Helping Heroes Find Homes: How RE/MAX NorthStar Supports Local Military Members

Military families know the reality of constant change. Because these families regularly have to pack up and move on short notice, it’s helpful when real estate professionals have the skills and understanding to accommodate their unique housing needs.

That’s certainly the case at RE/MAX NorthStar in Clarksville, Tennessee, a small city near Fort Campbell, a U.S. Army installation along the Tennessee-Kentucky state line.

Scott Crandall and George Gray, the brokerage’s co-owners, have a personal connection to military business. They each served in the U.S. Army for more than two decades before putting down roots close to Fort Campbell.

“RE/MAX NorthStar is veteran-owned, and the majority of our agents have military ties. This allows our agents to be empathetic to a military member’s situation and to successfully guide them home,” Crandall says. “We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to give back to our military and community in this way.”

RE/MAX NorthStar – a purpose-driven business – expertly serves the distinctive needs of those who serve the country.

Shorter timelines

For individuals or families across nearly every military division, relocation is expected – and time is of the essence.

“Military personnel are usually on a much shorter timeline to locate a home, because they receive only 10 days of permissive travel,” Gray shares. “Knowing this, our agents often work around the clock to help their clients find a home to rent or purchase.”

He adds, “In the U.S., people in the military move approximately every three to four years, which greatly impacts the housing turnover in our local market.”

Unique challenges

Due to the presence of Fort Campbell, the Clarksville community is somewhat transient, increasing the need for skilled, timely and compassionate real estate professionals. Crandall says the agents at RE/MAX NorthStar are equipped to help clients through challenging times.

“Our agents are exceptionally familiar with the stresses soldiers are going through,” Crandall says. “They offer virtual showings and meetings with family members to help facilitate transactions for military clients who can’t be physically present.”

He continues, “We’re always looking for ways to accommodate our military community whenever possible – and to help make their homebuying or selling process as swift and easy as it can be. Our agents use their own firsthand knowledge and experiences with the military to help empower and inform our military community.”

In the U.S., many active duty military members and veterans are eligible for loans from the Department of Veteran Affairs – known as VA home loans – that can make homeownership more accessible and alleviate the costs associated with repairing or adapting a house.

“There are multiple programs that help our service members with financing, such as VA loans and Homes for Heroes. Both of these options are great resources for the military community,” Gray explains. “Approximately 70% of our homebuyers use their VA loan to finance their home purchases, a process our agents are well educated in.”

Learning can lead to better ways for helping local military

All agents – even those who didn’t serve in the military themselves – can increase their education on ways to best support local soldiers and veterans. Crandall shares that many of the agents with RE/MAX NorthStar have their Military Residential SpecialistTM certification (MilRES), which is designed to help real estate professionals understand the needs of active and retired members of the military.

Through RE/MAX University, RE/MAX affiliates can take courses and earn their MilRES certification online.

“Several of our agents have their MilRES certification. If you are located near a military base, like we are, it’s a beneficial way to learn more about VA loans, understand the circumstances of military families, and achieve a better understanding of military culture,” Crandall shares.

As small business owners, residents of the area and veterans themselves, Crandall and Gray are proud of their impact through RE/MAX NorthStar – and look forward to supporting their community for years to come.

“Everyone wants a place to call home,” Gray says. “It’s rewarding to help our heroes and their families achieve their real estate goals. It’s an honor and a privilege to serve the ones who so graciously and bravely serve our country.”

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