Roger That Newsletter - February 2020

A WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR PAGE 8

PASSING THE SDP TORCH PAGE 12

LET’S TALK CREDIT! PAGE 14

VAREP FACES IN THE CROWD PAGE 25

REGISTER TODAY!

VAREP 2020

HT TPS://VAREP.NET/POLICYCONFERENCE/

POLICY CONFERENCE

VAREP 2020

POLICY CONFERENCE

JUNE 14 - 16, 2020 WASHINGTON D.C. GRAND HYATT WASHINGTON

VAREP NATIONAL NEWS

A Letter From Our President

ROGER THAT FEBRUARY 2020

Dear VAREP Members, I present you “RT – ROGER THAT – February

EDITORIAL

2020” E-Zine Newsletter. This is the best way for VAREP National to communicate happenings

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

within our organization to our membership.

CRE ATIVE

VAREP experienced tremendous growth and

SENIOR DESIGNER Jesus Lopez

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

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nick Preston SENIOR WEB DEVELOPER Francisco Labias

to be recognized by key leaders in the real

WEB DEVELOPER Freddie Lin

estate, financial, and government sectors as the

CO NTAC T VAREP

authority on, and voice of, military and veteran

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

financial-literacy and homeownership.

VAREP ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM 2014 - 2020 •

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

•

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

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.

$6 .6 million spent on home rehabilitation for mortgage-free donations and veteran first resale

He is frequently called upon as a subject-matter expert

program.

by government agencies, the real estate industry, the lending industry, and real estate trade organizations to

HOW TO EXPLAIN WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

consult on a variety of veteran housing issues.

I frequently receive phone calls from our membership on how to explain VAREP as an

Mr. Nguyen has more than 19 years’ experience in real

organization. Depending on your audience, you may want to adapt the points listed below to

estate, public speaking, supplier diversity, curriculum development, and non-profit management. His record

introduce VAREP. •

demonstrates innovation and leadership at the highest

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

level.

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

housing components that the other veteran service organizations simply do not offer…In other

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

words: We complement them and do not compete with them.

disabled veteran, Mr. Nguyen holds a bachelor’s degree

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

in Public Relations from of the University of Florida

how to better serve underserved military and veteran housing needs. To a great 2020...Cheers!

and a Master’s in Organizational Management. He currently resides in Corona, CA, with his wife, son, and Labrador.

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

FEBRUARY 2020

A WORD FROM THE FOUNDER By: Son Nguyen, VAREP Founder and President

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

Founding National BOD Appreciation and New NBOD Introduction

A Word From The Founder.............................4

A big THANK YOU to the founding National Board of Directors (NBOD). Alvin Toney, Jessica Morel, Thomas Griffin, Yeimalis Acevedo-Rasmussen, Ruben Pena, and Bryan Ahn. The VAREP organization has been solidly built through your leadership!

Alvin, Jessica, Thomas, and Yeimalis have termed out of their roles. Ruben and Bryan have been reappointed to serve their second term.

VAREP Chapter Map....................................6 A Word from The Association Director..........8 Passing the SDP Torch................................12 Let’s Talk Credit!..........................................14 Working With Housing Counseling...............15 Legislative Corner.......................................18 VAREP Faces in the Crowd............................................25

2020 NATIONAL EVENTS

From Left to Right & Top To Bottom:

Alvin Toney, Jessica Morel, Thomas Griffin, Yeimalis AcevedoRasmussen, Ruben Pena, and Bryan Ahn

Introducing the 2020 – 2023 National Board Members

VAREP 2020 POLICY CONFERENCE POLICY CONFERENCE

JUNE 14 - 16, 2020 WASHINGTON, DC GRAND HYATT WASHINGTON

REGISTER TODAY! HTTPS://VAREP.NET/POLICYCONFERENCE/

To lead the new board, Ruben Pena has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board. “I am honored to be appointed to lead the board”, said Pena. “I take this role very seriously and hope to impart knowledge and guide the National Board for the next three years. I would also like to recognize Bryan Ahn who is a senior BOD member as he and I served together for the past three years”.

Please help me welcome the VAREP National Board Members (2020 -2023): From Left to Right & Top To Bottom:

Ruben Pena (Chairman) Bryan Ahn (Senior Member) Robert Calloway

NATIONAL CONVENTION OCTOBER 25 - 27, 2020 SAN ANTONIO, TX GRAND HYATT SAN ANTONIO

REGISTER TODAY! HTTPS://VAREP.NET/CONVENTION/

Ricardo Pacheco Rommel Guzman Ernie Gonzales

Ruben: Thank you for accepting to become the Chairman of the Board.

National Board Members: Thank you for accepting the National positions. I look forward to your leadership in carrying out the VAREP mission.

E! AT ED TH VE SA JUNE 14-16, 2020 · WASHINGTON D.C.

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.

GRAND HYATT WASHINGTON 1000 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001

SEE YOU IN WASHINGTON D.C.! varep.n e t /p o lic yc onferen c e

5

VAREP CURRENTLY HAS

41 CHAPTERS LOCATED IN 21 STATES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

ACTIVE CHAPTERS Arkansas

Iowa

Arizona

Kentucky

VAREP River Valley - Founded on September 18, 2018

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

California

VAREP Coachella Valley Chapter - Founded on August 4, 2016 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 VAREP Yuba-Sutter Chapter - Founded on January 11, 2018

VAREP Louisville Chapter - Founded on June 14, 2018

Maryland

VAREP Annapolis Chapter - Founded on August 23, 2018

Minnesota

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

Oklahoma

Colorado

VAREP River Valley Chapter - Founded on January 1, 2018

Florida

VAREP Central Oregon Chapter - Founded on February 12, 2019

VAREP Denver Chapter - Founded on August 14, 2014 VAREP Broward Chapter - Founded on July 15, 2015 VAREP Central Florida Chapter - Founded on April 14, 2015 VAREP Miami Chapter - Founded on July 13, 2015 VAREP Pinellas County Chapter - Founded on December 3, 2015 VAREP Treasure Coast Chapter - Founded on June 30, 2017

Georgia

VAREP Atlanta Chapter - Founded on January 22, 2019

Hawaii

VAREP Honolulu Chapter - Founded on April 04, 2014

Oregon Texas

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 New Braunfels Chapter - Founded on August 8, 2018 VAREP San Antonio Chapter - Founded on December 10, 2013

Virginia

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

Idaho

Washington

Illinois

Washington D.C.

VAREP Treasure Valley Chapter - Founded on May 17, 2018 VAREP Chicago Chapter - Founded on June 21, 2016

6

VAREP Des Moines - Founded on October 3, 2017

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

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

21 CHAPTERS IN FORMATION California

VAREP Modesto Chapter - Coming 2020 VAREP Oceanside Chapter - Coming 2020 VAREP San Gabriel Chapter - Coming 2020 VAREP Solono County Chapter - Coming 2020

Colorado

VAREP Denver Chapter - Coming 2020

Florida VAREP Jacksonville Chapter - Coming 2020 VAREP Pensacola Chapter - Coming 2020

Maryland

Puerto Rico

Massachusetts

Tennessee

VAREP Southern Maryland - Coming 2020

VAREP Boston Chapter - Coming 2020

Nevada

VAREP Carson City Chapter - Coming 2020 VAREP Elko Chapter - Coming 2020

Washington VAREP Bremerton Chapter - Coming 2020 VAREP Vancouver Chapter - Coming 2020

VAREP Portland Chapter - Coming 2020

Pennsylvania

GUAM

VAREP Montgomery County Chapter - Coming 2020 VAREP Philadelphia Chapter - Coming 2020 VAREP Pittsburgh Chapter - Coming 2020

VAREP Guam Chapter - Coming 2020

VAREP Nashville Chapter - Coming 2020

Oregon

Georgia

VAREP Augusta Chapter - Coming 2020

VAREP Puerto Rico Chapter - Coming 2020

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A Word from the

Association Director Carla Lemon VAREP Cares: Giving a Hand Up… As the VAREP Association Director, I have the pleasure of carrying out the VAREP mission with the local chapters; however one of the most humbling experiences is to see local VAREP chapters across America fulfill their philanthropic duty through the many VAREP Cares events.

The chance to lend a helping hand and lift up our military and veterans when times are tough for them. The combined efforts of our volunteers positively impacting lives on a regular basis at the local level shows the continued need and be available at just the right moment to assist “One Veteran at a Time” in an ongoing basis.

8

2019 Louisville Chapter By: John Miller, Chapter President Each year, VAREP - Louisville, KY Chapter finds a family in need of a hand up (as we all do from time to time) so we can provide whatever sort of assistance is needed. This year, they found us!

On Sunday, December 15th, a week and a half before Christmas, the Kentucky Army National Guard’s Family Readiness Support Assistant contacted VAREPLouisville’s Community Outreach Director and KY Army National Guard Soldier with the following message: “Hello Sir!! I didn’t know if you heard about this or not but there is a Soldier out of the 299TH and his wife is one of our amazing FRG Leaders. Their house burned down and was a complete loss. Home, belongings, 3 dogs, all gone. I wanted to pass it along to you in case VAREP could do anything to help out.”

Once he informed the rest of the Board about this opportunity, we immediately knew we were “all-in� so we created a fundraiser on Facebook and started making calls to our network with only a week to raise money.

Through the donations and good will of over 200 people from across the Commonwealth and the Country, we were able to raise over $15,000 to help this family rebound from such a horrible loss. VAREP-Louisville met up to go Christmas shopping to buy gifts for the family on Sunday Dec 22nd.

Then on Dec 23rd, we picked up the 15-passenger rental van from Enterprise that Oxmoor Auto Group had rented for us to haul all of the goodies.

Then bright and early on a beautifully sunny Christmas Eve morning, we gathered together to pack the van up with the presents and drive over two hours away to deliver the goodies to the family. We stayed and fellowshipped with the family for about an hour before driving the two hours back home to enjoy the rest of Christmas Eve with our own families.

will never solve their needs nor their loss. We just hope we provided a little glimmer of hope, assistance, and confidence in humanity as they try to rebuild their lives together.

A special thanks to Oxmoor Auto Group, Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC, Marine Toys For Tots - Louisville, and WLKY News for making this a little extra special for this family.

Photos of the Louisville chapter donation to the veteran famly in need of assistance.

Our mission is to provide to our Brothers and Sisters who have served all of us, in any way we can. This contribution 9

2019 Las Vegas Chapter

VFW Post 10047 Kitchen Cleanup

By: Jimmy Vega, Chapter President & Merri Perry, Membership Director

In October 2019 the VFW Post 10047 was in desperate need of their commercial kitchen to be cleaned and old food disposed of. VAREP Las Vegas took on the challenge and donated all the cleaning supplies along with two full days of cleaning, disinfecting, and disposing of food that was expired. This saved the VFW Post 10047 thousands of dollars which they didn’t have. This was a prime example of Veterans helping Veterans.

Apartment Renovation In February 2019 we teamed up with Veterans Village and had a call to action to do a much-needed renovation of many of the apartments. We reached out to the local Carpenters Union 1977, VAREP members, members of the Real Estate community, and together we upgraded the kitchens with new cabinets, painted the inside, repainted the outside doors and put up new apartment door numbers.

This turned out to be a great community outreach event.

The VAREP Las Vegas chapter helping out their local VFW Post with clean-up of their commercial kitchen.

Thanksgiving - Project 150

The Las Vegas chapter helping out in their local community.

10

For Thanksgiving this year VAREP Las Vegas Chapter teamed up with Project 150 to give turkeys and all the fixings to Veterans and their families that otherwise would not have had a thanksgiving meal.

VAREP Las Vegas chapter helping veteran families During the Thanksgiving holiday.

A Word from the

Christmas Giving - 10 Families Every year one of our biggest VAREP Cares events is Christmas. This year we visited, vetted, and selected ten (10) veteran families who needed some help this Christmas season. The local Las Vegas chapters of Woman’s Council of Realtors, AREAA, NAREB, and NAHREP Greater Las Vegas were all invited to join us in adopting a family. We had a shopping day and a wrapping day. On Christmas Eve day we charted a bus loaded the bottom of the bus with what we could fit and had a caravan of VAREP members and volunteers who helped carry the presents that didn’t fit under the bus. It was an amazing day watching these families light up when we showed up not only with gifts, but with their local fire and police departments and not to mention Santa helping out. This is the finale of our year when it comes to community events, and it is the most satisfying.

Association Director

Carla Lemon Association Director Summary: VAREP Cares was established to support active military and veterans as a result of a sudden emergency or hardship.

Every man and woman that has honorably served deserves a place to go when they need a hand up. VAREP Cares is that place.

We applaud all of the VAREP Chapters, volunteers and members who step up to participate. Their hard work, commitment and desire to give back to the local Veterans and Active Service Members are truly making a difference for Veteran families..

Thank you to John Miller, Jimmy Vega, and Merri Perry for sharing your experiences in writing for our RT Newsletter.

Sincerely,

Carla Lemon Association Director

VAREP Las Vegas chapter’s huge Christmas event.

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Passing the SDP Torch Passion, Foundation, and Next Chapter…

Led by Jessica Morel, Army veteran, Former National Board Member (Founding), and Founder’s Hall of Fame class of 2019, the Stop Drop and Push Campaign (SDP) was created after a Chapter Board member lost her veteran daughter to suicide. VAREP could no longer stand idly by as the veteran “22” suicide epidemic raged across our nation.

The Stop, Drop, and Push Campaign is a featured program of the USA Homeownership Foundation, Inc. DBA Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP). SDP was created, in the hopes of bridging the gap between veterans and alternative therapy solutions. SDP was born out of this urge to promote veteran stability, with the goal of drastically reducing the number of veteran suicides across the country.

Our mission is to Create Awareness of the 22 veteran lives lost each day due to suicide, Educate the Public about veteran reintegration issues and Empower our Heroes to seek treatment, rediscover purpose and lead productive lives.

Under Jessica’s servant leadership, SDP has built a solid foundation during the past three years. “I am very excited to pass the SDP Torch to Tori and know that through her leadership and the newly formed SDP Committee, the lives of our veterans will be positively impacted at the highest level”, said Jessica Morel. “My time of service is not over; I have been called to reenter the Army as a Chaplin and look forward to the adventure”.

12

Victoria “Tori” Sydow has been appointed to receive the torch from Jessica and blaze her own path for SDP. “I feel honored to receive the SDP torch from such an amazing woman, and dynamic veteran leader”, said Tori Sydow.

Tori has a background in Real Estate, and first served on the Board of Directors for VAREP Phoenix, AZ before joining the National staff as Housing Director in 2018. Tori has been an active veteran advocate, with a passion for helping veterans lead their best lives. She currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her daughter Alexa.

Tori will not be alone in serving the SDP mission. She will lead a team of passionate and qualified VAREP leaders. It gives me great pride to introduce the newly appointed SDP Committee: Jessica: On behalf of the VAREP Family, we salute you and are grateful for your service for the VAREP and SDP missions. You will always be part of the VAREP family, and we wish you the absolute best as you embark on this exciting new chapter in your life!

Tori and SDP Committee: Never let the SDP torch dim on your watch. I challenge you to have the torch’s light assist our brothers and sisters in their darkest hour. The VAREP family is here to support, assist, and cheer you on. Your passion, along with flawless execution will fulfill the SDP mission.

Tori Sydow – Patriot

MEET THE

TEAM Jarrett West – Navy

Dex Cajigal – Marine

Tamra Coulter – Patriot

Nathan Maddox – Marine

Cary DeMars – Marine

Sabrina Carstensen - Patriot

13

Let’s Talk Credit!

3 Simple Ways to Boost Your Credit Score!

USA Homeownership Foundation’s Housing Counseling Program is a no cost service open to Service Members, Veterans and Patriots throughout the United States. We offer Housing Counseling on pre-purchase, home buying, financial capability, credit and budget counseling, foreclosure prevention and post purchase counseling. This month we are looking at the importance of Credit and offer 3 simple tips to help you and your clients Boost Your Credit Score.

1. Keep Current and Stay On Top of Payments – The best way to increase your credit score and improve it is to make your monthly credit card, auto and mortgage payments on time. If you fall behind or can’t make the payment, contact the creditor and try to work out a payment plan and ask them to remove the late fee notice and charges. If you need more help, contact our Housing Counseling department and we can help.

2. Pay off Debt and Keep Balances Low on Credit Cards and Other Revolving Credit – Check and weigh your credit balances relative to your credit limit to ensure you’re not using too much available credit, a practice which can indicate risk. If your credit limit is $1,000, then keep your balance around 30% or $300 to improve your score. Or better yet, pay your balance off at the end of the month if possible. Keeping low utilization or no balance on your credit card shows good use of credit and more available credit which boosts your score.

3.Check Your Credit and Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report – Every 6 months you should check your credit report at all three credit reporting bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) for any inaccuracies.

Incorrect information on credit reports can drag your scores down. Verify that the accounts listed are correct. If you see errors, dispute the information, which you can do easily do online, and get it corrected right away. You can dispute errors and check your credit at all 3 bureaus at no cost annually at www.AnnualCreditReport.com

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The Housing Counseling Department is also offering a short series of videos on various topics like VA Loans, Home Buying, Credit and Debt Reduction. To learn more, check out our latest Credit video with additional tips, by clicking here: (get link to video from Daniel) If VAREP members have Veterans, Service Members or Patriots that need any type of Home Buying, VA Loan, Down Payment, Credit, Financial Literacy or Foreclosure Preventing counseling please refer them to our Housing Counseling Department and they can speak with Thomas Griffin, our HUD Certified Housing Counselor.

GETTING HELP FOR YOUR CLIENTS IS AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3

1. Contact Contact our Housing Counseling Department by visiting our website at www.VetHomeOwnership.com and download the client intake forms.

2. Call Call our toll free number 888. 273.7267

3. Email Email your request to William Reninger, Housing Counseling Administrative Assistant, at wreninger@varep.net.

Our Housing Counseling Department is Here to Help You and Your Clients!

USA Homeownership Foundation’s Housing Counseling Program is a no cost service open to Service Members and Veterans throughout the United States. Our HUD Housing Counseling Department is based out of VAREP’s Nation headquarters is in Corona but open to any Veteran, Service Member or Patriot living in the United States.

Our Housing Counseling Program currently offers prepurchase, home buyer counseling, financial capability, credit and budget counseling, foreclosure prevention and post purchase counseling.

If Veterans or Service Members need help accessing their VA Loan Benefits or Certificate of Eligibility, Thomas Griffin, our HUD Housing Counselor who is also a US Marine Veteran can assist them. We’ve successfully assisted over 500 clients this year alone with credit improvement, budgeting, homeownership and foreclosure prevention. Have a client whose credit needs work before buying a home, send them over to our Housing Counseling Department. Check out a few of our success stories on our website at:

GETTING HELP FOR YOUR CLIENTS IS AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3

1. Contact Contact our Housing Counseling Department by visiting our website at www.VetHomeOwnership.com and download the client intake forms.

2. Call Call our toll free number 888. 273.7267

3. Email Email your request to William Reninger, Housing Counseling Administrative Assistant, at wreninger@varep.net.

https://vethomeownership.com/index.php/successes/video-library 15

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 2018, 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

16

POST PURCHASE

29

FORECLOSURE PREVENTION

16

FINANCIAL HOMEOWNERSHIP SUSTAINABILITY COUNSELING

26

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 II U.S. Air Force

William Process

Lynn Jabs

Patriot

U.S. Navy

Patriot

Legislative Committee

Legislative Committee

Carol Meyers

Arizona State Director Legislative Committee Chairman

National Board of Director Legislative Committee

Gary Johnson

Robbie Grossman

Jim Shields

Legislative Committee

Legislative Committee

U.S. Air Force U.S. Coast Guard Legislative Committee

18

Yeimalis Acevedo-Rasmussen

Patriot

U.S. Navy

Patriot Legislative Committee

VAREP’S NOTABLE FOOTPRINTS ON CAPITOL HILL This NLC Briefing will preview the upcoming year’s legislative undertaking. The entire GAD (Government Affairs Directors) from all of the Chapters have done a splendid job over the past year and now it’s time to move the goal post. Now it’s time to turn up the heat.

Bi-monthly outreach to Congress, at the local level, will be a ‘Must Git-R-Done’ for/by ALL GADs. The evolution of the Government Affairs Director’s position has reached the point where the heavy lifting on the VAREP legislative agenda will and must be done at the local level. This became extremely evident this past year. The fact that VAREP had several pieces of legislation move through Congress and signed into law was a direct result of local office advocating, both in person and via eMail.

From now forward, the trips to the HILL will simply put an exclamation point on all of the pre-legwork accomplished by the GADs. First a huge shout out to Robbie Grossman, a stand out GAD and NLC Co-Chair, who is truly my right hand. Without Robbie’s commitment to helping manage the National GAD database and helping me put out messages and information to the Chapter GADs, I would have been lost!

CONGRESSIONAL ASSIGNMENTS Congress was on vacation for the last part of July and the entire month of August, thus no legislation progressed through committees.

Each of the GADs will, if not already, be assigned a number of House and Senate members to interact with. Most of them will be outside of your geographic sphere. GADs will be responsible for making personal contact with the staffer in each office who has the veteran’s agenda and/or the particular legislative discipline for the particular pieces of legislation that is the topic of discussion at the time of that interaction.

Your NLC POC (Point Of Contract) will reach out to you twice a month for an update. Making our face and voice known and when possible, visible, at the local level will add tremendous credibility when we’re on the HILL in June.

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LEGISLATIVE CORNER THE URLA BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN We all know that, “At the direction of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the GSEs) announced in June 2019 that the optional use period for the redesigned Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA) and automated underwriting system (AUS) implementations would be postponed.”

Recall that FHFA had directed the GSEs to make specific modifications to the URLA form and it turned out that there were dozens of changes made/proposed to the revised URLA, most importantly was the fact that VAREP learned, on October 23rd 2019, that FHFA Director Mark Calabria’s team moved the hard fight for “Military Question” from Page 1 of the URLA to a place on the URLA that was below the Acknowledgments and Agreements signature block.

G2 and the NLC Team and all GADs launched a full on offensive to keep FHFA from moving forward with a condition that would demand and force that ALL veterans sign an incomplete and undisclosed URLA (Universal Residential Loan Application).

The VAREP NLC/GAD Team gained bipartisan support in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate and successfully secured Congressional Letters, signed by dozens of House Representatives and Senators who sent those letters on 24 December 2019, to FHFA Director Mark Calabria, demanding an explanation for moving the “Military Question”. (Copies of the three Congressional Letters are included in this publication of Roger That.)

On 7 January 2020 G2 spoke with Senator Sinema’s office and learned that the FHFA had responded to the Senate letter, in a two page letter and a 300 page document, trying to explain and justify their actions. Within the next two to four weeks, the VAREP NLC will receive a copy of both the FHFA letter and the 300 page document.

Because VAREP is the ONLY professional Real Estate Trade Organization with a direct understanding of the need to increase sustainable homeownership, financial-literacy education, VA loan awareness, and economic opportunity for the active-military and veteran communities, and the fact that we are comprised of REALTORS and LENDERS, we have a unique skill set to help Congress understand the content and negative implications of FHFAs position.

The NLC has instructed ALL GADs to collect, as many as possible, signed URLAs from buyer client real estate transactions. Contact your GAD (Government Affairs Director) and he/she will provide you with an ‘Authorization To Release’ form so your signed URLA can be shared with members of Congress.

As a failsafe, Senator Rosen (D-NV) introduced and with Co-Introducer Senator McSally (R-AZ) legislation (S.2835 Access to Affordable Housing for Veterans Act of 2019) that would mandate the relocation of the “Military Question” above the Acknowledgments and Agreements signature block.

FHFA will NOT be advancing the URLA until sometime in March 2020 so we have a bit of time to gather our documents and to coordinate our strategy with Congress.

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IMPROVING USURY LAWS FOR THE MILITARY S.2833 and H.R.5050 (Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act) Senator Jeff Merkely (D-OR) and Congressmen Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL) and Glenn Grothman (R-WI) introduced, on 12 November 2019, the (Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act), which would extend small dollar “payday” and cartitle 36% rate cap protections established under the Military Lending Act (MLA) to all consumers, including veterans and their families.

SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT USURY: A bit of history about USURY. In the strictest sense of the definition, according to the GOOGLE Dictionary, “The illegal action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest.” However the idea of charging interest, (usury) to anyone who would borrow something of value had a place in the economics of society. As far back as 5,000 BC charging interest was permitted however tightly governed by the state in Mesopotamia, Hittites, Phoenicians and even the Egyptians.

By the birth of the Roman Empire, around 510 BC, within the Empire a normal annual interest rate ranged between 4 and 12 percent.

In the Old Testament the Prophet Ezekiel was pretty spun up about usury. He equated the idea of usury as being an abominable thing, equal to that of rape, murder, robbery and idolatry. In fact many religions, even today, forbid USURY. Nevertheless, it seems that things have calmed down over the past millennia, thus sometime after 1776 all of the Union States adopted a general usury. Most states set the interest limit at 6%. In the early 1900s a move to deregulate caused 11 states to eliminate their usury laws and nine more states raised the usury cap to 10% or 12%.

Thus, this piece of legislation aligns perfectly with VAREPs mission to work toward providing financial-literacy education and sustainable homeownership for our military family. The legislation also has a strong kinship to VAREPs certification as a HUD Counseling Agency.

At the National Board Meeting, it was agreed that VAREP would work to help Senator Merkely advance this legislation through Congress.

CONTINUING THE FIGHT FOR ADDING VETERSANS TO FAIR HOUSING S.1986 / H.R.3516 Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2019 Of course the S.1986 was advanced, the day of introduction by Senator Tim Kaine, to the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. There is only one co-sponsor at the moment, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV). The Senate is going to be the most challenging hill to climb in the 116th Congress. It is very important to remain cognizant that it is tremendously important to urge a bipartisan buy-in to this piece of legislation. Remember, PURPLE is the name of the game when speaking to your representatives.

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LEGISLATIVE CORNER H.R.3516 has collected 16 co-sponsors. They are ALL Democrats; Rep. Adam Schiff, B. (D-CA-28), Rep. Raul Grijalva, M. (D-AZ-3), Rep. Jose Serrano, E. (D-NY-15), Rep. Ayanna Pressley, (D-MA-7), Rep. Debbie Dingell, (D-MI-12), Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, (D-AZ-2), Rep. Alan Lowenthal, S. (D-CA-47), Rep. Ed Case, (D-HI-1), Rep. Tom O’Halleran, (D-AZ-1), Rep. Earl Blumenauer, (D-OR-3), Rep. Jimmy Gomez, (D-CA-34), Rep. Gilbert Ray Cisneros , Jr. [D-CA-39], Rep. Harley Rouda, [D-CA-48], Rep. Katie Porter, [D-CA-45], Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, [D-DC-At Large] and Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, [D-FL-26]. No GOPs have signed on yet.

All GADs missions are to bear down on their assigned representatives and press on them to sign on as sponsors to these bills.

FINALLY – BLUE WATER NAVY By now, we all know that Blue Water Navy was passed and signed into law on 25 June 2019. And of course we all know that, if not for VAREP, the VA Loan would have been destroyed by the first iteration of the legislation, introduced in the 115th Congress.

What you may not be aware of is that beyond rescuing the extension of the Funding Fee Waiver for veterans with less than a 100% VA Rated Disability, VAREP also successfully advocated that the Funding Fee Waiver be extended to active duty servicemembers who have earned the Purple Heart.

One last item about Blue Water and the elimination of the VA Loan Guaranty Cap: Think about this… A servicemember who short sold or lost their home that had a VA loan, in many instances, still has their remainder entitlement available. However, what if that veteran has since recovered from their financial dungeon and now has their sights set on a ½ million dollar home? Suppose the loan that was compromised by short sale or foreclosure or deed-in-lieu, resulted in a $30,000 loss to the VA. Now suppose the veteran wants to purchase that ½ million dollar home and does not want to pay mortgage insurance. Well then the veteran would need to make a down payment of $100,000. However that same veteran could restore his/her full entitlement by simply paying the VA back the $30,000 and eureka, the veteran can now secure his/her new ½ million dollar home with no mortgage insurance and at a much better finance rate. And if the veteran has a rated disability, there will be no funding fee either.

Think out of the box folks. Look back at your inventory of closed military/VA short sales and you may be pleasantly surprised at how much more business you can do in 2020 while helping out our veteran family!

VAREP… that’s what I’m talking about. #IAmVAREP G-II Varrato II is the VAREP National Legislative Committee Chair

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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

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E T A D E H T E V A S

S A N A N T O N I O , T X - O C T O B E R 2 5 - 2 7, 2 0 2 0

The 2020 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.

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SEE YOU IN SAN ANTONIO! varep.n et /convention

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 - New Braunfels, TX Chapter I love the snergy that is around the organization to help veterans and active military families.

VAREP - El Paso, TX Chapter #1 goal is to help veterans. Our goal is to help them obtain homeownership as well as steer them into the right direction with other issues.

VAREP - Chicago, IL Chapter VAREP’s mission and commitment to the veteran community where financial wellness, generational wealth, and housing education makes it very unique to other non-profit and forprofit organization.

VAREP - Central FLorida Chapter We truly serve our Veterans as an organization as well as educate our Real Estate Community to help them better serve our Veterans through their business’ too.

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VAREP - San Bernardino, CA Chapter VAREP is an organization that actually cares about people, not just about Veterans but also about the people within the organization.

VAREP - Southern, CA State Director VAREP is a true Non-Profit that advocates for Veterans and Active Duty service members. Also, the mission clearly states what the organization supports throughout the country.

VAREP - St. Louis, MO Chapter The fact that it addresses education for Veterans, in regards to Homeownership, with a passion.

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WHY DO YOU GIVE YOUR MONEY, TIME, OR ENERGY TO VAREP AND IT’S MISSION? VAREP - Hampton Roads, VA Chapter I don’t want another veteran to be treated the way my father was when he returned home from Vietnam. They are all loved and appreciated.

VAREP - Twin Cities Chapter I’ve asked myself that very questions several times over the past couple of months, especially the energy part. Right now, i would say the leadership at our local level keeps me engaged.

VAREP - Annapolis, MD Chapter It feels good to share all my years of real estate knowledge to help and protect the military community. They deserve to be protected.

VAREP - Louisville, KY Chapter As a patriot, I am compelled to give back to our veterans in honor of the many sacrifices they endured to support our nation. Given appropriate education, time, and resources we can reduce veteran homelessness and make a difference in our local communities one veteran at a time.

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VAREP - Annapolis, MD Chapter I am a veteran and I see how many realtors/lenders who don’t have the clients best interest in mind. I want to better educate them and hopefully, they will do it for the outcome not the income.

VAREP - New Braunfels, TX Chapter Because I am a committed patriot who wants to help all veterans, and I believe in the mission of VAREP.

VAREP - Treasure Coast, FL Chapter Because my husband is a veteran, and he is another story of someone who served for ten years but knew nothing about purchasing a home. Once he was done serving, he was at a loss out there in the civilian world. He was not sure who to trust for the correct information.

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WHAT WOULD GO UNDONE IF VAREP CLOSED TOMORROW? VAREP - Temecula, CA Chapter The never ending push to make sure that Veterans are educated on their benefits, and to change legislation to ensure they see those benefits.

VAREP - Central Florida Chapter A great movement of individuals joined together to make change for the benefit for those who serve and have served. I believe and desire VAREP to become the standard in ALL that is Veteran based for housing, finance and education for the topic Real Estate. A beacon, a place a Military Veteran can get true fact answers and help. If we were to close we will lose that.

VAREP - Association Director 1.) VA Loan discrimination would continue within the real estate industry and public.

2.) Boots on the ground would disappear.

3.) Lose advocates to help protect Veteran’s housing rights.

4.) Education directly to veterans from the Real Estate Professionals would be lost.

VAREP - Miami, FL Chapter The veterans will lose a powerful voice and a passionate supporter.

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VAREP - New Braunfels, TX Chapter The education we provide on a volunteer basis for the veteran community and the real estate industry.

VAREP - River Valley, AR Chapter Fewer VA loans would be used. I know that it is the Real Estate agents in our specific area that are educating veterans and active duty members as well as pushing them in the direction of using their VA loan because quite a few of the mortgage lenders do not want to use that specific loan.

VAREP - Louisville, KY Chapter Motivation of real estate professionals to be educated on the VA loan/veteran needs would go unfilled. This could have a snowball effect in local communities on appropriate support of the VA loan and potentially an eventual loss of this benefit as a result of increased ignorance and lowered utilization of the benefit.

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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