Homes For Heroes Helping Local Heroes Buy and Sell Homes
Local Realtor®, Erica Schultes, is always looking to give back to her community and discovered a way to serve those who serve others.
Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, the Iowa Great Lakes quickly became a second home to her as she and her family would vacation in the area. “I have such fond memories of every trip, camping and fishing were our main adventures,” she said.
Erica’s grandparents loved the area so much they decided to make it their permanent home.
“My Grandparents involved me in the process of identifying the land they would purchase to build a home on. There were days that I felt stuck in the back seat of the car as we drove from farm to farm to meet their real estate agent. Ultimately, they fell in love with a farm north of Superior IA, near Little Swan Lake. That is how I became a resident and began attending Spirit Lake School," she shared. "After a short time living in Carroll, IA, I was able to return to the Lakes Area, and eventually, my husband Leo and I purchased the farm that was part of my upbringing and that is where we make our home today.”
Back in Omaha, Erica’s Grandparents got to the task of selling their home. “When there were showings, Grandpa and I would drive down the street to the cul-de-sac and wait for the showing to be over. They were always open with me about the buying and selling process—or maybe I was just overly curious, but I developed a fascination for real estate.”
Erica’s fascination turned into a passion once she realized the impact real estate could have in the lives of others, and she became licensed in the State of Iowa with EXIT Realty Midwest. Recently, Erica became a Broker Associate and became licensed in Minnesota.
“I like finding solutions and every home seller or buyer has a unique set of circumstances that I can help them with and guide them through,” she said.
Homes For Heroes® is an organization formed in Minneapolis, MN shortly after 9/11. It was created as a way to give back and say “Thank you” to local heroes for all they do for others in their communities in the form of Hero Rewards,® when buying, selling or refinancing their home.
“The mission at Homes for Heroes is in line with my own mission to serve my clients, and with gratitude for all they do, I am able to help and reward our heroes one home at a time,” Erica explained.
To date, Erica has awarded local heroes over $130,000 in savings. Nationally, Homes for Heroes specialists have a combined total of over $112,000,000 in savings to qualifying heroes!
Qualifying Heroes for Hero Rewards® include firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, military (active, reserves and veterans), healthcare professionals and teachers. When a qualifying hero works with a Homes for Heroes specialist, like Erica, they receive a check from Homes for Heroes calculated on the price of the home. On average, a hero will save $700 for every $100,000 in sales price, so the savings are significant.
“Clients appreciate that their rewards come in the form of a check, which can be spent any way they choose. No strings attached, no catch or hidden fees," she said. "It is a true gift to say thank you for your service.”
Homeowners can take advantage of Homes for Heroes Rewards every time they buy or sell, whether they are buying or selling for the first time or tenth.
In addition to the Heroes served locally, Homes for Heroes Foundation is a charitable nonprofit started in 2009 helping heroes across the Nation in need, as it pertains to housing or emergency financial assistance. Homes for Heroes, Inc., donates a portion of its earnings to the Homes for Heroes Foundation who then awards grants to local nonprofits that serve heroes. This means every time a hero buys or sells a home with a Homes for Heroes specialist, they are helping other heroes in need. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $1,200,000 to help heroes.
“My Grandpa was a VIP in my life and he served in the Navy during the Korean War, I like to think that I am honoring him, everything he stood for and everything he taught me, every time I serve my clients.”
If you would like more info about Homes for Heroes or the real estate services Erica offers, you can call her directly at 712-330-0120, email at Erica@spiritlakehomes.com or visit her website at www.yourperfecthomefinder.com.
