Homes for Heroes Stimulates Economy

Homes for Heroes affiliate Caleb Shaw brings us this video from Victoria, Texas.

Caleb I. Shaw, REALTOR
Redding & Associates
1909 John Stockbauer
Victoria, Texas 77901
Bus: 361-573-5225
Fax: 361-573-7125
Cell: 361-237-8727
www.victoriaTXhomesonline.com

COPS and Kids ride

Homes for Heroes’, Brad Oosterhuis, Executive Director of Affiliate programs, and Mikal Knotech, our affiliate lender with Bell Mortgage, braved the brisk unseasonably cool August weather on Saturday, to ride in the 4th Annual Cops and Kids ride. This Important fundraiser raises money to provide gifts at Christmas time, for the young patients at Childrens and Gillette Hospitals. Both are big riding enthusiasts, but by all reports Mikal was more enthralled with the excitement and adrenalin rush of winning raffle prizes and silent auction items. Mikal is now the proud owner of a bottle of wine, several black t-shirts, numerous gift certificates to area restaurants. His silent bid was successful, a most sought after prize….a ride along with a K-9 unit and a beautiful St. Paul Police Sweatshirt. Homes for Heroes in no way is saying that the St. Paul Police uniforms are beautiful, we think they are handsome and authoritative, we just think the sweatshirt was of fine quality.

Sitting on the Hog, Brad Oosterhuis as Mikal Knotech waits on word of silent bid.

St. Paul Officer, Todd Feroni along with another partner is organizer of this special event. We are very proud to say Todd was one of the very first Heroes to be served by the Homes for Heroes program way back in 2002! Todd has always been a great spokesman for Homes for Heroes, in fact, Todd has loaned his handsome face to many of our marketing materials. He even did a radio commercial for Homes for Heroes. Todd is a hero that just keeps on giving….long after he is off duty. He is a true example of a community servant!

Todd Feroni and his lovely wife Heather relax after a cool August ride.

Imitation is the best form of flattery, until……….

Until your good name is besmirched. Homes for Heroes in the past has taken people leveraging our brand as flattery. We often ask if they would like to continue to use our good name by joining forces with us, and if they do not want to we are okay with that decision also. But recently something came up that does need to be addressed. We will let the Morris Daily Herald explain it.

Illinois allegation hurts ‘real’ Heroes

Minneapolis, Minn–When Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan took enforcement action against the Minooka, Ill.-based Homes for Heroes Inc., says Brad Oosterhuis, it was not a reflection on the “real” Home for Heroes.

“Our organization has been serving heroes continuously since 2002, and we have a serious concern that the publication of the charge against the Homes for Heroes company in Illinois could seriously tarnish our good name,” said Oosterhuis, executive director of Home for Heroes, in a recent e-mail.

Since the founding of Homes for Heroes, a press release from the Minnesota-based organization notes, many organizations have tried to duplicate the Homes for Heroes model and have illegally used the trademarked name. The widespread recognition of the Homes for Heroes name across the nation has caused many groups to attempt to leverage this successful brand to their advantage.

“While Homes for Heroes encourages all companies to support our heroes, it is illegal for them to use the Homes for Heroes trademarked name,” said Ruth Johnson, president of Homes for Heroes. “It is especially disturbing when these organizations are providing false claims and tarnishing the good name and work that Homes for Heroes is doing.”

In an effort to advance its cause and protect its name, Home for Heroes, which is now in its seventh year of operation, recently created the Homes for Heroes Foundation.

Due to its highly recognized name and brand nationally, the press release notes, Homes for Heroes became inundated with calls that were predominantly from severely wounded military personnel asking for assistance.

“These requests went far beyond the scope of our business model and ability to help,” Johnson said. The shareholders of Homes for Heroes saw a need for a charitable organization that would have a similar vision to its own. After much thought and the desire to help, they formed the Homes for Heroes Foundation.

The foundation will endeavor to provide or coordinate financial assistance to the heroes of our nation, such as military, police officers, firefighters and first responders who are in need.

Meanwhile, with the busy spring housing market well under way, Homes for Heroes affiliates will continue to “give back” by providing significant savings to its local heroes, particularly military personnel, police officers, firefighters, teachers, health care workers and others who serve our country and communities everyday.

If you would like more information about the Homes for Heroes, please call Ruth Johnson at (866) 443-7637 or log onto www.homesforheroes.com or www.homesforheroesfoundation.org.

In her enforcement action against the Minooka-based company using the Homes for Heroes name, Attorney General Lisa Madigan alleged the company and its owner, Patrick Gleason of Minooka, conducted a fraudulent charitable solicitation campaign and engaged in deceptive practices by falsely representing the local Homes for Heroes is “a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.”

Gleason has gone on record calling the IAG’s action “absurd.”

“This is absurd,” he said. We filed for our corporation and status a long time ago. The IRS asked us to put it on good paper, not wallpaper. It was done, it was all signed and sent in again. So, they’re trying to smear our names with improprieties …”

In honor of our Heroes

It is the

VETERAN

not the preacher,

who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the

VETERAN

not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the

VETERAN

not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the

VETERAN

not the campus organizer,

who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the

VETERAN

not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the

VETERAN

not the politician,

Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the

VETERAN

who salutes the Flag.

It is the

VETERAN

who serves

under the Flag.

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET

PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

This came to me from an old and good friend. He used to be Navy and I think that has hung over him like a dark cloud his entire life. I get to say that because I am a Marine! Not really. Shoe got to show me that Squids were just as dedicated to freedom as us Jarheads. This upcoming weekend is time for us to remember and honor our fallen heroes. For them we would not have what we have today. And that is just plain fact.

Did you know that Memorial Day started as Decoration Day to honor the Union soldiers who had fallen during the Civil War? Many communities after the war set aside a day to honor their boys who fell in battle. In 1868 The Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization of Union Civil War Vets, established Decoration Day for May 30th. May 30th being close to the day of the North and South reunification. After World War 1 it was changed to honor all fallen soldiers of all wars. Read the declaration below. You can tell just by reading the emotion these men had for their fallen comrades.

Memorial Day Order

I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but Posts and comrades will, in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, Comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, “of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers sailors and Marines, who united to suppress the late rebellion.” What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead? We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security, is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull and other hinds slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains, and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledge to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon the Nation’s gratitude—the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.

II. It is the purpose of the Commander in Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this Order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

III. Department commanders will use every effort to make this Order effective.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands Protect them as they protect us Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.

May God bless and Semper Fidelis

Two things to ponder. Traffic laws and old age.

Have you ever been sitting in the office, amongst the acres of cubicles, and hear some one laughing? I did the other day at Homes for Heroes. What is it about us humans that has to find out what the laughing is about? If I had heard just normal talking I would not have given it a second thought. So I get up and hunt down the source of the laughing. I see my boss and my other boss standing by the water cooler having a chat. I ask them what was so funny. They looked at me and said nothing.

Being a Ninja prepares you for these moments. That awkward silence is easily handled. I let my eyes fill up with tears and ran away. Later I regrouped and did some stealthy sniffing around to find out what had them chuckling like old busy bodies. I was successful and I will share that information with you now.

A Police Officer was out patrolling one fine afternoon and witnessed a young driver that had just rolled through a stop sign. The Officer proceeded to pull him over and when he approached the vehicle he asks the young driver why he was pulled over.

“I don’t know.”

“Young man, you did not come to a complete stop at that stop sign.”

“I did too!”

“No, you did what we call a roll through. You slowed down but did not stop.

“Yeah, well what’s the big deal, slowing down is the same thing.”

“Please step out of the car, sir.”

As soon as the young kid gets out of the car, the Police Officer pulls out his baton and starts to mercilessly beat the snot out of him. As the kid is falling to the ground in agony the Police Officer asks him.

“Should I stop or just slow down?”

An interesting perspective. The next tidbit is just as telling. Read on you won’t be disappointed.

An elderly couple had just retired and were looking forward to a lot of travel and relaxation. They decided that with the new life style change they should see the doctor for a physical check up. They made their appointments and showed up at the set date. After the check up the doctor came in to give them the results.

“Well folks, you guys are both physically fit and really have nothing that I see to be alarmed about. Enjoy your retirement. However, your memory is not as it used to be and that is normal. I suggest that the two of you carry around a small notepad and pencil and jot what you are going to do so you won’t forget.”

That same evening the two were watching television. The husband decides it is time to have a beer and gets up to go get it.

“Hon, I am going to get myself a beer, is there anything I can get you?”

“Oh, thank you. I think I would like a bowl of ice cream.”

“Sure thing, dear.” He starts towards the kitchen.

“Honey, don’t you think you should write that down like the doctor told us?”

“Naw, it’s just a bowl of ice cream and a beer. I think I can handle that.”

“Vanilla ice cream.”

Okay, one bowl of vanilla ice cream and a beer.”

“Well I would like strawberry topping on it too.”

“Hmm, one bowl of vanilla ice cream with strawberry topping and a beer. Easy.”

“And don’t forget the whipped cream!”

“Is there anything else?”

“No. Thank you dear.”

“A bowl of vanilla ice cream with strawberry topping and whip cream and for myself a nice cold beer. You see nothing to worry about.”

The husband heads off to the kitchen and is gone for a half an hour. When he returns he sits down in his chair with a plate of scrambled eggs and a cup of orange juice.

As he starts to eat, the wife gives him a disgusted look and says to him.

“WHERE’S MY &#@*ING TOAST?!?!

Florida fonecall fuses fast financing flury!

Homes for Heroes is always pursuing ways to save our Heroes money. I have a good example of that below. Read on and save some money.

Today sitting in the Homes for Heroes office, as I often do, I was looking out the window, as I often do, wondering, as I often do, what could I do to get out of the office and into the blustery outdoors. My boss usually wants me to work but a Ninja must spend time with nature to keep his skills finely tuned. The drone of keyboards clacking and people talking on the phone can keep a Ninjas mind from remaining focused on the task at hand. That task at hand was figuring a way out for some simple Ninja exercises.

Ninjas do their best work outdoors.

I had tried everything from Ninja hypnosis to ancient Ninja mind control powders. Nothing was working, each attempt to get my boss to drink a fresh cup of coffee or a bottle of water was met with a “I have my own, thank you.” I resigned myself to indoor exercises. I started to focus on various people in the office, listening to what they say, blocking out all other intrusions. This was working until one young lady put down the phone and started to frantically hack away at her keyboard. This intrigued me and I wandered over to see what was up.

Before I even reached her desk, Kacy was telling me that Florida has some great first time buyer programs. Now this was weird. Normally I move through the office so quietly now one knows I have moved until I am at their desk. But it was soon forgotten as to how Kacy knew I was there, she was pulling up some very good information on some of Florida’s housing assistance programs.

Florida Housing’s First Time Homebuyer Program provides a continuous stream of lending throughout the year for eligible first-time homebuyers. If you’re not a first-time home buyer, you may still be eligible if you’re purchasing a home in one of 13 GO Zone counties that include Brevard, Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie.

Here are some of the program highlights. She was scanning so fast it was hard to keep up. When she is on the trail of savings, all I can say is, step back and let her get you those savings.

The program offers low-interest 30 and 40 year fixed-rate loans, down payment and closing costs assistance as well as access to credit counseling.

Teachers, firefighters, health-care workers, police officers, as well as active duty and veteran military personnel could be eligible for lower interest rates.

These savings from Florida as well as the Homes for Heroes savings can pile up to a whole lot of dough. Now I gave you a quick run down, Kacy will know a lot more. You can get a hold of her by calling 1-866 4-heroes orrrrrr send her a message through the Homes for Heroes website. Either way you will save some money and get some good deals on buying that home of yours.

Homes for Heroes captures Realtor in bank!!

Picture this. You are walking down the streets in Bryan-College Station TX. There is not a cloud in the sky and the temperature is just cool enough as to keep the perspiration at bay. As you walk into your bank to turn in your change jar for the families vacation fund you happen to notice a young lady with her two small girls talking to a Police Officer.

The Police Officer is describing something to the young woman. The animated hand gestures and the attentiveness of the young woman gives you pause. What is going on, you think. Is it a warning about a crime spree or something more nefarious? You steer your way closer in hopes to catch a snippet of what is being discussed. If what you hear is alarming you can step in and find out more. As you near the group you hear something about Homes for Heroes and witness the Police Officer accepting a business card from the young woman and her two small girls. Puzzled but not alarmed you continue to the counter and ask the teller to please deposit your change into your vacation account.

The teller takes your jar and heads to the back of the bank and dumps the jar into the change sorting machine. A couple of minutes later she returns the jar and several pesos from your last vacation that were rejected by the machine. You look at the amount and start to wonder if it is worth lugging 10 pound jars around for 10 bucks of change. You give no other thought to the Police Officer and the young woman. You head out to the street and start thinking about what should be placed upon the barbecue for dinner.

What this person failed to see, was that Homes for Heroes had just captured another Realtor. Let us introduce you to Dawn Thompson of Bryan-College Station, Texas.

Dawn Thompson

Dawn Thompson did what any good Realtor would do, she overheard the Police Officer talking about finding a home and promptly handed over her business card. Little did she know that by the days end she would be part of the Homes for Heroes team.

Speaking to Dawn about that day, she told us. “As I was walking out the door, the Police Officer called to me and asked me if I would help her and if I had heard of Homes for Heroes.  I got her number and told her I would check into it.  By the end of the day,  we were searching for her home.  The more I found out about Homes for Heroes, the more I wanted to be a part of it!  Wow!  What a great way to say “thank you” to those who, many times, lay their life on the line to serve & protect our communities, our cities, our states, and our country!   It is not a widely known program here, but I want all of the police officers, fire fighters, teachers, etc. to know of this program and it’s benefits.  After several years of real estate, I still had not decided on a niche market..  My heart was not set any where particular.  But Homes for Heroes has captured me, and I look forward to giving something back to those who dedicate their lives to help, serve, and protect us.”

Dawn has been a Realtor for over 5 years now and has lived in the Bryan-College Station area for the last 15 years. The two young assistants that were with her on that fateful day at the bank are also her daughters, Miranda (10) and Kyla (2). They assist her quite often and many of her clients have become great friends with them. Dawn is a web savvy Realtor that maximizes technology to make your real estate transaction not only simple but very rewarding.

So if you live in the Bryan-College Station area and want a Realtor that will get to know you and what kind of home you are looking for, then deliver. Dawn Thompson is who you are looking for. You can reach Dawn at the Homes for Heroes website.

Good Luck and happy home hunting!

NEWS FLASH!! First time home buyers race is on.

Attention all Homes for Heroes affiliates!

Attention all Homes for Heroes affiliates!

For you Homes for Heroes affiliates in the Twin Cities area pay attention. There is some serious coinage being thrown around by Minneapolis and St. Paul first time home buyers. A federal program called Take Credit is providing $8 million in federal tax credits. First time home buyers need to purchase a home in Minneapolis or St. Paul before December 1 in order to get an $8,000 tax deduction. According to the article only 130 first time buyers will be able to take advantage of this program. To get the details on the Take Credit program do the obligatory click here and read more.

To sweeten the pot and make it more interesting, the City of St. Paul’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority has just voted on a first time home buyers program. They are putting up $500,000 for 33 first time “Hero” home buyers that want to live in St. Paul. Veterans, Police, Firefighters etc. will be able to get up to $15,000 in a zero percent loan to use towards down pay or principal reduction. In fact, no payments are necessary until you sell the home or no longer use it as a primary residence. Even bigger news is that if the buyer lives in the home for 10 years the loan will be retired.

Spread the word, the tax credits and the 33 loans will not last long. This HRA program combined with the benefits of the Homes for Heroes program will surely make home ownership for our heroes an easier reality. This program will launch later this month, so get moving and get some heroes into homes.

This will link you to the HRA’s web site. Click on yesterdays date and the meeting notes will be there.

There are a few more details outlined in the attachment from the HRA meeting notes.

Okay, quit dilly dallying around and get your hero into these programs.

Knotek knows his tech.

Since Homes for Heroes started doing Bio’s on our affiliates, we have asked the affiliate to provide some background information for us. With that info we would put together a post and put it out there. Reading this affiliates bio, there was not much more we needed to do. In his own words, Homes for Heroes, would like to introduce you to Mikal Knotek.

In 2006, the economy was beginning to unravel. The mortgage industry was the stone that broke the camels back with fraud and poor lending practices acting as the heaviest weight. I saw misinformed loan officers through out the industry using poor judgment and taking advantage of unknowing clients.

In 2007 I re-evaluated my business plan and included room to give back. I wanted to give back because the greedy side of our industry had taken so much. I wanted to change public perception and bring confidence back to my clients. It was important for them to know that Bell Mortgage was one of the good guys in the industry

I searched for several months to find an organization to align myself with that would take advantage of my skills in the finance industry. I knew right away after speaking with David Cohen and Ruth Johnson (Homes for Heroes) that Homes for Heroes would be the perfect fit.

The HFH philosophy is easy, do what’s best for our heroes. Homes for Heroes unites a whole industry on behalf of the Hero. No other program that I have seen does this. Becoming a Homes for Heroes affiliate has given me the opportunity to say thank you to the people who give everything of themselves every day.

MIkal Knotek

Mikal Knotek has been a successful mortgage professional, manager, technology entrepreneur, and industry consultant.

 

Mikal entered the mortgage industry in 1991 after the purchase of his first home.  Learning the business from the ground up, he quickly moved his way up the ladder and became a leading roll in production.  In 1997 he co-founded The Harrison-Knotek Group with his residential business partner, Kathy Harrison.  In 1998 they moved their group to Bell Mortgage and helped evolve Bell into one of the area’s premier residential mortgage lenders.  His residential origination’s exceed 300 million dollars over the past 15 years.

 

While still in the mortgage industry, Mikal founded Audit Technologies, a lender based audit and consulting firm.  His keen industry insight gave new light to how lenders manage their service portfolio.

Audit Technologies and Mikal’s growing residential mortgage business led to the founding of Clear View Software, Inc. in 2001.  Mikal used his industry knowledge and technical background to develop ground breaking industry technology that moved data to and from consumers and lenders with the highest level of speed and security.   His company was later purchased by a leading Minnesota lender.   Mikal’s extensive technical insight keeps Bell Mortgage at the forefront of industry changes and improvements.

 

In addition to Mikal’s residential originations, he is also co-founder of the Bell Mortgage Commercial Lending Group and oversees its day to day operations.

 
 
 

Best if used by…..

Every month or so we at the Homes for Heroes office try and have a pot luck lunch. It was always a success, and in some ways it still is. People stopped eating my offering when one asked why my “stews” were so tasty. I gave them the recipe. Two cans of cream of mushroom soup and all the left overs I find in the office fridge. Everyone started for the bathrooms and my boss asked me to see her in her office.

She wanted to know why I was trying to poison everybody at the pot luck. What? How could being frugal be considered poisoning someone? I let my boss know that the food in the fridge was slated for the weekly garbage dump and….. “Exactly!” She proclaims. I look at her incredulously and simply state. “A ninja knows what bad food is and my meals are far from being bad.” I also point out that our society’s perception of spoiled food is terribly misguided.

Pick off the green pieces, mix in soup and Voila! Lunch.

“Mister if you know what is good for you, you will stop cleaning out the fridge for pot luck lunches.” I start to object but there is a twitch in her eye that makes me pause. An Ninja knows when a battle is lost. I nod my head and shuffle out of her office knowing that I may have lost the battle but not the war. I go to my desk and start doing a little research.

I plunk down at my desk and type in “food expiration”. There was some interesting points. Did you know that all food expiration dates are voluntary? There is not federal law requiring that information be put on labels. Well it is required on baby formula and some baby foods. But other than that expiration dates are a courtesy of the food manufacturers.

The other thing that I found at WebMD’s site was a comprehensive description of all those “use before”, “best if used” and all those other freshness dates. This new information has brought some relief to my family. I have a big can of Parmesan cheese that was “packed” on November 3, 2002 and we still use it on spaghetti nights. Now I have proof that there is “nothing” wrong with it.

Here is a quick break down of what all those dates mean. For more detailed information you can visit WebMD.

The “sell by” date is telling the stores when the manufacturers would like the item pulled off the shelves. Which is fine, it is more of a quality move by food manufacturers. So if you have something in the house that is past the sell by date, don’t panic, odds are it is still okay.

This next one has cost me a lot of money. The kids will see the date and through the offending package away. It is the “best if used by (or before)” date. This date has absolutely nothing to do with spoilage. This is a manufacturers quality move. If McDonalds used this they would have a twenty minute date stamped on each order of fries they send out the drive through window. Have you ever gone through the drive through and noticed that the fries you eat while pulling out of the parking lot taste a heck of a lot better than they do by time you get home? You still eat those fries though don’t you? So keep that in mind the next time you find something in the fridge that is past the “best if used by” date.

“Use by” date is very similar. This would tell someone when the product will be at its peak freshness. It does not mean that if you eat it a week after that date you will die a horrible death.

There is a couple more date descriptions on the site, but these have done my household the most damage. I have posted these descriptions on the fridge in hopes that I can undo the brain washing my kids have learned.

Tonight, we are having the last of the Christmas ham in a fantastic Ham and Potato soup. They always eat it and never question how fresh the products are. I should probably keep it to myself that I only make soups to mask those old refrigerator smells of 2 week old left overs. We won’t EVER discuss my chili….

I do think that by understanding what these dates will really help the family food budget. You don’t have to through out the milk when the date is passed. Smell it. If it smells bad then I suppose you can through it out, but not before. Another thing to keep in mind. Eggs will last up to 5 weeks past the sell by date in the fridge. These economic times will soon require a more frugal look when we through out that loaf of bread or lunch meat.

See you tomorrow

Semper Fi