Local businesses team up to support "Homes for Heroes"


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Mauldin, Local

November 14, 2022 by Shirley Adams

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Local businesses team up to support "Homes for Heroes"

 

There are heroes among us, right here in Mauldin, South Carolina. Some of them risk their lives daily on foreign soil, while others patrol our streets in the dead of night. They linger over the bed of a patient in their care even in the midst of a pandemic, spend their own funds for classroom supplies while staying late to tutor a student with academic difficulties, and rush into fiery buildings where most would run away. And if Maria Godfrey of First Step Realty and Tracy Davenport of Atlantic Bay Mortgage have their way, every last one of these heroes will be able to purchase their own home when they are ready. It is their unique way of showing the community that they care.

S448-4.jpg
Tracy Davenport (left) of Atlantic Bay Mortgage
and Maria Godfrey (right) of First Step Realty.

S448-1.jpgTracy and Maria’s friendship and working partnership began at a Christmas gathering of the Greater Mauldin Chamber of Commerce. Both have been inspired by the words of Cristina Ortiz, also a member of the Chamber. In her talks, Cristina passionately shares her belief that the true rewards of business come with service and giving back to the community. Both Maria and Tracy embrace, embody, and live out this concept daily.

 

Maria owns and operates First Step Realty at 308 East Butler Road in Mauldin. The agency exudes a warm, friendly, down-to-earth atmosphere, a reflection of Maria’s great faith and ability to connect with people. Tracy, who works for Atlantic Bay Mortgage, felt drawn to this, and when she sought a realtor partner for her venture into Homes for Heroes, Maria topped her list. Together, they approached Pat Pomeroy, President/CEO of the Greater Mauldin Chamber of Commerce, who helped them formulate a plan for making that dream a reality.

 

Next thing they knew, Tracy and Maria shared their plans with the Mauldin City Council. Then, they found themselves at a booth explaining the program to police officers returning from night patrol at 4:30 am, and being interviewed along with Mauldin Mayor Terry Merrit, by Christine Scarpelli for a WSPA channel 7 segment called Zip Trips: Mauldin. Two weeks later, they showed up at “National Night Out,” sponsored by the Mauldin Police Department, taking advantage of another opportunity to share their passion about Homes for Heroes.

 

S448-2.jpg
Kyle Richter and Colleen Costello holding check from
Homes for Heroes, Inc. They were the first closing
involved with Maria and Tracy’s new venture. Came in,
signed up, and were in their new home a few weeks.

One thing led to another and now these two ladies find themselves in a whirlwind of activity. Maria and Tracy feel that the pieces are coming together, and God is opening one door after another. They have organized breakfasts for teachers at some of our local schools, spoken at VFW (Veterans of Foreign War) meetings, shared information at various roll calls with the Greenville County Sherriff’s department, and regularly operate a booth at the Swamp Rabbits hockey team games. They plan to be in the Christmas parade and will be lending their support to First Responders Night for the Swamp Rabbits on March 10, 2023.

 

All of these activities require a considerable time investment, but Tracy and Maria feel that the cause is worth every moment. They say that many who would qualify do not know about this program. And they have made it their mission to reach as many people as they can with this message. Maria and Tracy also love getting out into the community and meeting people firsthand.

 

 So, what is the program “Homes for Heroes?” Homes for Heroes, Inc. originated after 9/11 and gained momentum with the COVID pandemic. Troubled times reveal the true heroes who tirelessly serve despite the difficulties. Their mission is to say, “Thank you” to those often unrecognized for all they give. This program offers significant savings when a qualified person buys, sells, or refinances a home. However, the transaction must occur through realtors and lenders who have signed up with the program.

 

Here is how the program works. An affiliated real estate agent gives back 30% of their commission from a home transaction to Homes for Heroes. Homes for Heroes retains 5% of this and returns the remainder to the qualified individual. That can mean a little extra money for appraisal and closing fees and other unexpected up-front costs.

 

And here are those individuals who qualify—anyone who currently serves or has served in any of the following professions: firefighter/EMS, law enforcement, military, healthcare professionals, and teachers. This writer, who worked for years in a medical microbiology laboratory, was particularly excited to discover the inclusion of various allied healthcare fields, which are typically underrecognized. Homes for Heroes (blog by Luke Feldberg) estimates 14% of the people in most communities fall into one of these occupational categories.

 

For Tracy, this program means a lot personally. When she reflects upon heroes, the face of her uncle, Master Chief Sargeant Wayne A. Skelton, who served in WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, comes to mind. Tracy remembers slipping her feet into his big boots and saluting him. To her, representing Homes for Heroes in our community honors his years of sacrifice and service for his country. For Maria, it is a way to give back to a community she loves. Maria believes that people want to talk to you and to see you in person when they contemplate a house purchase, and she wants them to feel taken care of. With rent fees going up, she believes that folks could really benefit from owning their home. Sometimes, that dream may feel out of reach and even scary, but Maria says that an experienced realtor can prepare buyers and guide them through the process so that their dream becomes reality.

 

S448-3.jpgBoth Maria and Tracy long to reach more people with the fantastic news about their affiliation with Homes for Heroes. They welcome speaking engagements at sites where people who qualify for this program might work. Tracy can be reached at tracydavenport@atlanticbay.com and Maria at maria@firststeprealtysc.com.

 

For those in our community who are qualified and want to become involved in buying, selling, or refinancing their home through an affiliated agency, complete an online registration form at either of these two sites: https://homesforheroes.com/affiliate/maria-godfrey or https://homesforheroes.com/affiliate/tracy-davenport. Or just make an appointment with Maria or Linda and come to First Step Realty in person.

 

Some heroes do not wear capes or come with clever one-word names. They simply use what God has given them to make other people’s lives better. Maria Godfrey and Tracy Davenport just might be that kind of hero.

 

 

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