Local businesses help heroes find homes

Even though the real estate market has been challenged in recent years and home prices have fallen, buying or selling a home can still be an expensive proposition. Commissions, closing costs and all the other extra fees tacked on to that base price can quickly add up to make that home remain a dream.

But thanks to the Homes for Heroes program and the efforts of some local businesses, those extra fees won't add up quite as much.

“It's a national program we participate in, and for us, it means we give back 25 percent of our commission when you buy or sell a home through us,” Chuck Olson of Chuck Olson Real Estate in Kalispell said. “It's our way of saying thanks for everything you do.”

The national program is sponsored by local banks, real estate agents and title agencies, and offers discounts to veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters and medical services workers as well as educators.

“When I heard about the program, it just sounded like a really good idea to me,” Olson said. “Veterans are a passion of mine, and it was nice to be able to do something to help them. They put their lives on the line to save people, and real estate agents don't do that, much. This was our way of helping out.”

With more than 170 Realtor affiliates in 24 states, the program has grown significantly since it was created after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“The founders saw the amazing selfless service of those emergency service workers after 9/11 and were surprised there wasn't a program available to help these people buy homes, so they decided to create one,” Olson said. “It's pretty big now, and even in an area like Northwest Montana, we've had people use it.”

Olson said since he became involved with the program a year ago, he has had “maybe a dozen” people take advantage of it.

“They have one broker per 100,000 people to partner with, and we're honored to be that one,” Olson said. “We're as passionate as can be about it.”

Marty Gilman, a real estate loan originator with Mountain West Bank, has been involved with the program for two years now, and said he has served more than 20 people, and hopes to serve many more.

“We do purchases, sales and refinances, so I may see more people use the program than Chuck,” Gilman said. “As the lender affiliate for the area, people who use the program can get a $500 benefit from the bank. This saves you money that you'd normally have to come up with out of pocket.”

Gilman pointed out that discounts like those provided under this program are a good and legal way to save some money.

“Under this program, these discounts and benefits aren't considered kickbacks,” Gilman said. “It's a concession, so it's legitimate and legal. We want to contribute in a small way and do our part to help these people get a house, so we're happy to help serve people that serve the public.”

Olson said the program is easy for buyers and sellers to use and can be used in conjunction with other incentive and discount programs such as Veterans Affairs home loans.

“If you have any questions, you can check out their website at www.homesforheroes.com or call us and we'll walk through the program with you,” Olson said. “Best of all is, there's no red tape for you as a buyer or seller. We take care of all that, and it's really easy; we do all the financing and everything.”

Although Olson said he has had people use the program, he said he was a little surprised at how few people take advantage of it.

“We had a kickoff a year ago, and nobody showed up,” he said with a laugh. “Everybody thought it was a fundraiser and we were asking for money. We don't want your money, we want to give it back.”

Reporter Melissa Walther may be reached at 758-4474 or by email at mwalther@dailyinterlake.com.