Realtors with MRP certifications are educated advocates for veterans
In 1944, as the nation prepared for millions of soldiers to return from the battlefields of World War II, the VA home loan program was created by the federal government to help veterans into homes of their own. Since then, countless veterans and their families have benefitted from the program. In 2020, veterans received nearly half a million loans for home purchase, and more than 800,000 for refinancing.
Yet in today’s tight housing market, vets have a hard time competing against conventional loan products and the increasing number of cash offers. Making a winning bid in this frantic environment requires the expert guidance of a Realtor® with a Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification. To learn more about the ways Realtors® with this specialty are helping veterans, we spoke with Kelly Schepers, a Realtor® at Premier Real Estate Services in St. Cloud who has an MRP certification in addition to her GREEN and PSA designations*.
*Realtors® earn designations and certifications by taking advanced education courses in different real estate specialties. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) administers a wide range of these educational programs for Realtors®.
How long have you had the MRP?
I received the MRP Designation in December of 2016. I was really excited to learn everything I could about the designation when my son, who joined the Army in late 2014, started asking questions about the VA loan product. I knew I needed to sharpen my skills when it came to veteran and active service members.
What has been your experience with working with veterans?
It’s been similar to working with any other client. Military members and vets are often searching for homes or selling and moving to a different home within the same community versus receiving permanent-change-of-station (PCS) orders. Although I haven't had to work with the tight timelines that often accompany the VA client, I have had active-duty service members that are currently deployed overseas with spouses who are home. That scenario has created challenges but there hasn't been anything we couldn't work through to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
The biggest hurdle for my clients who use the VA loan product today has been lack of available inventory for all buyers. This environment is challenging for anyone searching for a home but is harder for VA buyers due to loan requirements and the stigma attached to that loan type. It’s difficult to hear about VA buyers being among the first offers thrown out of the running when they compete with similar offers financed with cash or conventional loan products. There are definitely a few more hoops to jump through for the home to meet the loan requirements and the timeline can be a couple weeks longer than conventional loan types. But these loans should not be deal breakers. They are a part of a benefit package to service members. The challenge of getting the offer accepted can be overcome when you're in a multiple-offer situation but it does require the buyer's Realtor® to be more strategic and thoughtful about educating the seller with the presentation of the offer.
Our active-duty military and veterans have dedicated their lives in service to our country and deserve our respect and dedication to help them. I'm honored to be able to work with them. To me, having the MRP designation is a great step in the process of learning how to be their educated advocate.