legislative project to have Titles 10 and 38 USC amended and to include adding VAREP as the 93rd accredited Chartered VSO.

VAREP NLC will continue to work vigorously to advance the mission of VAREP. As the Director of the National Legislative Committee, I thank you for entrusting this very important mission to our team. I would like to recognize the three new NLC team members, Nacho Castro, Victoria Blass Esq. and Michael Hamilton. They all bring unique qualifications to the team.

I would also like to acknowledge the great contributions from the outgoing NLC team members, Gary Johnson, Jim Shields and Carol Meyer. Without their support and commitment, the VAREP NLC could not have been as effective as we have been.

Stay Safe! Stay Healthy! #IAmVAREP

G-II Varrato II is the VAREP National Legislative Committee Director

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PROMOTING VETERAN STABILITY TO PREVENT VETERAN SUICIDE WHO WE ARE The Stop, Drop & Push Campaign is a featured program of the USA Homeownership Foundation, Inc. DBA Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP), a 501c3 nonprofit led by vets for vets to empower homeownership among the active-military veteran communities. While VAREP’s focus has been on veteran housing, we cannot stand idly by while our brothers and sisters remain part of the 22 statistic.

HISTORY OF THE NUMBER 22

STOP, DROP & PUSH MISSION

In 2012 the Department of Veterans Affairs released a 59-page report outlining veteran suicide. The report states the numbers of Veterans who die from suicide each day has remained relatively stable over the past 12 years (varying from 18 -22 per day).

To lead the charge in eliminating the 22 daily veteran suicides; by creating awareness and connecting veterans to alternative therapy so our heroes can rediscover their purpose.

ALTERNATIVE THERAPY

Research has determined that alternative therapy plays an important role in a “whole-body” approach to wellness on the road to recovery for many veterans. Some examples of alternative therapy include: • Animal-assisted therapy • Yoga

• Recreational therapy (martial arts, mountain climbing, rafting, etc) • Mindfulness and art therapy

951-268-1517 | info@stopdroppush.org 32

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!

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WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT VAREP? VAREP - Twin Cities, MN Chapter That they have some pull in Congress.

VAREP - Temecula, CA Chapter Their advocacy for changes and support for the VA Loan. They also have good leadership roles at the local chapter level.

VAREP - Prescott, AZ Chapter Their direct focus on veterans and training initiatives to help get them into a home.

VAREP - East Bay, CA Chapter Our mission, that 90% of raised funds stay in the local community, and that we are an all-volunteer Chapter.

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VAREP - New Braunfels, TX Chapter The broad range of assistance we can offer our Veteran Community.

VAREP - DFW, TX Chapter The fact that they have national reach through regional and local chapters. They also have structured/consistent instruction.

VAREP - Central Florida Chapter They have a true heart to help our fellow veterans in need.

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WHY DO YOU GIVE YOUR MONEY, TIME, OR ENERGY TO VAREP AND IT’S MISSION? VAREP - Central Florida Chapter Because I care about our veterans and want to give back to them for giving so much to us.

VAREP - San Bernardino, CA Chapter I do because I believe in the cause, one veteran at a time. I wish we could help everyone, but we can’t, but if we can just help one veteran at a time I think our efforts are now worth it.

VAREP - Pinellas County, FL Chapter Because veterans need the help and education they don’t get when they leave the service.

VAREP - Orange County, CA Chapter I truly believe in the VAREP Mission and I enjoy being around like minded poeple who have a passion for giving back to those who are in need of assistance.

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VAREP - San Antonio, TX Chapter In many cases the veterans cannot speak for themselves but I can certainly do that for them. There are many support groups for breast cancer, als, etc. but a lot fewer to care about the plight of veteran families. I am willing to give all three (money, time and energy) to VAREP because it cares about what I care about.

As a REALTOR I recognize that too many REALTORS and lenders are themselves unaware of how much a VA loan can mean to military and veterans.

VAREP - Pinellas County, FL Chapter I am a veteran, I come from a family of veterans; I believe when you pay it forward, it comes back. Also, it just feels good.

VAREP - Louisville, KY Chapter Primarily, to help other veterans. I have been on the other side, not knowing what I don’t know. I want to facilitate as much information transfer as possible!

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WHAT WOULD GO UNDONE IF VAREP CLOSED TOMORROW? VAREP - Tacoma, WA Chapter Organizing real estate professionals to a common goal of assisting veterans in achieving their home ownership dreams.

VAREP - Treasure Valley, ID Chapter The National aspect- lobbying and pushing Veteran Home Loan focuses to Congress. The local chapter could be replicated, but the organization has a huge boost in the local communities because of the national progress.

VAREP - East Bay, CA Chapter Veteran VA Loan Awareness and Education, There would be one less organization recognizing the effects of Veterans PTSD Exposure and the Stop Drop and Push Campaign.

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VAREP - Honolulu, HI Chapter The local education provided to military and veterans as well as support for the local military and veterans experience with special events in their community.

VAREP - El Paso, TX Chapter There is currently no other organization that provides education on the home buying process specifically tailored to military and veterans. Also, there is no other program educating realtors and other industry professionals on the VA Loans and the specific needs of veterans.

VAREP - Pinellas County Chapter Home donations and the level of education stand out to me the most.

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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