Guiding Our Heroes Through Homeownership

I’m proud to share an important initiative we’ve launched to better serve our active military and veterans in New Jersey. Recognizing the challenges service members face, particularly with the complexities of the Veterans Affairs Home Loan benefit, we’ve established the Military and Veterans Presidential Advisory Group to support and educate these groups during the homebuying and selling process.

The Military and Veterans PAG focuses on educating both Realtors®, active military, and veterans about the VA Home Loan. Misinformation about this benefit is widespread, and the PAG aims to help dispel these myths to ensure our veterans and active military members can best navigate the homebuying process with confidence and success.

The PAG has several key goals. We aim to host educational webinars, offer Military Relocation Professional certification courses, and organize in-person events catering to the unique needs of the military community, while considering the potential impacts of the National Association of Realtors® proposed settlement on these groups. We’re also working closely with government agencies, such as the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to ensure our efforts align with broader state and national initiatives.

Under the leadership of NJ Realtors® 2024 Treasurer Jairo Rodriguez, who brings his passion and drive from his years of military service, the PAG is committed to ensuring all branches of the military are represented.

In addition to educating Realtors® on how to best guide veterans and active service members in buying or selling homes, we’re also focusing on helping veterans explore the potential of obtaining a real estate license. This could open new career paths for those transitioning out of military service.

Our goals also include identifying NJ Realtors® members who are veterans or active military, addressing their unique needs, and developing resources such as a Veterans Home Buying Guide. We’ve just added a Veterans and Active Military Resource Page to our website, with information and links to loan assistance, information on applying for VA benefits, and more.

I’m excited about the potential impact of this program, which we hope will educate but also provide essential support to our military community. By working together, I’m confident we can empower our service members with the knowledge and resources they need to successfully navigate the homebuying process and beyond.